The origins and history of the Gypsies are obscure, yet their reputation as soothsayers has never diminished over the ages. Leland’s book is well-written and well-researched. Scores of conjurings for all purposes are presented in this book of Gypsy folklore and sorcery. Indeed, the author writes: “As their peculiar perfume is the chief association with spices, so sorcery is allied in every memory to the Gypsies.” Alas, in present-day Los Angeles, one sees less of the romantic, mysterious sorcerer and more of the Gypsy who stops you in a parking lot and asks to pound out the dents in your car for a fee. JB

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 271 pages
Illustrated

Summers was a self-appointed man on a mission from God. He was thoroughly convinced of the truthfulness of every accusation concerning witchcraft and devil worship handed down through the ages. With this concept in mind, Summers embarked upon a singularly curious career in researching, cataloging and collating every such accusation he could lay his hands on. Summers was a highly gifted writer, intelligent, if superstitious, and educated. He wrote a great number of books, all dedicated to his favorite subjects: witchcraft, Satanism and diabolic possessions. The History of Witchcraft is one of the most popular of Summers’ books, which covers all of the aforementioned topics. Nary a lascivious or shocking detail is omitted in his scrutinizing and painstaking work. Here are a few excerpts: Lord Fountainhall, in describing the devilish communion of the Loudian witches, says: “the drink was sometimes blood, sometimes black moss water.” Or this: “when the blasphemous liturgy of the Sabbat was done all present gave themselves up to the most promiscuous debauchery, only interrupting their lasciviousness to dance or to spur themselves on to new enormities by spiced foods and copious draughts of wine.” JB

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 353 pages

Encyclopedia of the world’s deviltry, from AAHLA (Egyptian lower region) to ZWIMBGANANA (African voodoo creature). Sample entry: “TOADS: Witches were especially fond of toads, pampering them as if they were children and dressing them in scarlet silk and green velvet capes for the celebration of the Sabbat. They wore bells around their necks and were baptized at the Sabbat. They were supposed to have in their heads stones which changed color in the presence of poison and could be used as an antidote against it. Pierre Delancre says that a witch ordinarily was attended by several demons. These demons sat on her left shoulder. Having assumed the shape of a two-horned toad, they were visible only to those familiar to witchcraft.” GR

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 349 pages

Cornerstone of conspiracy research, with the Thuggee stranglers of India, Russian castration cults (Skoptsis), the Knights Templar, Rosicrucians, the Tongs and Hassan-i-Sabah (founder of the Hashishin, or Assassins).

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 256 pages
Illustrated

“As every good Hayduker knows, any repressive society offers vast opportunities for excitement, humor and payback for those willing to assume minor risks on behalf of freedom and the repressed. For too many people, resignation to al of that repression is the lock on their lives. The ideas and the fun in my books are the key that will open that repressive lock. The tumblers of that lock of repression also respond to the picks of humor, satire and irony. Indeed, the great power of irony is its subtle and lasting effect. My idea is to lightly etch a lasting scar on your mark’s memory (rather than the direct force of blunt, troglodyte trauma).” Easy-to-follow plans for fun with bumper stickers, a can of snakes, farts, homophobia, smegma, televangelists and more.”

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 176 pages

Original monkey-wrencher George Hayduke suggests scenarios for getting even with the irritating and the ignorant, whether they be land-raping multinationals, Uncle Sam, or the benighted befouler of a favorite shirt. NN

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 208 pages

“More low-down, sneaky, disreputable, maddening and mostly illegal scenarios for payback time from George Hayduke, the “hyena in swine’s clothing.” NN

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 138 pages

“Eat a colorful portion of your meal,” then swallow one ounce or less of a vomit-inducer that contains the pharmaceutical ipecac. “In about ten minutes you will be wracked by projectile vomiting. Be creative and use all your acting ability here to get maximum splatter and audience effect . . . move erratically and quickly among the other diners as you appear to be headed toward the bathroom. Your real objective, of course, is to strafe as many people as possible with your vomitus.” And hundreds of other get-even tricks “to strike yet another blow for the little guy.” GR

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 209 pages

"Random recipes for revenge from a known bully-buster and his prankish allies—Captain Video, The Razor, Dirk Smegma, Belzebubba, Magic Z, Biggus Piraphicus, The Gooch, Prairie Dog, et al. Learn to make vengeful use of common things like glue, trash, pornography, chicken parts, roadkill and graffiti. (Also learn how not to get caught). From Mayhem, under “Toilets”: “Your mark goes into the stall, slips down his or her pants, slacks, skirts, whatever . . . You stoop smartly down in front of the stall door and very quickly, briskly, and with great vigor, grab the skirt, pants or whatever and yank them toward you as fast and hard as you can. The immediate goal is to totally depants your mark. Hopefully, this will include the mark’s underwear as well. You then leave the bathroom area, keeping the garments, giving them to some needy soul outside, or tossing them in the nearest waste receptacle. “Meanwhile, what of the mark, sitting there with no pants, skirt, underwear, etc.? Yes, what of the mark? I know I’m laughing already.” GR

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 229 pages

“Random recipes for revenge from a known bully-buster and his prankish allies—Captain Video, The Razor, Dirk Smegma, Belzebubba, Magic Z, Biggus Piraphicus, The Gooch, Prairie Dog, et al. Learn to make vengeful use of common things like glue, trash, pornography, chicken parts, roadkill and graffiti. (Also learn how not to get caught). From Mayhem, under “Toilets”: “Your mark goes into the stall, slips down his or her pants, slacks, skirts, whatever . . . You stoop smartly down in front of the stall door and very quickly, briskly, and with great vigor, grab the skirt, pants or whatever and yank them toward you as fast and hard as you can. The immediate goal is to totally depants your mark. Hopefully, this will include the mark’s underwear as well. You then leave the bathroom area, keeping the garments, giving them to some needy soul outside, or tossing them in the nearest waste receptacle. “Meanwhile, what of the mark, sitting there with no pants, skirt, underwear, etc.? Yes, what of the mark? I know I’m laughing already.” GR

Publisher: Lyle Stuart
Paperback: 211 pages