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Ramsey Dukes is a pen name of Lionel Snell, a contemporary magician, publisher and author on magick and philosophy.
In his youth, Snell enjoyed a series of scholarships. They brought him to Cambridge, where his writings on Austin Osman Spare and magical theory brought him into contact with the young chaos magic movement in the 1970s. He had been interested in the occult before, but this comparatively rigorous and modern style of it, largely shaped by fellow scientist Peter Carroll, drew his special attention.
In 1977, he performed a well-known, but very rarely attempted ritual called the Abramelin operation.
Since 1972 he has written and published several books noted for their impact on late 20th century magick, and humor. The ones most often referred to may be SSOTBME - An Essay on Magic (1974) and Thundersqueak(1978). Words Made Flesh ((1987) is written from a more philosophical point of view and notable for its original outline of the "information model" magic theory that our universe could be a virtual reality - as later explored in The Matrix. It is an example of the author's ongoing studies in the relationship between magic and rationalism.
Dukes has worked on the subject of magic with diverse associates including the Ordo Templi Orientis and Illuminates of Thanateros.
Works include:
- SSOTMBE - An Essay on Magic
- Thundersqueak
- Words Made Flesh
- BLAST your way to megabucks with my SECRET sex-power formula
- The Good, the Bad the Funny
- Hellgate Chronicles
- What I Did in My Holidays: Essays on Black Magic, Satanism, Devil Worship and Other Niceties
- "Uncle Ramsey's Little Book of Demons"
BLAST... has been published in German as Zaster-Blaster, Zapp Dir den Weg zum GiGaGeld mit meiner GEHEIMEN SEX-KRAFT-FORMEL.
"Ramsey Dukes"