The Church of the SubGenius is a parody of almost every other religion out there. Every SubGenius member gets Slack: The universe owes you something for nothing! J.R. "Bob" Dobbs (a 1940s-style grinning head with a pipe) must be worshipped unconditionally (and sent money) so when the Xist aliens come to Earth on X-Day (July 5, 1998) all members will be taken aboard the saucers. The Conspiracy wants to steal your slack, and the Pinks follow conformity (but not conformity to "Bob.") Following the "teachings" in The Book of the SubGenius and Revelation X, Rev. Ivan Stang collects more teachings, stories, and bizarre illustrations of this church in The SubGenius Psychlopaedia of Slack: The Bobliographon.Unlike the first two books, The Bobliographon is filled more with anecdotes and illustrations than "official" teachings. Chapters deal with such SubGenius themes as J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, what happened on July 5, 1998, and the Con. There are also whole chapters on fighting normalcy, why suicide is bad (I don't know why that one was necessary here), and how Earth and Mars got switched. The index includes an "Hour of Slack" radio sermon, catalogue, and "Sacred Calendar of SubGenius Saints" that includes fictional characters, porn stars, Godzilla monsters, comics, and more.
The Bobliographon is very similar to the first two SubGenius books -- and that's a good thing. The over-the-top, take-no-prisoners, us-vs.them approach of this "church" remains as silly as ever. ("Then why is it that when we try to celebrate a simple religious rite -- like the decapitation and head launching of a world cup golfer -- we have to use a fake plastic head to do it? The Christians got to fight to the death in giant state-sponsored arenas, but WE can't even launch our own heads!") There's plenty of indignation, contradiction, and demands for blind obedience (plus mailing them $30). This book is a quick, weird, and very fun read! Hail "Bob"!
Overall grade: B+
Reviewed by James Lynch
(who will most likely become a SubGenius ordained minister)
