Ardent Press

Crash Goes the Alphabet

Time for a new one!
by Ian Blumberg-Enge
Fifth Estate # 413, Spring, 2023

a review of
Breaking the Alphabet by Sascha Engel. Ardent Press 2022

Critiques of language and its objectifying, alienating effects are older than history itself (history defined as the linear, language-based story of civilization). Those early incarnations still exist today in mystical and spiritual practices like no-mind meditation, ecstatic dance, and mantra.

Lost Texts of Laurence Labadie on Immediatism podcast

The essay "Anarcho-Pessimism: The Lost Writings of Laurence Labadie," by Chord, has been read on Immediatism podcast over two episodes, 688 and 689. In addition to having introduced each section of the Ardent Press/Little Black Cart book "Anarcho-Pessimism: the Collected Writings of Laurence Labadie," Chord wrote this extensive introduction essay describing Labadie's upbringing, exposure to texts in his father's collection, relation with his father, abandoned attempts at college and career, and eventual interest in anarchism.

Freedom My Dream on Immediatism podcast

"Do you want to be free, and not be exploited? Never let anybody, with no matter what excuse, rule over you!" ...hmm, this anarchy thing sounds neat.

These two episodes of Freedom My Dream: The Autobiography of Enrico Arrigoni will give you a thorough feel for the excitement and riveting adventure prose between its covers. Each chapter tells a narrative of a near escape or stand taken by the protagonist and his "very dear" comrades, in Italy and Spain during the first half of the twentieth century.

3 approaches to Kaczynski, on Immediatism podcast

These three essays offer three ways to approach the actions and writings of Ted Kaczynski. John Jacobi's "Ted Kaczynski and Why He Matters" offers a broad and intriguing overview, including the response to Kaczynski, an answer to the question Was he insane?, and a close look at his ideology and actions, including the deaths. Theresa Kintz's sympathetic "Interview with Ted Kaczynski" describes his life leading up to and during the Unabomber events, discussing his passion for wilderness living. Finally, John Moore's "Beyond the Fragments: A Response to Industrial Society and its Future" offers a critique of the manifesto, reacting directly to Kaczynski's EF persona during the Unabomber events. (The John Moore essay can be found in Anarchist Speculations, from LittleBlackCart.com, published by Ardent Press.). As a bonus, in the episode show notes at Immediatism.com, is a link to a(n unaffiliated) podcast which is readings of some of Kaczynski's lesser known writings.

Civil or Subversive, now on Immediatism Podcast

From Immediatism.com

To coincide with the London Anarchist Bookfair 2020, Immediatism podcast offers two selections from Civil or Subversive: a Dark Matter Collection, Individualist Writings from the UK. Originally published as Anarchism: Civil or Subversive, this book is available from Ardent Press and LittleBlackCart.com.

Enemies of Society, Drawing First Blood

From Immediatism.com

This essay, Drawing First Blood, by Meme, Myself, & I, is the preamble to Enemies of Society: an Anthology of Individualist & Egoist Thought. It is both a broad overview of individualist and egoist thought as well as a deep look at the criticism of these and responses to those criticisms.

Immediatism 99: Manual for Revolutionary Leaders

From Immediatism.com

People in the US, including revolutionaries here, suffer from a lack of historical and international perspective, which would deepen and make more relevant their actions, alliances, and understandings. Originally published in the 70s but still relevant today, presented in the Manual for Revolutionary Leaders are a series of quotations, expository writings, and vignettes that will clarify many of the issues plaguing today's committed radicals.

Reflections on Individualism

Disruptive Elements: The Extremes of French Anarchism

From Immediatism

A dense compendium of old and brand-new translations of a dizzying array of names from the individualist anarchist tendency, mostly from early 20th Century France. New translations from Wolfi Landstreicher, Shawn Wilbur, and vincent stone. Anyone who is interested in this tendency, fans of My Own, Enemies of Society, Stirner’s works, etc., will find much to enjoy and fodder for future research in this book.

Immediatism 82: Brethren of the Coast

On the people publicized as Somali pirates.

From Immediatism.com

First person narratives and interviews with political and economic analysis to contextualize the reality and the public perception of people publicized as pirates (who sometimes are pirates, and sometimes are not), as well as how they are treated when taken into custody, usually far from their homes.

Immediatism 95 Not Utopia: Critical Self-Theory in Practice

The BASTARD Chronicles 2015

From Immediatism

This was a workshop talk given by Jason at the 2015 annual BASTARD Conference, a conference of anarchist theory, and is written up in The BASTARD Chronicles 2015: Utopia & Other Science Fictions, available from LittleBlackCart.com.

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