The Tortuous Serpent: An Occult Adventure - Softcover

Tyson, Donald

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1567187439 ISBN 13: 9781567187434

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, 1990

Synopsis

Unspeakable powers plot to bring on the final apocalypse, and only one man, Dr. John Dee, and his assistant, Edward Kelly, stand in their way. Travel with the greatest magician of the West and work magic to save the world, in The Tortuous Serpent by Donald Tyson.

The Tortuous Serpent is an exciting novel set in 1587. In these turbulent and eventful times:

·The Spanish armada is poised to invade England. Some advisors urge an attack, but John Dee tells Queen Elizabeth I to wait. What will happen? What does the armada represent?
·The Inquisition that held most of Europe in a grip of fear has faded―but many still fear that if you make one false move you could find yourself at the not-so-tender mercies of one of the official torturers. Why did this craziness infect so many people?
·On the spiritual planes, the fate of the world hangs in the balance as angels battle demons over the souls of humanity. Who will win the battle? Why does the battle go on at this time?

This is the background to an amazing story by one of the best-known researchers into the history of magic. As you read The Tortuous Serpent, you will learn the terrible truth: a group of diabolical fanatics―the Sons of Coronzon―is responsible. They have stolen an ancient grimoire of unspeakable power that can throw open the gates of hell itself. If they succeed, they will usher in a blasphemous dark age ruled by no less than the perverse Queen of Demons, Lilith―the Tortuous Serpent herself.

Only John Dee holds the key to stopping this unholy plan―but, in a final confrontation with the forces of evil, can he defeat an enemy capable of possessing the soul of the one person he trusts most? To find out, you must get The Tortuous Serpent.

About this title

Review

This dark historical fantasy features real-life magicians John Dee and Edward Kelley of the late 16th century, their spirited wives, a cunning rabbi from the Prague ghetto, and various monsters, both human and supernatural. All are focused, for good or for ill, on a twisted, chthonic version of the goddess Lilith. If "the tortuous serpent" is empowered by the right spell, her loathsome womb will flood the world with hideous creatures. The likeable heroes must avert the Apocalypse, but not before enduring a slew of horrifying (and entertaining) adventures. One factor that can make all the difference in a story based on magic is whether the author is well-versed in the field: Donald Tyson displays ample knowledge to support his claim to be "a Western ceremonial magician in the Hermetic tradition." He's occasionally prone to hyperbolic words such as "incredible," but for the most part uses a matter-of-fact descriptive style to create vivid word-pictures of magical and beastly phenomena.

About the Author

Donald Tyson (Nova Scotia, Canada) is an occult scholar and the author of the popular, critically acclaimed Necronomicon series. He has written more than a dozen books on Western esoteric traditions. Visit him online at DonaldTyson.com.

Edition details

• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 1567187439
• ISBN 13: 9781567187434
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1