In today’s reading, we look at a segment from Book 3 in which Ariel Hawsquill, scion of a famous theosophist, discusses the mysterious Russell Eigenblick with her group of politicians, bankers and billionaires. At this point in the novel, we take a turn from the surreal and enter a world of secret histories and espionage. The fact that this transition in genres is handled with such aplomb is a testament to Crowley’s prowess.

Today, fairies come and kidnap Smoky and Sophie’s b*****d child. Changelings abound in this weird and wild episode, which will see little daughter Lilac living in the world of faerie.

On today’s talk, we get a look at what it’s like to fall into faerieworld. Smoky and his wife are out for a walk on a rainy afternoon when suddenly Smoky finds himself in the house of the Underhills: faerie people who speak mysteriously about his future. The whole scene is charged with wonder, and, as every good vision should, leaves Smoky and the reader scratching their heads, wondering at what they’ve just seen.

In today’s section, Auberon (Daily Alice’s uncle) ventures into the woods with his camera to take pictures of his nieces…and realizes everything around him is alive. Naturally, he falls back to Darwin to rationalize the existence of this underground kingdom. One thing is for certain: the world is a much wider and weirder place than we imagined.

In today’s section, we get a speech by Oliver Hawskill, a theosophist out to prove the existence of fairies (elementals, hobgoblins, etc.) by capitalizing on the visions of his daughter. He is also Violet Bramble’s first lover, and their relationship will later produce Auberon. This speech represents a fascinating account for the existence of fairies, and how one might access their world.

Stormy days, prophecies, weddings…and long sentences! Crowley’s colorful prosody is on full display in this passage from chapter two, which looks ahead to the wedding of Smoky Barnacle and Daily Alice, and foreshadows the dark forces that lie ahead.

In this wonderful little section, we meet Daily’s sister Sophie, who tells Daily about a dream she had in which time was packaged up into little boxes to be saved for later. Once again, Crowley proves an expert at creating these surreal, wonderful little moments so indicative of the novel’s atmosphere, tone, and themes.

Smoky recalls speaking with Daily Alice, the woman who would become his wife. She knows more than she should and tells him that she had known he’d become her husband for years, ever since she crossed through a rainbow and was prophecied to by a talking dog.