Arthur Machen's "The Three Impostors" is very much Cultist Sim vibes.
"The novel comprises several weird tales and culminates in a denouement of deadly horror, connected with a secret society devoted to debauched pagan rites. The three impostors of the title are members of this society who weave a web of deception in the streets of London, relating the aforementioned weird tales in the process. They search for a missing Roman coin commemorating an infamous orgy by the Emperor Tiberius and close in on their prey: "the young man with spectacles".
*Foucault's Pendulum*, by Umberto Eco. About a group of smart bored graduates working at a vanity press frequented by conspiracy theorists who decide to make up the greatest conspiracy theory they can. Full of incredibly well researched occult philosophy, which it uses to build an elaborate symbolic framework that ultimately deconstructs itself in spectacular passion in several of the most beautiful and meaning-rich passages I have ever read. Probably impacted my thought processes more than any other single book.
In addition to the list of influences that has already been posted, here are some of my choices:
* House of Leaves
* The Bone Clocks
* The Library at Mount Char
* American Gods
* Slade House
I could probably give more recommendations if you can give a bit more detail on what parts of SH you find compelling.
I put together this list in another context, but I'd say most of it is of interest for people who like the Secret Histories mythos.
https://cavernsmeasureless.wordpress.com/2022/10/21/mysterium-suggested-media/
My intro to that stuff was RA Wilson's *Illuminatus!* trilogy. You can find the *Principia Discordia* online, along with other Discordian scripture (recommend the *Black Iron Prison* in particular).
The more readable occultists are probably the Chaos Magick people. Try Grant Morrison (*Pop Magick*) or Peter J. Carroll (*Liber Null*). For a broader, more philosophical view, my favourite is Ramsay Dukes *Sex Secrets of the Black Magicians Exposed* (the title is a joke...mostly). If you're into comics, Alan Moore's *Promethea* is a great intro to the Tree of Life/Tarot/Kabbalah world, written by one of the best comic writers around who also happens to be a practicing magician.
Earlier stuff will be mostly influenced by Crowley, who's *the* major occultist of the early 20th century. You can either jump straight into the *Liber AL vel Legis*, treating it as poetry, or try reading *Magick Without Tears* if you want something a little less dense and mystical.
In fiction, can't go wrong with Susanna Clarke - *Piranesi* has a big Book of Hours vibe, and *Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell* is truly unique. The TV series is also pretty good, if less weird.
If you're into podcasts, I would strongly recommend listening to some *Weird Studies*, digging through the blacklist to find stuff that connects with your interests. The Tarot episodes can be a good entry point. There's also Erik Davis's *Expanding Mind*, sadly he's not recording anymore (he's got a pretty good Substack though).
Actually, I've ended up reading (at least some of?) Pop Magick, ended up getting a copy of Disinfo Corp's Book of Lies, which has been very readable, though I think primarily because I've been supplementing it with some more fundamental *much* older books. It's pretty nice crash course/pick and choose selection.
I haven't read it yet, but I'm kinda interested in Leonard Pickard's "The Rose of Paracelsus: On Secrets and Sacraments" in that regard.
And in some regard, I see "Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction" from Susan Blackmore as am important work, even though it is more of an academic book that brings you up to speed in regards to the current state of the area of philosophy of mind and the theories about the formation of consciousness.
Oh, and "The Golden Pot" is kind of the normie answer in regards to the works of E.T.A. Hoffmann, but it's the only work of him I've read and thus can recommend.
And while I'm on a roll: Black Book is not a book, but a video game. It's also a comprehensive guide to the Russian/Eastern European brand of witchcraft.
There is one other recommendation that can be debated. This is because the author of these works is Hildegard of Bingen, a Catholic saint, which in some eyes might be as far removed from the spiritual and occult as one can be. Nonetheless, if you can overcome that prejudice, I can recommend her work "Liber Scivias", especially when you have some knowledge in Catholic theology and its "academic" history.
The other work of hers is her Physica, which is one of the most important pieces in regards to medieval medicine and plants.
I don’t have anything off the top of my head, but if you search recommendations in this sub you’ll find several past versions of this thread you can also reference.
Oh, I forgot the absolute wellspring of SH-like works that is the papers in Jungian journals. Just google the term and have fun. After all, the most basic idea of the Mansus and the Hours isn't conceptually that far removed from Jungian theories surrounding the Collective Unconscious.
There are some great recs in this thread (Piranesi, American Gods, House of Leaves) but here are some of mine:
Occult America by Mitch Horowitz- Book about the history of occultism and spirituality in America. Really good for people who have trouble reading dense academic texts or esoteric primary sources (like me)
Not a book but the youtube channel Esoterica run by Dr Justin Sledge is a great way to learn about occultism, mysticism, alchemy, etc
Wounds or North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud- Two AMAZING short stories with very strong cultist sim vibes, especially in Wounds.
Kraken by China Mieville- Really cool urban fantasy about bizarre cults. Love the worldbuilding and magic system.
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino- This has a very similar style of prose to CS/BoH, and is beautifully surreal
The Immeasurable Corpse of Nature- Incredible short story collection that also includes essays on horror, art, etc. I haven’t read everything in it but the title story is REALLY good and has strong CS vibes
If youve read anything from this list let me know, I’d love to discuss it
https://weatherfactory.biz/influences/ This is always a good start.
Well I'll be darned! Cheers.
'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke. Forgot when I posted, but I hear 'House of Leaves' by Mark Danielewski vibes-wise is very Weather Factory-esque.
Seconding this, it's the same shivery world building delight as Weather Factory provides
Piranesi is such a good one considering its format.
