Popular Witchcraft

Originally published in 1972, the second edition of Dr. Jack Fritscher's "Popular Witchcraft; Straight From The Witch's Mouth" is an intriguing read on many levels. Probably the most important is that, in this edition, Dr. Fritscher's notorious interview with the late Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey is published in full. LaVey is said to have thought this was his favorite published interview, and it is easy to see why. Dr. Fritscher allowed LaVey free range on a number of topics without condescending to the topic or gunning for the sensationalist angle. LaVey, relaxed by the situation, expounds on topics ranging from Governmental manipulation of minorities throughout history to why he thought Tuesday Weld was the perfect woman. Then, towards the end of the book. Dr Fritscher prints out the text of interviews he'd conducted with other witches during the course of researching "Popular Witchcraft." These offer the most insight, as each of the interview subjects touch on topics most pertinent to them (and their thoughts on other witches, who, in LaVey's terms, are almost like rock stars). Out of the remaining interviews, the most interesting is Sabaean Pontifex Maximus Frederic De Arechaga. (Who, in Firstcher's terms, is a 'handful.') In the book's meaty midsection, the topic of how witchcraft and all things mystic have infiltrated the modern world is laid out with a dizzying array of interconnecting pop cultural circumstances and historical facts. The main interlocking premise of which seems to state that gays and witches are primarily in the same boat. As oppressed minorities, both groups find themselves banished, censored and otherwise oppressed and scapegoated. Be they new agers, Satanists, Old Religion or QueerEvil eyes for the straight guys, you can always count on the eventual fear factor to come in with the censor scissors. To that end, "Popular Witchcraft" is both important historically and seriously fun. After all, where else are you going to read about how witchcraft touches everyone from Andy Warhol to William Shatner?