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Rating: 
Summary: A Life-Changer of a Book!
Review: Back in 1977, when this book first appeared, people thought that Grant was being more than a little paranoid with his dire warnings of what he termed 'Nightside' forces ready to invade the Earth. With the benefit of hindsight however, over the last twenty-odd years we have seen a massive rise in UFO sightings and so-called 'alien abductions'. This is precisely one facet of the phenomena that Grant warns of, and more importantly, he details both the causes and the cures in this incredible, pivotal book. The Stellar Gnosis of Ancient Africa and its permutations provides the grist of the first half of the book, whilst the second half is taken up with an examination of the 22 Cells of the Qlipoth that truly sets the tone for magickal books. Any other magical book about any other system just isn't worth buying. Thelema, and the OTO in particular, has moved on so far since Crowley's day, that it's really not worth reading Crowley anymore: Grant has taken his place as the world's greatest occultist!
Rating: 
Summary: Should you spend the money on this?
Review: Grant's books are exspensive - they are also nearly incomprehensible. So if you're thinking of buying this one I'd recommend you do it for pratical reasons. One being: If you would like to study the darker aspects of the tarot, this is where it begins. Practical equals comprehensible. Linda Falorio, Fred Fowler and Mishlen Linden have put out a few books based on Grant's Nightside of Eden that make this possible - The Shadow Tarot and Typhonian Teratomas. I've also found that John Coulthart and Alan Moore's extension of Grant's Nightside Tarot in their book The Haunter of the Dark, plus H. R. Giger's work with Akron alow this subject to come to life. Start here with Grant's book, but if you're going to do, do it right. Piles of books can be found on the tarot, but this is an area that needs to be explored. An understanding of the shadow is essential to a magical unerstanding of the self. I hope this helps. Enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Alas, Babalon!
Review: This is actually one of the more useful books by Mr. Grant, who hasn't been an actual member of the O.T.O. since his expulsion by it's Grand Master in 1954. :)Mr. Grant's books get more confused and deluded as years go by; this one, however, is one of his earlier works, and has many interesting points and observations. I heartily reccomend this one, along with Hidden Lore, The Magickal Revival, Cults of the Shadow, and Aleister Crowley & the Hidden God. I would strongly reccomend against even an intermediate student wasting their time or money on much else of his, save for "Zos Speaks", which is actually Austin Osman Spare. The advanced student can of course do as s/he Will, I personally have some care and concern for people who start to take Mr. Grant's works *too* seriously.
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