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City of Pillars
Men In Black...An Ancient Manuscript...A City that Isn't Supposed to Exist...No matter how paranoid you are, you're not paranoid enough! Mitchell Sinclair is an innocent man who accidentally comes into possession of an ancient text. Soon he is being chased to the ends of the earth, pursued by shadowy forces who seem intent on getting the book back and eliminating all evidence of it. As he attempts to stay alive and translate the mysterious document he uncovers horrific and ominous details of an ancient, worldwide conspiracy. But the question is, can he find the answers he seeks before he loses everything? City of Pillars charts one man's journey into madness, past the narrow confines of Western notions of reason and scientific reality. As he decodes more and more of the secrets of the City of Pillars, Sinclair is pushed farther and farther outside the bounds of traditional society and is forced to discard his morality piece by piece to stay alive. He is forced to answer the How far a I willing to go to uncover the truth?
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Dominic Peloso
16 books25 followersThe author has tried a number of methods to make people cry over the years — pulling their pigtails, putting spiders in their lunch, waterboarding, and telling them that he loves them when he knows in his heart it isn't true, but he's found that the most effective way by far is by making comic strips to post on the internet.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 9, 2011
This is one of the few books that I have ever intentionally read more than three times. It is one of those books where I found myself having to read it again and again to see if I could discover the secrets to the City of Pillars.
From the get go Mr. Peloso produces an ancient manuscript, men in black, a city that isn’t supposed to exist and one man’s journey into madness? Or maybe Sinclair isn’t crazy. Maybe . . . just maybe he has fallen into a wormhole past the narrow confines of Western notions of reason and scientific reality. As he decodes more and more about the secrets of the City of Pillars, Sinclair is pushed farther and farther outside the bounds of traditional society and is forced to discard his morality piece by piece to stay alive until he is forced to answer the question: How far am I willing to go to uncover the truth.
After reading this book I wonder how far I would be willing to go. I have often dreamed of the City of Pillars despite the realization that I truly hope that I never find Irem because if that door was opened to me . . . would I be able to go through it? Because the only thing I am certain of in this book is, once you cross the threshold and gain entrance to Irem you can never, ever come back.
I searched for more information and tried to contact the author through all the usual methods, all to no avail. The only things I know about him through third-hand and unreliable accounts is that he has interests in esoteric Gnostic religions, hermeticism, particle physics, 80’s dreampop and that he sometimes wears black but adamantly denies being affiliated in any way with the Knights Templar, Illuminati, or the Rosicrucians.
Like Irem, I wonder if Peloso whose name has a Kabbalistic value of 284 is really an illusion . . . .or maybe he discovered the City of Pillars.
From the get go Mr. Peloso produces an ancient manuscript, men in black, a city that isn’t supposed to exist and one man’s journey into madness? Or maybe Sinclair isn’t crazy. Maybe . . . just maybe he has fallen into a wormhole past the narrow confines of Western notions of reason and scientific reality. As he decodes more and more about the secrets of the City of Pillars, Sinclair is pushed farther and farther outside the bounds of traditional society and is forced to discard his morality piece by piece to stay alive until he is forced to answer the question: How far am I willing to go to uncover the truth.
After reading this book I wonder how far I would be willing to go. I have often dreamed of the City of Pillars despite the realization that I truly hope that I never find Irem because if that door was opened to me . . . would I be able to go through it? Because the only thing I am certain of in this book is, once you cross the threshold and gain entrance to Irem you can never, ever come back.
I searched for more information and tried to contact the author through all the usual methods, all to no avail. The only things I know about him through third-hand and unreliable accounts is that he has interests in esoteric Gnostic religions, hermeticism, particle physics, 80’s dreampop and that he sometimes wears black but adamantly denies being affiliated in any way with the Knights Templar, Illuminati, or the Rosicrucians.
Like Irem, I wonder if Peloso whose name has a Kabbalistic value of 284 is really an illusion . . . .or maybe he discovered the City of Pillars.
February 7, 2014
Loved the ending!
September 22, 2012
the first third of the book was rather promising, when Mitchell receives a strange manuscript and is then chased by mysterious men. But then it gets very repetitive, mysteries are talked about but not elaborated and the author tells you all the time that he has discovered the secrets but won't tell you cause you couldn't live with the knowledge...
September 9, 2012
(I got this book a few months ago through Goodreads's giveaway/first reads program.)
