The Zarkon Principle: Can Man Become a God?
Published by Everest Books Ltd., 4 Valentine Place, London First Edition 1974
One of the most mysterious books I remember reading as a boy was a 1974 pseudoscience classic The Zarkon Principle, that deals with, well, conspiracy theories, the illuminati, higher dimensions and the “science” behind them. I also recall enjoying the beautiful quotes and literary references given at the start of each chapter, such as Albert Einstein‘s famous quote:
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead, his eyes are closed.”
The book’s author, an enigmatic mystery man called Zarkon (who else?), then gives us his insights into a wide range of fields including the history of astronomy, alchemy, freemasonry, and theosophy, whilst exploring some of the mysteries which have puzzled mankind throughout the ages (pyramids, stonehenge, etc). Zarkon even treats us to an alternate take on the lives of Jesus Christ, Aleister Crowley, and even Adolph Hitler, before finally giving us his prediction on mankinds ultimate fate/destiny.
It is telling, for example, that over the years tales of alien astronauts passing on technologies and religions to ancient civilizations continue to be popular plot devices in many science fiction movies, including 2001, Battlestar Galactica, The Thing, Predator vs Aliens, Prometheus, and Transformers, to name a few.
Interesting Fact
Despite his other worldly name, Zarkon was actually Kenneth Rayner Johnson, an author whose other works include “Zoltan, Hound of Dracula” (1977), and “The Fulcanelli Phenomenon: Story of a Twentieth Century Alchemist” (1980). Interestingly, Johnson’s true identity was revealed in 1996 after he released a revised version of his book entitled Armageddon 2000, in anticipation of his Zarkon predictions coming true in the year 2000 (they did not).
It’s wonderful to learn that others have read and enjoyed this book, which is so memorable for me. Ever since, I still feel that the theory of Jesus in India is correct. The only points where we differ are: (a) Zarkon’s lack of belief in the afterlife, and (b) Aleister Crowley’s teachings, which I have learned to see in a more positive light in the intervening years.
I love the disclaimer in parenthesis at the end of the review about the events of the year 2000. Is this as reflexive and philosophically opening as “the morning of the magicians”?
I too was mesmerized by this book growing up as a boy in rural Jamaica.
I used every opportunity to share the contents with my friends. So much so I was known as Zarkon around the community.
Thanks for the comment, Summersqual. A great book. I lent mine out a while back and it never found its way home. As Zarkon wrote: “If this text makes only one person think, then it has served it’s purpose.”