A Reposte to Critics

Jake Horsley, July 2003

“The only way to publish truth among domesticated primates was to let them think it was satire.”

—Robert Anton Wilson, Right Where You re Sitting Now

“Written in two weeks and released on April Fool’s Day, Matrix Warrior was hardly going to be a masterpiece of literature, science, or philosophy…”

(Julia Burns, at http://vision.york.ac.uk/articles/147/books/43246.shtml Burns continues, “Jake Horsley was laughing at me as I read his book.” Actually Jake Horsley was laughing at himself, and if Julia had only known it, she could have laughed along with him.)

Another review, written by Donna Jones, calls the book “a soggy trout that no one should read,” “about as pleasurable as sticking a sharpened pencil into your thigh” (or a splinter in the brain?). Interestingly enough, the first “no-star” review said the book gave the reviewer a headache! (Gary S. Dalkin, at http://www.musicweb.uk.net/film/2003/Jun03/matrix_warrior.html)

This brings to mind RAW’s remark, in the above quoted book, “I assume, immodestly, that thinking was such an unfamiliar chore to these reviewers that they found it painful.”

No pain no gain, Gary? I wish you many headaches to come.

Matrix Warrior was designed to offend “humatons,” and humatons, when offended, become highly offensive in their turn. Donna writes that my “ego trip” so sullied the (first) movie that she had to watch it a few times over just to erase all memory of the book. She adds that if you want to know how to unplug, read the Dalai Lama, “he has already told us how.” I guess I am just wasting my time, then. Verily, I say unto ye, there is nothing more despair-inducing than to suffer the slings and arrows of dilettante critics who fancy themselves “spiritual.”

Julia Burns writes, “If everything in the movie were absolutely true, then Jake Horsley’s unofficial handbook would be the indispensable guide to escaping the system. But it isn't, so why has he written it?” If Julia Burns knew everything there is to know about existence, her point would be sound. Since she doesn’t, why has she made it? AI has you, Julia….

The doubters, all puffed up with righteous (critical) indignation as they appear to be, serve to confirm the book’s efficacy. The disgust, disdain, and contempt that issues forth from them is a useful measure of how much “ego” I still have to eradicate. So thanks to Julia, Donna, Gary, et al. Your complete lack of critical discernment has helped me to confront and overcome my own vanity and folly. Maybe I can return the favor some day?

The writers quoted above are working hard (true to their calling, as slave-puppets of the media) to discourage people from reading the book; considering the reactions I am getting from some people, it may be just as well. Sales are one thing, obnoxious readers are another; and contending with legions of irate humatons is a high price to pay for a little cash in hand.

The author is already done pretending to be “the One” for now.

It was a nice marketing strategy while it lasted. Since people don’t seem to be able to recognize ajoke when they see one, I shall have to be less subtle in future.

For a more balanced reading of Matrix Warrior, try John C. Snider, at sci-fi dimensions http://www.scifidimensions.com/May03/matrixwarrior.htm

Quotes, good, bad, and ugly

Be prepared: as Philip K. Dick prophesized, there is a bifurcation in the human species. Once in a while a work comes along that magnifies and accentuates this split. Matrix Warrior is such a work.

Critics are divided over Matrix Warrior: a soggy trout, or a quality mindfuck?

The Lucid or the Obtusid view, which will prevail? Judge for yourself.

The only proof is in the pudding. Bring your own spoon.

“[Horsley’s] examination of solipsistic cool slides through existential nausea into outright psychopathy and back again with a wink and a grin.”

Tony Chester

“Jake Horsley was laughing at me as I read his book. . . If everything in the movie were absolutely true, then Jake Horsley’s unofficial handbook would be the indispensable guide to escaping the system. But it isn't, so why has he written it? . . . . Ignore it.”

Julia Burns

“A high quality mindfuck.”

Satanachia

“a soggy trout that no one should read . . . about as pleasurable as sticking a sharpened pencil into your thigh…”

Donna Jones

“challenge[s] everything we think we know and should believe about the nature of our society and the validity of its taboos . . .  a guide book for any humaton with eyes to see and ears to hear to find a way to escape his or her personal Matrix.”

John C Snider

“The ultimate self-help book.”

SFX

“contains oodles more than most of the self-help manuals on the market. . . definitely worth checking out.  I can imagine cohorts of intelligent teenagers taking it as their Bible, poring over its pages, feeding avidly on its regurgitated mishmash of Blake, Castaneda, Nietzsche, Zen philosophy, popular culture and spiritualism, and even attempting to live their lives in accord with its tenets.  ”

Adam Roberts

“Tedious and intellectually anorexic”

Keiron Gillen, SFX

“a vibrant, dynamic, expansive piece of work . . . teeming with ideas.”

Uh, some guy on the Net (nice quote though)

“[Matrix Warrior] is harmful and it is wrong.  Or so it seems to my plugged-in perspective. . . I repudiate Horsley’s intellectual jurisdiction over my life.”

Adam Roberts

“It may be unofficial, but god damn it’s good! If you are a true Matrix fan . . . you must own this book!!

It will become your bible, I guarantee!”

Seventh Systemic Anomaly (SSA)

“Matrix Warrior holds the key.”

Kenneth Grant (author, The Magickal Revival, sometimes head of the UK O.T.O)

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