cover image Sectas, Ritos y Taumaturgos = Sects, Rites, and Miracle Workers

Sectas, Ritos y Taumaturgos = Sects, Rites, and Miracle Workers

Tomas Doreste. Grupo Oceano, $24.65 (257pp) ISBN 978-970-651-404-2

Doreste's latest contribution to esoteric literature reveals that, in ages past, those who possessed special knowledge about natural phenomena jealously guarded their secrets, sharing them only with other initiates in ritualized ceremonies. Doreste has compiled a great deal of revelatory information on magicians, early scientists, astrologers, and spiritualists, as well as on their societies and initiation rituals. The 17 chapters proceed chronologically, from ancient civilization to modern times, and are introduced with such intriguing titles as ""The Minds That Govern the World,"" ""The Much Debated Story of the Fox Sisters,"" and ""The Man Who Said He Was Satan's Friend."" A good storyteller and a skillful writer, Dorestes has achieved great popularity with books such as Las sociedades secretas (The Secret Societies, Oceano, 1997) and Ya viene el apocalipisis (The Apocalypse Is on Its Way, Oceano, 1999). This volume is recommended for public libraries and browsing collections in bookstores. Ceres Birkhead, Univ. of Utah Lib., Salt Lake City