THE VISIONARY STATE - ERIK DAVIS

NOT AVAILABLE Technically a reread from college, but I got this book out of the library along with one of Davis’ other books, TECHGNOSIS, which I’ve only read part of. Didn’t have time to read that one before the library insisted I returned it, but it was nice to look through this gorgeous book again. Plus now I’ve lived in California and have visited a few more of the place he outlines in this book. The book is a sort of travel guide/atlas of different spiritual/countercultural landmarks across California (plus Burning Man which, while originally from California, takes place in Nevada), each site getting an essay as well as a set of wonderful photographs. In general, all the sites and spiritual movements they represent come off as well-meaning, cool and fun and, at worst, a little dippy. Basically only the Missions and Manson come off as truly dark and evil. But this makes sense I suppose, California is a very optimistic place. To Davis’ extensive and well-well-researched list (he mentions and includes a photo of the doorway in Fullerton where PKD had his VALIS experience) I’d only add Almighty Opp, a religious DIY puppet-show/ritual that takes place, as it has for 15 years, once a month on a street corner in Koreatown, LA and the bizarre handmade Disneyland that is Palm Spring’s Robolights. Like everything Davis does this book is great for wikipedia wormholes and endless tangents. I’d love to own a copy but I’m not quite at the buying-coffee table books stage of my economic maturation. Good thing libraries exist. 666 holy shrines.