Robert Joseph Shea (February 14, 1933 – March 10, 1994) was an American

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

and former

journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...

best known as co-author with

Robert Anton Wilson Robert Anton Wilson (born Robert Edward Wilson; January 18, 1932 – January 11, 2007) was an American author, futurist, psychologist, and self-described agnostic mystic. Recognized within Discordianism as an Episkopos, pope and saint, Wilson ...

of the

science fantasy Science fantasy is a hybrid genre within speculative fiction that simultaneously draws upon or combines tropes and elements from both science fiction and fantasy. In a conventional science fiction story, the world is presented as being scientif ...

trilogy ''

Illuminatus! ''The Illuminatus! Trilogy'' is a series of three novels by American writers Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, first published in 1975.''Illuminatus!'' was written between 1969 and 1971, but not published until 1975 according to Robert Anto ...

'' It became a cult success and was later turned into a marathon-length stage show put on at the British National Theatre and elsewhere. In 1986 it won the

Prometheus Hall of Fame Award The Prometheus Award is an award for libertarian science fiction novels given annually by the Libertarian Futurist Society. American author and activist L. Neil Smith established the award in 1979, but it was not awarded regularly until the newl ...

. Shea went on to write several action novels based in exotic historical settings.

Other works

Shea wrote several historical action novels, including '' Shike'' (1981), a two-volume novel set in Ancient Japan about the warrior monk Jebu and his love Lady Shima Taniko, ''

All Things Are Lights Robert Joseph Shea (February 14, 1933 – March 10, 1994) was an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy '' Illuminatus!'' It became a cult success and was later turn ...

'' (1986), and ''

The Saracen ''The Saracen'' is a two-part novel written by Robert Shea. The continuous tale has two separate portions: ''The Land of the Infidel'' and ''The Holy War''. Basically ignored during its publication and then out of print although still enjoying st ...

'', a novel published in two volumes in 1989 depicting the struggle between a blond Muslim warrior called Daoud ibn Abdullah and his French crusader adversary, Simon de Gobignon. His last published book was the Native American tale ''Shaman'' (1991). ''

'' and the outline for the unfinished novel '' Children of Earthmaker'' have been released under a

Creative Commons Creative Commons (CC) is an American non-profit organization and international network devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has release ...

license and are available to read and copy at Robert Shea's website. ''Lady Yang'' was finished but never published; a Creative Commons online version is in the works by Shea's son Michael. Three of his lectures and two panel discussions he participated in were recorded when he was a featured speaker at both the Starwood Festival and the WinterStar Symposium (both with and without Robert Anton Wilson) and produced by the Association for Consciousness Exploration. For several years, Shea edited the anarchist

zine A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published Self-publishing is the publication of media by its author at their own cost, without the involvement of a publisher. The term usually refers to writ ...

No Governor No (and variant writings) may refer to one of these articles: English language * ''Yes'' and ''no'' (responses) * A determiner in noun phrases Alphanumeric symbols * No (kana), a letter/syllable in Japanese script * No symbol, displayed � ...

''. The title comes from a quote attributed to

Zhuangzi Zhuangzi may refer to: * ''Zhuangzi'' (book) (莊子), an ancient Chinese collection of anecdotes and fables, one of the foundational texts of Daoism **Zhuang Zhou Zhuang Zhou (), commonly known as Zhuangzi (; ; literally "Master Zhuang"; als ...

, "There is no governor anywhere." The zine was mentioned in and read by one of the characters in ''Illuminatus!''. Clipped from the Robert J. Shea Tribute page: :Robert Joseph Shea attended Manhattan Prep, Manhattan College and

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...

and worked as a magazine editor in New York and Los Angeles. In the 60's he edited the Playboy Forum where he met Robert Anton Wilson, with whom he collaborated on Illuminatus! After publishing Illuminatus!, Bob left Playboy to become a full time novelist. His novels include: ''Shike'', set in medieval Japan; ''All Things Are Lights'', a story that entwines the fate of

Cathars Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Fol ...

of southern France with the occult traditions of Courtly Love and the

troubadours A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a ''trobairi ...

