The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting #6: The Life of Lee Harvey Oswald

The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting

by Joe Biel, Joe Biel

A full and panoramic look at Lee Harvey Oswald's short, conflicted, adventure-filled life is presented in this collection that contains exclusive information and newly declassified documents. It puts into perspective a richly detailed version of the Oswald story, from his birth in 1939 to his historic televised assassination. This is Lee Harvey Oswald the husband, the son, the brother—a man whose personality profile differs wildly from the “Lee as lone-wingnut” theory crafted by the Warren Commission. Much of this information, seen here for the first time in print, humanizes the controversial and polarizing man. Packed with interview text featuring figures as close to Oswald as his wife and mother, this book shows Lee as a confused Marxist, an employee, a soldier, a lover, a people person, a trouble-starter, a world traveler, and a show-off. While the events are from the past, the topics discussed are still heavily relevant: the tactics used by the government in this story are still being employed to this day.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Joe Biel is a writer, activist, journalist, filmmaker, and publisher. He is the founder and co-owner of Microcosm Publishing and co-founder of the Portland Zine Symposium. He often tours the U.S. with his books and films. He has been featured in the Utne Reader, Portland Mercury, Oregonian, Broken Pencil, Readymade, and Bicycle Times.

Reviews

[Dr. Bower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best part of the book, after the “for further reading” list: “Then, Google the names of everyone in this biography and practice your analytical skills to think about what people are and are not saying.”

[Smiley McGrouchpants Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good! I didn't know this much about Lee Harvey OSWALD -- everyone says his life was very odd, and it does seem almost scripted ...

🤔

"I'm just a patsy! I'm just a patsy."
—very strange unprompted thing to say, don't you think ... ?? yeah everybody knows the line, but why say it without blinking like it's the WEATHER ...

Huh.

This one's edited by Adam GNADE, for those keeping track.

Nice!

(C'mon, gang: all together NOW — )

Ha. Well show 'em!!!

We will ...

[Duncan MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it in a few hours. Learned a few new things. However, must state that Michael Paine's father DID NOT invent the helicopter, as this book claims.

[Cherie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Entirely too much info about LHO…writing didn't necessarily entice me to read more.