The Masters of Atlantis

The predilection of humans to involve themselves in cults is a perplexing topic that requires years of study and stacks of dictionary-sized psychology books in order to understand. Or... ...you can just read Masters of Atlantis then move on to your degree. Charles Portis continues to hold me in awe with his deadpan comic genius. His silly plots read humorously on the surface, and move at a good clip, but suddenly one realizes that there is so very, very much more going on. Where do cults come from and why do (presumably) rational people involve themselves in the nutty things? Portis' take on the topic spells it out in plain humor: an accidental encounter, an impressionable young man, the hangers on, the manipulators, and, gasp, the true believer who spawns a whole philosophy derived from the antics of a con man. Strangely enough, he begins to discern subtle truths about the nature of the universe. When the government gets involved things get sillier yet, but don't just write this off as fiction, we've all seen Congressional hearings; Charles Poris has got their number. Line your Charles Portis books up next to your Kurt Vonnegut-they make great companions.

I know the term 'best ever' is thrown out there too often and is in most cases downright cliche. But with this book, funniest book ever is an understatement. If you're a fan of deadpan, dry humor with witty dialouge and eccentric characters this book is for you. The first 50 pages are a bit slow in setting up the rest of the story, but from then on I was hanging on every sentence, not wanting it to end. The character of Austin Popper is one of the most eccentric, off the wall, and laugh out loud characters ever written. Let me put in the analogy of a movie. If you liked 'Royal Tennenbaums', this book is right up your alley. It has that kind of dry, acidic wit and tongue in cheek humor. If you're more of an 'American Pie' kind of person, you may be left scratching your head and wondering what the hell just happened.

This book is an American classic, and many people will enjoy it. But speaking as a 14 year vetern of an occult fraternity, the scariest thing about the book is that it is really a lot like real life in the occult community! Many people who have been involved in Occult lodges and organizations will recognize the characters in this book, and may even see a bit of themselves! Most people don't know it, but this book has been an underground hit in the Occult community, with copies being passed around and even pomas being made and worn! Buy it for the terrific humor and excellent writing, but if you're a member of an Occult group - buy it to examine yourself and your friends!

Portis sees deeply into the American psyche, and the results are hilarious. Conspiracy theories, weird new religions, rampant materialism disguised as spirituality, extreme personal behavior, self-delusion masquerading as philosphy and history--it's all here. And yet the novel is compassionate, even tender. What a wide open, goofily free nation this is. We here in the USA are uncontrollably eccentric, maybe even just plain nuts: but we wouldn't have it any other way.

What a total treat and joy to discover this terrific novel. I would put it in the same league as 'Confederacy of Dunces" and that is high cotton indeed. As another reviewer mentioned, the deadpan humor is maintained beautifully from start to finish. I understand why some people might not "get" Portis or find his books to be particularly funny. This genius will not be to everyone's taste. "Masters" is odd and it deals with marginal and strange characters and it's somewhat of an eclectic style of deadpan humor. If you haven't read any Portis, it might be best to start with "Dog of the South." If that doesn't make you laugh, give it up. If it does, read everything the man wrote. It's all great and "Masters" is, I think, the best of all.