Cosmic Trigger I

Final Secret of the Illuminati

By: Robert Anton Wilson

Narrated by: Oliver Senton

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

The great modern classic of a brilliant rebel's personal exploration into the nature of consciousness.

"Cosmic Trigger deals with a process of deliberately induced brain change. This process is called 'initiation' or 'vision quest' in many traditional societies and can loosely be considered some dangerous variety of self-psychotherapy in modern terminology. I do not recommend it for everybody...briefly, the main thing I learned in my experiments is that 'reality' is always plural and mutable." (Robert Anton Wilson, from the preface)

Narration by Oliver Senton, "Robert Anton Wilson" in Daisy Eris Campbell's stage production of Cosmic Trigger.

Based on The Robert Anton Wilson Trust Authorized Hilaritas Press Edition.

Published by Hilaritas Press.

©1977, 2016 Hilaritas Press, LLC. (P)2017 Hilaritas Press, LLC.

Critic reviews

"Wilson managed to reverse every mental polarity in me, as if I had been pulled through infinity. I was astonished and delighted." (Philip K. Dick)

"Erudite, witty, and genuinely scary." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Robert Anton Wilson is one of the leading thinkers of the modern age." (Barbara Marx Hubbard, Committee for the Future)

Great content, bad narrator

I tried to keep an open mind about the narrator, I really did. All I wanted to do was focus on the substance of the book. Unfortunately, I couldn't. If I said the narrator didn't ruin this book for me I'd be lying.

L(i*i)fe rarely gets better

The narrator’s accent takes a few minutes to get used to. Other than that RAW is Bob at his best. A reminder of the power of a network of love, this page turner zooms along. Sirius-ly great!

Its the best

If you are at all interested in subjects like psychology, conspiracy theory, the occult, hypnotism, yoga, science, religion Etc, then this is the book for you. Excellently written by Robert Anton Wilson the book will leave you fully engaged for the entire time that you are listening to it.

SO much fun to listen to!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Cosmic Trigger I to be better than the print version?

I'm a huge RAW fan, and love this book SO much that it would be tough for me to NOT like the audio book. I reread it every few years, and listening to it is a whole new experience!

What did you like best about this story?

It takes you right into "Chapel Perilous" and transforms your world view starting from page 1.

Have you listened to any of Oliver Senton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He does a delightfully bad NY/Philly/Boston/Grouch Marx accent, with British pronunciations. It's a little distracting, but he has so much enthusiasm for the material it is only a minor setback. In the end, probably more fun than a straight read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes! but it's worth savoring and relistening to...

Any additional comments?

loved it.

I’m glad I listened to the book

The negative comments about the person reading this book almost stopped me from downloading it. I think the the person reading this book was a perfect fit and of course RAW never lets you down. I will most likely listen to it a second time

Many insightful details explaing the science and philosophy behind the Illuminatus Trilogy. You need to read the Trilogy first to truly appreciate this back story to its fullest.

A nexus of weird

I suspect RAWs writing will infuriate some readers as he hops between being a skeptic, a heirophant, a seeker and a finder, a trickster and a supplicant for enlightenment. A mad collection of counter-culture icons appear and disappear, beliefs are sampled from an AYCE buffet. Is it nourishment? Dunno, but RAW was certainly full of it whatever it was.

RAW is simply Illuminating!

Robert Anton Wilson was and is a highly significant contributer and communicator of a wide array of occult wisdom. This book is a brilliant jumping on point for those just beginning their journey and those seeking perspective on their journey.

Loved the content, not my favorite narrator

incredible book! Narrator consistently mispronounced several words, took me out of the listening experience

Listening to RAW 30 years later

listening to RAW 30 years after first getting into him. I loved him in my early 20s, in my 50s I can only think he and his were very very naive. As a lifelong occultist now, I still enjoy some of his outlook, but I am astounded at his naivety concerning living forever in the flesh body being viable in a few decades, or that its a good thing. Did he really believe these would be equally employed to all people?! Society must've been a bit better back then to imagine such. He missed the mark in this book concerning the Individuation achieved through the Alchymical process.

Great book, annoying narration

Great book and really enjoying the story. The narration for the most part is really good but for most of the book anytime he utters any "er" sound it turns into "oy" like some cheap movie gangster.

One such sentence "the soytified sages of sanctified consoyvitism"

I get that he's trying to sound like Wilson but it takes away from an otherwise great narration and takes the listener out of the story. The rest of the time I've felt really engaged and towards the later part of it he scales it back

The story itself is really interesting though and was worth the purchase so I'd soytainly recommend it to people

Watcha matta wichu?

If you yearn for the shallow pseudo-political ramblings of a narcissistic pot-head ex Playboy editor delivered in the style of a 50s Mafia underboss then I guarantee you'll love this audiobook.

RAW

Masterpiece. Simple as that. RAW would be amazed by the 21st century so far 😎. Peace ✌️

Fascinating, candid & engaging

I’d read this many years ago, one of my favourite books so I was happy to revisit it on audible. The performance is really good, very reminiscent of RAW himself & conveys the authenticity and character of the text. Even if you’re skeptical of the ideas presented, he is too so there’s still plenty to enjoy. Belief is not the point.

Hard to put down

Loved it great well narrated and eye opening information can’t wait hear cosmic 2 and 3

Interesting and emotional

Excellent read, thought provoking and entertaining. I’ve listened to this book twice now and enjoyed it the 2nd time round just as much.

RAW rocks

Been meaning to read this for years. It didn't disappoint

Wilson writing is both intriguing and bewildering

Mad!

Crazy, riveting, mind bending and heart breaking. this book has given me a lot to think about.

Profound Truth

Superb, classic speaks the truth on every level. Required listening for illuminoids,spooks, occultists, mystics and seekers of truth on every plane.

"Is a god to live in a dog?" 23 Smi2le

An insightful trip for the inquisitive through an enigmatic discordians experiences. Worth listening to multiple times, a credit well spent.

Kudos to the narrator.