; ''The Saracen'', describing the intricate politics of medieval Italy through the eyes of an Islamic warrior; ''Shaman'', tracing the fate of the survivors of the

Black Hawk War The Black Hawk War was a conflict between the United States and Native Americans led by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis (Fox), and Kickapoos, known as the "British Band", crosse ...

in 19th century

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

; ''Lady Yang'', a tragic story of an idealistic empress of medieval China. Shea was a resident of

Glencoe, Illinois Glencoe () is a lakefront village in northeastern Cook County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,849. Glencoe is part of Chicago's North Shore and is located within the New Trier High School District. Glenc ...

He was survived by his son, Michael E. Shea, and his second wife, author

Patricia Monaghan Patricia Monaghan (February 15, 1946, – November 11, 2012) was a poet, a writer, a spiritual activist, and an influential figure in the contemporary women's spirituality movement. Monaghan wrote over 20 books on a range of topics including Go ...

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Bibliography

* ''

The Illuminatus! Trilogy ''The Illuminatus! Trilogy'' is a series of three novels by American writers Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, first published in 1975.''Illuminatus!'' was written between 1969 and 1971, but not published until 1975 according to Robert Anto ...

'' (with

) Full Trilogy printed December 1, 1983 by Dell: , ** ''The Eye in the Pyramid'' (1975) Dell ** ''The Golden Apple'' (1975) Dell ** ''Leviathan'' (1975) ISBN Dell * '' Shike'' (January 13, 1992) Two in One version: Ballantine Books ** ''Time of the Dragons'' (June 1, 1981) Jove ** ''Last of the Zinja'' (July 1, 1981) Jove * ''All Things Are Lights'' (April 12, 1986) Ballantine Books

* ''

From No Man's Land to Plaza del Lago Robert Joseph Shea (February 14, 1933 – March 10, 1994) was an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy '' Illuminatus!'' It became a cult success and was later turn ...

'' (October 1987) Amer References , * ''

'' - both books available as free downloads from Project Gutenber

an

** ''Land of the Infidel'' (February 13, 1989) Ballantine Books, ** ''The Holy War'' (March 13, 1989) Ballantine Books * ''Shaman'' (February 20, 1991) Ballantine Books - Available as a free download from Project Gutenber

Recorded lectures & panel discussions

* ''A Meeting With Robert Shea'', ACE * ''Writing and Mysticism'', ACE * ''Magic in the Central Empire'', ACE * ''The Once and Future Legend'' (panel discussion with Ariana Lightningstorm,

, Jeff Rosenbaum, Rev.

Ivan Stang Ivan Stang (born Douglass St. Clair Smith; August 21, 1953) is an American writer, filmmaker and broadcaster, best known as the author and publisher of the first screed of the Church of the SubGenius. He is credited with founding the Church wi ...

, and

), ACE * ''What IS the Conspiracy, Anyway?'' (Panel Discussion with

Anodea Judith Anodea Judith (born Judith Ann Mull, December 1, 1952, Elyria, OhioGuiley, Rosemary Ellen, (1999) ''The Encyclopedia Of Witches and Witchcraft''. Facts on File; 2nd edition p.180) is an American author, therapist, and public speaker on the chakra ...

, Jeff Rosenbaum, Rev. Ivan Stang, and Robert Anton Wilson), ACE

References

External links

Robert Shea's Official Website
Robert J. Shea's official website maintained by his son, Michael E. Shea. The site includes creative commons licensed versions of ''All Things Are Lights'' and other works. * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shea, Robert Novels by Robert Shea 1933 births 1994 deaths 20th-century American novelists American anarchists American historical novelists American male novelists Manhattan College alumni Playboy people 20th-century American male writers