I hesitated a lot about which mark to give it. I'd probably put it at 2.5/5; for want of half-stars to give here, I'll leave it at 2 for now. It wasn't an unpleasant read, it has its good sides, but I think that having had to read it in little chunks wasn't a good choice; it's the kind of story that would probably be better enjoyed in one or two sittings only.
Being an old reader of Lovecraft and similar tales, of course a plot about men in black, a mysterious city, and a mysterious manuscript leading to it was bound to catch my interest. It alludes to the lost city of Irem mentioned in the Quran, as well as to HPL's "The Nameless City" (which was inspired by that very Irem too). The story revolves around Mitchell Sinclair, a money-hungry American lawyer whose life is turned upside down when he is accidentally handed out an old manuscript. The events set in motion by this mistake force him to take action and to overhaul his life, in search for the truth hidden behind those pages written in several languages, some of which are clearly dead tongues only spoken by a chosen few. In his quest, Mitchell travels to several places around the world, experiences dire circumstances, discovers his own ruthless ability for survival, and has to reevaluate his relationship to his own humanity.
Basically, the plot itself was interesting, especially the part where Mitch gets chased by the mysterious men in black; but in some parts, the narrative becomes a little slow. Also, the paratactic style used most of the time, along with a few shifts to present tense whose interest I didn't really see, tended to grate on my nerves after a while: although it worked well for action scenes, it was annoying for the more descriptive ones, making them dry. I also felt frustrated at the whole mystery, that I'd have liked to see unveiled some more.
Bonus points, though, for chapter titles matching the Sefirot. I always enjoy my little dose of esoteric allusion outside of the direct text.
I hesitated a lot about which mark to give it. I'd probably put it at 2.5/5; for want of half-stars to give here, I'll leave it at 2 for now. It wasn't an unpleasant read, it has its good sides, but I think that having had to read it in little chunks wasn't a good choice; it's the kind of story that would probably be better enjoyed in one or two sittings only.
Being an old reader of Lovecraft and similar tales, of course a plot about men in black, a mysterious city, and a mysterious manuscript leading to it was bound to catch my interest. It alludes to the lost city of Irem mentioned in the Quran, as well as to HPL's "The Nameless City" (which was inspired by that very Irem too). The story revolves around Mitchell Sinclair, a money-hungry American lawyer whose life is turned upside down when he is accidentally handed out an old manuscript. The events set in motion by this mistake force him to take action and to overhaul his life, in search for the truth hidden behind those pages written in several languages, some of which are clearly dead tongues only spoken by a chosen few. In his quest, Mitchell travels to several places around the world, experiences dire circumstances, discovers his own ruthless ability for survival, and has to reevaluate his relationship to his own humanity.
Basically, the plot itself was interesting, especially the part where Mitch gets chased by the mysterious men in black; but in some parts, the narrative becomes a little slow. Also, the paratactic style used most of the time, along with a few shifts to present tense whose interest I didn't really see, tended to grate on my nerves after a while: although it worked well for action scenes, it was annoying for the more descriptive ones, making them dry. I also felt frustrated at the whole mystery, that I'd have liked to see unveiled some more.
Bonus points, though, for chapter titles matching the Sefirot. I always enjoy my little dose of esoteric allusion outside of the direct text.
January 13, 2014
The start had me intrigued. Where was this going? Who was coming for Mitch? I wanted to keep on reading.
A case of mistaken identity and one unconscious move puts the character in a situation he couldn’t have anticipated.
A package, brutal killings, a bomb, an obsessed wife, drugged, chased by men in dark suits, car crashed and followed. That was only in the first few chapters. I was trying to work out what’s real and what’s not. What’s so special about the unusual book? And who can he trust?
The story is certainly unusual and a little out there. Wasn’t sure if there is a big cover-up, what he was imagining, and what it would all lead to.
I felt that there was something amiss about everything that was happening; there was more to it, layers upon layers unveiled. The plot may be a little farfetched at times, or though the author does handle the conspiracy theory quite well. So farfetched it could possibly be true…
Quite an addictive read as the plot thickens and the theories swirl. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The words used and the construction of sentences made the pace faster.
The plot evolves as there are more questions than answers. Constantly watched, in a constant state of tension as the darkly dressed men are everywhere.
Mitch brings attention from the most unlikely of places. Is he willing to play the game? Be a winner or a loser?
At times perplexing. Codes, statues, pointing to a place in Arabia, Jewish language. As I read I can definitely see the character changing. Becoming more aware, more determined, more manipulative. Taking on a criminal persona to uncover this obsession. A thrilling read that enables the reader to wonder, what if?
