The Necronomicon for Beginners: Unveiling the Secrets of the Simon Necronomicon Paperback – Illustrated, February 1, 2012

Lacks sigils.Critiques the Simon Necronomicon.Attempts to validate Necronomicon beyond Lovecraft.Prose poetry prenented as invocations.Better written than his other book.Gate sigils abound.

The Necronomicon for Beginners is a critique on the Simon Necronomicon based on the premise that the author believes it to be a "broken" grimoire, not in the sense that it doesn't work but that it is misrepresented and incomplete.In this book Joshua Free guides the reader through the Simon Necronomicon, chapter by chapter, and mainly points out differences between Simon's material and his own. In a way he kind of lays out his own Mardukite system next to Simon's for the sake of comparison. Much of the book talks about how much paranoid and Lovecraftian ideas were weaved in throughout the text, most likely in an attempt to give it the flavor seekers wanted and to weed out the squeamish. Even Simonian practitioners can vouch for these negative exaggerations and how they shouldn't be taken too seriously, though the work itself is not to be taken lightly.I should specify that the author doesn't come across as putting down Simon's work. He even makes note that the endeavor at the time was monumental, though perhaps a little misguided.As a fan of the author it saddens me to say that, while this was an interesting read, this is probably my least favorite title. The book was enjoyable, I just don't feel like I came away with anything valuable after reading it, perhaps because I've become so familiar with his other works. Serious Simon followers, however, may get some food for thought.

Thanks for sending me 'The Necronomicon for Beginners: Unveiling the Secrets of the Simon Necronomicon'. I think it's great since I own a leather bound copy of the Necronomicon.