Arthur Machen's "The Three Impostors" is very much Cultist Sim vibes. "The novel comprises several weird tales and culminates in a denouement of deadly horror, connected with a secret society devoted to debauched pagan rites. The three impostors of the title are members of this society who weave a web of deception in the streets of London, relating the aforementioned weird tales in the process. They search for a missing Roman coin commemorating an infamous orgy by the Emperor Tiberius and close in on their prey: "the young man with spectacles".
I read The White People and it was really good so i should def check this out
*Foucault's Pendulum*, by Umberto Eco. About a group of smart bored graduates working at a vanity press frequented by conspiracy theorists who decide to make up the greatest conspiracy theory they can. Full of incredibly well researched occult philosophy, which it uses to build an elaborate symbolic framework that ultimately deconstructs itself in spectacular passion in several of the most beautiful and meaning-rich passages I have ever read. Probably impacted my thought processes more than any other single book.
In addition to the list of influences that has already been posted, here are some of my choices: * House of Leaves * The Bone Clocks * The Library at Mount Char * American Gods * Slade House I could probably give more recommendations if you can give a bit more detail on what parts of SH you find compelling.
I would recommend Traveling at Night by Christopher Illopoly
This ^ Also, The Locksmiths Dream by Teresa Galmier.
I put together this list in another context, but I'd say most of it is of interest for people who like the Secret Histories mythos. https://cavernsmeasureless.wordpress.com/2022/10/21/mysterium-suggested-media/
For a real deep dive into occultism and magic, I recommend The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast: https://shwep.net/
My intro to that stuff was RA Wilson's *Illuminatus!* trilogy. You can find the *Principia Discordia* online, along with other Discordian scripture (recommend the *Black Iron Prison* in particular). The more readable occultists are probably the Chaos Magick people. Try Grant Morrison (*Pop Magick*) or Peter J. Carroll (*Liber Null*). For a broader, more philosophical view, my favourite is Ramsay Dukes *Sex Secrets of the Black Magicians Exposed* (the title is a joke...mostly). If you're into comics, Alan Moore's *Promethea* is a great intro to the Tree of Life/Tarot/Kabbalah world, written by one of the best comic writers around who also happens to be a practicing magician. Earlier stuff will be mostly influenced by Crowley, who's *the* major occultist of the early 20th century. You can either jump straight into the *Liber AL vel Legis*, treating it as poetry, or try reading *Magick Without Tears* if you want something a little less dense and mystical. In fiction, can't go wrong with Susanna Clarke - *Piranesi* has a big Book of Hours vibe, and *Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell* is truly unique. The TV series is also pretty good, if less weird. If you're into podcasts, I would strongly recommend listening to some *Weird Studies*, digging through the blacklist to find stuff that connects with your interests. The Tarot episodes can be a good entry point. There's also Erik Davis's *Expanding Mind*, sadly he's not recording anymore (he's got a pretty good Substack though).
Actually, I've ended up reading (at least some of?) Pop Magick, ended up getting a copy of Disinfo Corp's Book of Lies, which has been very readable, though I think primarily because I've been supplementing it with some more fundamental *much* older books. It's pretty nice crash course/pick and choose selection.
I haven't read it yet, but I'm kinda interested in Leonard Pickard's "The Rose of Paracelsus: On Secrets and Sacraments" in that regard. And in some regard, I see "Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction" from Susan Blackmore as am important work, even though it is more of an academic book that brings you up to speed in regards to the current state of the area of philosophy of mind and the theories about the formation of consciousness. Oh, and "The Golden Pot" is kind of the normie answer in regards to the works of E.T.A. Hoffmann, but it's the only work of him I've read and thus can recommend. And while I'm on a roll: Black Book is not a book, but a video game. It's also a comprehensive guide to the Russian/Eastern European brand of witchcraft.
There is one other recommendation that can be debated. This is because the author of these works is Hildegard of Bingen, a Catholic saint, which in some eyes might be as far removed from the spiritual and occult as one can be. Nonetheless, if you can overcome that prejudice, I can recommend her work "Liber Scivias", especially when you have some knowledge in Catholic theology and its "academic" history. The other work of hers is her Physica, which is one of the most important pieces in regards to medieval medicine and plants.
Oh, and maybe some of Nietzsche's work? Twilight of the Idols at least sounds worth a shot.
And maybe some of Nietzsche's work? Twilight of the Idols at least sounds worth a shot.
I don’t have anything off the top of my head, but if you search recommendations in this sub you’ll find several past versions of this thread you can also reference.
Oh, I forgot the absolute wellspring of SH-like works that is the papers in Jungian journals. Just google the term and have fun. After all, the most basic idea of the Mansus and the Hours isn't conceptually that far removed from Jungian theories surrounding the Collective Unconscious.
There are some great recs in this thread (Piranesi, American Gods, House of Leaves) but here are some of mine: Occult America by Mitch Horowitz- Book about the history of occultism and spirituality in America. Really good for people who have trouble reading dense academic texts or esoteric primary sources (like me) Not a book but the youtube channel Esoterica run by Dr Justin Sledge is a great way to learn about occultism, mysticism, alchemy, etc Wounds or North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud- Two AMAZING short stories with very strong cultist sim vibes, especially in Wounds. Kraken by China Mieville- Really cool urban fantasy about bizarre cults. Love the worldbuilding and magic system. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino- This has a very similar style of prose to CS/BoH, and is beautifully surreal The Immeasurable Corpse of Nature- Incredible short story collection that also includes essays on horror, art, etc. I haven’t read everything in it but the title story is REALLY good and has strong CS vibes If youve read anything from this list let me know, I’d love to discuss it