The main character’s actions incomprehensible and appalling, yet oddly suitable, he is desperate. Nothing will satisfy his curiosity.
Although there is not much dialogue occurring, it is mainly because this man is on his own. He doesn’t converse with many people.
Anyone that enjoys a good conspiracy thriller, then you’ll love this one.
3 ½ stars.
A case of mistaken identity and one unconscious move puts the character in a situation he couldn’t have anticipated.
A package, brutal killings, a bomb, an obsessed wife, drugged, chased by men in dark suits, car crashed and followed. That was only in the first few chapters. I was trying to work out what’s real and what’s not. What’s so special about the unusual book? And who can he trust?
The story is certainly unusual and a little out there. Wasn’t sure if there is a big cover-up, what he was imagining, and what it would all lead to.
I felt that there was something amiss about everything that was happening; there was more to it, layers upon layers unveiled. The plot may be a little farfetched at times, or though the author does handle the conspiracy theory quite well. So farfetched it could possibly be true…
Quite an addictive read as the plot thickens and the theories swirl. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The words used and the construction of sentences made the pace faster.
The plot evolves as there are more questions than answers. Constantly watched, in a constant state of tension as the darkly dressed men are everywhere.
Mitch brings attention from the most unlikely of places. Is he willing to play the game? Be a winner or a loser?
At times perplexing. Codes, statues, pointing to a place in Arabia, Jewish language. As I read I can definitely see the character changing. Becoming more aware, more determined, more manipulative. Taking on a criminal persona to uncover this obsession. A thrilling read that enables the reader to wonder, what if?
The main character’s actions incomprehensible and appalling, yet oddly suitable, he is desperate. Nothing will satisfy his curiosity.
Although there is not much dialogue occurring, it is mainly because this man is on his own. He doesn’t converse with many people.
Anyone that enjoys a good conspiracy thriller, then you’ll love this one.
3 ½ stars.
August 10, 2016
I obtained City of Pillars through a giveaway. This review contains mild spoilers.
City of Pillars is a dark conspiratorial thriller by esoteric author Dominic Peloso that reads like Robert Anton Wilson channeling the spirit of HP Lovecraft while Greg Stolze watches over his shoulder offering helpful advice.
The book tells the story of Mitchell Sinclair, a San Francisco lawyer and staunch materialist. He accidentally comes into possession of a mysterious text written in several dead languages that leads to the destruction of his idyllic life of comfortable ignorance. He loses his career, his wife, and -- eventually -- his humanity as he is hounded by mysterious men in black.
At first simply on the run, Sinclair soon becomes a hunter himself as he seeks out the truths hidden in the manuscript he holds, following its clues around the world, unburdened by his former life as he slowly turns from a staunch capitalist to a harried fugitive to something else entirely. The City of Pillars is very much a story of transformation.
The book is framed in a "this is my written confession" device, everything narrated by the protagonist Sinclair. It's very much the story of his descent into paranoia and enlightenment, illumination through a lens of madness. The narrator's degenerating -- or evolving -- mental state makes him ultimately unreliable, and there isn't anything we're shown that isn't tainted by his madness. Entire months of travel and exploration are glided over, summarized as "unimportant" to the obsessive paranoid Sinclair has become.
I enjoyed the book, but that may be in part due to my own personal understanding of esoteric history and conspiracy theory, the illuminati, discordianism, and secret histories in literature. If this isn't your cup of satori, you may find yourself confused and put off, but if you're a fan of the genre and knowledgeable about its conventions you should keep up just fine.
City of Pillars is a dark conspiratorial thriller by esoteric author Dominic Peloso that reads like Robert Anton Wilson channeling the spirit of HP Lovecraft while Greg Stolze watches over his shoulder offering helpful advice.
The book tells the story of Mitchell Sinclair, a San Francisco lawyer and staunch materialist. He accidentally comes into possession of a mysterious text written in several dead languages that leads to the destruction of his idyllic life of comfortable ignorance. He loses his career, his wife, and -- eventually -- his humanity as he is hounded by mysterious men in black.
At first simply on the run, Sinclair soon becomes a hunter himself as he seeks out the truths hidden in the manuscript he holds, following its clues around the world, unburdened by his former life as he slowly turns from a staunch capitalist to a harried fugitive to something else entirely. The City of Pillars is very much a story of transformation.
