As a religious institution consecrated by and literally acknowledging the Prince of Darkness, the Church of Satan enjoyed an inspiring, and occasionally either thrilling or terrifying, existence from 1966 to 1975. Beginning as a whimsical and satirical countercultural statement against the social and institutionally-religious hypocrisy of the 1960s, the Church gradually evolved into a positive, sincere, and [to its own surprise] virtuous organization, though not without periodic individual and group growing pains: the consequence of allegiance to a supernatural entity only dimly apprehended and understood by Western Judæo-Christianized civilization.
From its 1979 1st Edition to this 2013 8th, The Church of Satan remains the only complete documentary history of that fascinating and bizarre adventure, from Anton & Diane LaVey's founding of the Church in their San Francisco home to its surprising dissolution into a secular business a decade later and metaphysical supersession by the Temple of Set.
Ever since its 1981 2nd Edition, The Church of Satan's growing size made it impossible to print. This 8th Edition finally fits all of the text and plates into fewer than 500 pages: 285,300 words, 39 chapters, 73 color plates.
[A companion The Church of Satan II volume (imminently also available in this same format & distribution) contains all 161 Appendices in a similar-sized B&W book. Both volumes should be acquired and read together.]
About the Author: Michael A. Aquino was the only member of the original Church of Satan to attain the Second Level of the Fourth Degree (Magister Templi IV°-II') prior to the Church's 1975 termination. He was a member of its governing Council of Nine and its Order of the Trapezoid 1970-75. He served as Editor of the Church's Cloven Hoof_ newsletter 1971-75.
Non-fictional books by Dr. Aquino generally fall into three categories: historical, practical, and initiatory.
Historical works include The Neutron Bomb (a study of the domestic and foreign politics surrounding the proposed NATO introduction of that weapon in 1977-8) and Extreme Prejudice (a documentary exposé of the 1986-7 "Satanic ritual abuse" scam at the Presidio of San Francisco.
Two other [2-volume] books - The Church of Satan and The Temple of Set - are not only histories but initiatory analyses as well, examining the philosophical and metaphysical concepts which define and energize those religious institutions.
As one of the U.S. Army's extremely rare Political-Military Affairs Officers [with credentials in Strategic & Space Intelligence, Psychological Operations, Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Defense Attaché, and Foreign Area Officer], Dr. Aquino has also introduced the practical application of "MindWar" as a methodology for reducing, if not eliminating contemporary humanity's obsession with and reliance upon murderous, destructive conventional war (PhysWar"). His 2013 book MindWar introduces this solution and outlines its successive stages of implementation.
Finally a purely-initiatory work, MindStar, addresses the purely-metaphysical "soul" of human thought which MindWar [as a practical curriculum] omits, confronting the elusive questions of human divinity and immortality.
Unsurprisingly Dr. Aquino's fictional ventures - We Break the Sword, FireForce, and Morlindalë ("authored" by The One Ring) - all draw upon extensive political and philosophical principles in their telling. Both FireForce and Morlindalë utilize the literary technique of parody in a serious, rather than humorous exploration and extrapolation of the original source.
Additionally Dr. Aquino has recovered and Edited a collection of childhood poems by his mother, Betty Ford: Pegasus in Pinfeathers.
All of these books are available on Amazon in printed paperback and Kindle ebook editions.
