• Publisher: Feral House
• Release Date: Jul 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781936239047

Encyclopaedia of Hell: An Invasion Manual For Demons

Encyclopaedia of Hell: An Invasion Manual for Demons Concerning the Planet Earth and the Human Race reviewed by ComiXology (comixology.com)

Purported to be authored by the greatest critic humanity has ever dreamed up, Satan himself, Encyclopædia pushes satire to a new, ferocious level. While the text might not actually originate from another dimension as alleged, it may as well have, so surreal and inspired is Olson's wit.

At its core a twisted Twain-ian takedown of modern society, Encyclopædia approaches our culture from the perspective of Satan and his demon associates, who try to make sense of mankind in preparation for a full scale invasion of Earth. Olson meticulously constructs an entire new (and highly blasphemous) mythological framework to satirize human folly. Money and television are plagues conceived and engineered by demons to weaken the population of "human livestock." 23 percent of all people, it is claimed, are actually Demons in disguise, setting the stage for Satan's invasion of earth.

Olson delivers his barbs through an impressively intricate meta-narrative representing one of the fresher approaches to storytelling structures. The sprawling "Encyclopædia" is replete with countless introductions, publisher's notes, weird secret codes and "invisible messages" from God. The treatise itself is peppered with footnotes and commentaries from Satan and no fewer than nine distinct infernal "executives," each with a unique background and personality. The result is a dense, multi-layered assault on the mind exceptionally well-tailored to the deranged subject matter.

The text consists of two "Books." The first is an Invasion Manual, with instructions for an unholy takeover of Earth by Satan's fleets of "pentagonal hellcrafts." Annexing earth's land-mass to hell is necessary, it is explained in Voltairean deadpan, because Hell has become too crowded. The nuts and bolts of the invasion are relayed in precise, detailed fashion, from the Mapquest-esque directions through space-time to Earth from the City of Hell. The second Book dissects earth through the lenses of Satan and his minions. Here Olson is at his best in channeling Twain, at no point shying away from any topic or taboo in his mission of cultural subversion.

The rich, macabre illustrations of Tony Millionaire and Mahendra Singh (with contributions from other artists) are the perfect backdrop for this impressive work. Their elaborate classical illustrations create an air of authority to the Encyclopædia's descriptions of fantastical entities and cosmos-turning Wheels.

Highly recommended.