Q: Can it be true, Alex, are you really publishing your third book in less than three months?
A: Not only it can be, but it actually is true.
Q: What is this all about?
A: The book’s full title is «Manifesto for the Resistance against the Velvet Tyranny of Mundane». It consists of 1,600 posits, which, in full honesty, are very loosely structured around its main thematic axis.
Q: What is a posit? And what is the book’s main thematic axis?
A: A posit is a philosophical statement that is made on the assumption that it will prove to be true. So, there you have it. It’s of course up to the reader to ascertain whether my posits resonate with them and whether and how they can go about in order to «prove» their truth. I should here probably clarify that these posits cover any area of human life imaginable and they range from being sharply straightforward to enigmatically obscure.
As for the book’s main thematic axis, it is challenging to summarize it in few words, but how can I claim to be called a writer if I cannot give it a shot? So, the key notion entertained in «Manifesto» is that humanity is in grave danger of becoming fully subjected to the most devious, deceiving, fleeting, suppressing and far-reaching regime to have ever emerged in its history. This is the regime upon which I have conferred the name: «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane». I believe that these three words («velvet», «tyranny», «mundane») and their combination already provide a strong indication of what this is all about.
Q: Hold on, now, you are not allowed to get away that easily; could you be a bit more explicit on this «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane», why is it dangerous and the ways in which you propose to resist against it?
A: The «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane» is a totalitarian regime in making, which has almost reached its full blossoming stage. Its agenda is being acceleratingly unfolded on all crucial fronts concerning all aspects of common human activity (social, political, economical, cultural, way of living), while its many agents act, consciously or inadvertently, in a ruthlessly effective and coordinated fashion in or around any locus of true power in this world. Out of both of the two most iconic works of 20th century literature on totalitarian regimes exercising absolute control over the mass human population, George Orwell’s «1984» and Aldus Huxley’s «Brave New World», the «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane» has carefully selected the elements it has evaluated as being the most optimally functioning when it comes to mega-scale control of human behavior. In other words, it’s a two-direction – simultaneously top-down and bottom-up – regime, which has become so powerful exactly because the overwhelming majority of people either embrace its principles and act as proponents of its agenda, in a «useful idiot» fashion, or are paralyzed and dare not react against it out of fear but also (and more importantly) desperation, in the sense that they see its ever-tightening ruling over their lives as a «one-way street».
Let me also add that the «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane» is in the last stages of developing an executive arm, codenamed «Administration», which serves as the concrete condensation and crystallization of its power. While this event renders this existential threat for humanity even more imminent and clear, it also provides for an opportunity to escape from the nightmare: if a loosely structured and action-oriented Resistance were to be formed with an aim to destroy the «Administration» and was actually successful, this would automatically lead to the toppling of the «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane». I believe this would happen because the latter: 1) has already ceded a critical portion of its power to the «Administration»; and 2) it will be unavoidably exposed for what it truly is once the Resistance begins to actually pose a threat to it.
Q: Anything more on the Resistance?
A: Nothing for the moment, other perhaps than the fact that it remains a purely theoretical construction and that I believe it is meant to be led by a very special girl. The rest can be found in the book.
Q: OK, I must admit that this all sounds interesting. This being said, it is also worryingly reminiscent of some of the craziest conspiracy theories that have been in circulation for quite some time now. How would you respond to those (and I have a feeling there will be many of them) who will be quick to dismiss your book as nothing more than the product of a deranged, conspiracy-obsessed intellect?
A: Well, there are many ways to respond to this. One, it is a standard practice of the «Velvet Tyranny of Mundane» and its Administration to label anything that is truly critical of them as some sort of «conspiracy theory», thereby dumping it in a virtual «landfill» in the eyes of the overwhelming majority of the population. And it is true that this «landfill» is chock-full of «nut-job» theories of one kind or the other. However, I am also mindful that such counter-argument on my side may entrap me in some kind of circular reference argumentation circle, so let’s leave it aside.
For me the key to distinguishing on whether a theory has a solid basis on, resonance with and relevance to reality or is merely trash always lies within each individual recipient of such theory. If you think about it, this always boils down to the internal filter mechanism found within the mental perception and processing setup of each individual reader, who are thus invited to assess what makes sense for them and what doesn’t. And as every good writer, I have tons of good faith when it comes to each and every one of my readers. At the end of the day, if you like what you read in «Manifesto» and you resonate with it, let alone being prompted to act as a result of it, wonderful. If not, also wonderful.
As a final note, let me just add that, paradoxically, a healthy and well-functioning mind is required to also be deranged, if at a controllable rate.
Q: Alright, one more question before we proceed to the practicalities: could you please give your potential reader a final good reason for them to obtain and read your «Manifesto»?
A: I think what’s really fun about my «Manifesto» is that you, as a reader, are really not required to apply the conventional pattern of reading a book, or any text for that matter, when approaching it; ergo read it from the very first posit all the way through to the very last. You can actually randomly open the book up, at any page, and start reading at your will and pace. In fact, this is the way I would recommend a reader to go about exploring «Manifesto». Think of it as a living museum, catered for by an extremely idiosyncratic curator, who is as passionate for provocation as they are for the avantgarde and who are also very allergic to the conventional way of ordering things (imagine a Pollock hanging right next to a statue of perfect and symmetrical beauty from the classical Ancient Greek times depicting a Goddess, which, in its turn, is right next to a video art installation projecting gory scenes inspired by Japanese manga art).
All in all, this is also a perfect book for the playful reader, who is open to experimentation and who sometimes may even be willing to accept something for its strangely enigmatic and magnetic beauty rather than its straightforwardness or practical application.
Q: So, tell us where we can get your new book.
A: The Amazon Kindle version of «Manifesto» is already available for pre-order.
Its official publication date is 11 December, when it will also be available in paperback format.
As a reminder, by following the below links, you may access my other two recently published books:
«White City», and
Happy and enjoyable reads!
Very final thing: should you do me the honor of purchasing one or more of my books, please don’t forget to rate and review them in Amazon!
Warmest regards,