The book is framed in a "this is my written confession" device, everything narrated by the protagonist Sinclair. It's very much the story of his descent into paranoia and enlightenment, illumination through a lens of madness. The narrator's degenerating -- or evolving -- mental state makes him ultimately unreliable, and there isn't anything we're shown that isn't tainted by his madness. Entire months of travel and exploration are glided over, summarized as "unimportant" to the obsessive paranoid Sinclair has become.
I enjoyed the book, but that may be in part due to my own personal understanding of esoteric history and conspiracy theory, the illuminati, discordianism, and secret histories in literature. If this isn't your cup of satori, you may find yourself confused and put off, but if you're a fan of the genre and knowledgeable about its conventions you should keep up just fine.
February 11, 2013
First published in 2000 I have just discovered this gem for fans of psychological manipulation and paranoia.
This book is that it contains one of the best and shortest prologues ever. It is chilling and sets your mind racing. Once you reach the end of the prologue there is no escape from reading the book.
The novel starts in San Francisco but any worries that it would be rather alien to my tastes rapidly dispersed. It reminded me of how I was shocked by this city on my only visit. The distance between huge wealth and desperate poverty is only a street or sometimes just the difference between light and darkness. In other words, whoever you are, there is the possibility of disappearing into the background should you ever have the need.
Thankfully what I thought was a great psychological drama only stuck in San Francisco soon became a worldwide travelling suspense and many more familiar places from my own travels were visited. Personally I have a weakness for any book that has the ability to entertain whilst informing me about other parts of the world. The chapters in Peru were particularly enjoyable.
In the end it was almost like reading two books. One is the story of the hero (lets call him) written in the first person. The second is reading your own mind to decide what you would do in similar circumstances. While this book provides excellent and gripping entertainment it also provoked me to consider the world we all live in and think deeply about people’s motivation and hidden agendas.
I have only just finished this novel but I know I will spend a lot more time thinking about it. I will probably need to read it again in a month or so.
This book is that it contains one of the best and shortest prologues ever. It is chilling and sets your mind racing. Once you reach the end of the prologue there is no escape from reading the book.
The novel starts in San Francisco but any worries that it would be rather alien to my tastes rapidly dispersed. It reminded me of how I was shocked by this city on my only visit. The distance between huge wealth and desperate poverty is only a street or sometimes just the difference between light and darkness. In other words, whoever you are, there is the possibility of disappearing into the background should you ever have the need.
Thankfully what I thought was a great psychological drama only stuck in San Francisco soon became a worldwide travelling suspense and many more familiar places from my own travels were visited. Personally I have a weakness for any book that has the ability to entertain whilst informing me about other parts of the world. The chapters in Peru were particularly enjoyable.
In the end it was almost like reading two books. One is the story of the hero (lets call him) written in the first person. The second is reading your own mind to decide what you would do in similar circumstances. While this book provides excellent and gripping entertainment it also provoked me to consider the world we all live in and think deeply about people’s motivation and hidden agendas.
I have only just finished this novel but I know I will spend a lot more time thinking about it. I will probably need to read it again in a month or so.
June 27, 2013
I reviewed a free copy of this book, and you can get a free copy too! Go here.
On his way to work one day, a self-obsessed lawyer is accidentally given a mysterious package. He opens it and finds mysterious scribblings... then the Men In Black start trying to get the package back. He tries to decode what the package means, and the adventure begins.
The story is set as a confession/diary as the narrator peels back the layers of the puzzle, and how the powers that be will stop at nothing stop him from doing so. It's got a good psychological bent, and you don't know if the narrator is actually being pursued or is just plain crazy.
The answers start to fall into place, which lead to wondering who is having the narrator ask the questions in the first place? And why?
Comparisons are drawn in other reviews to The Matrix, but I think this is a pretty strong story and any similarity is superficial at best.
This was one of the better stories I've found in independent distribution. CoP holds the attention well, and for the most part moves an exciting story along at a good pace.
It would have gotten five stars probably, but it kind of meandered a little in the middle, and it had one word that was used two or three times that actually needed the homonym used instead (but that's just a little quibble that probably only bothers me.)
I would recommend reading this. There's a chance I may even reread someday, which is high praise.
On his way to work one day, a self-obsessed lawyer is accidentally given a mysterious package. He opens it and finds mysterious scribblings... then the Men In Black start trying to get the package back. He tries to decode what the package means, and the adventure begins.
The story is set as a confession/diary as the narrator peels back the layers of the puzzle, and how the powers that be will stop at nothing stop him from doing so. It's got a good psychological bent, and you don't know if the narrator is actually being pursued or is just plain crazy.
The answers start to fall into place, which lead to wondering who is having the narrator ask the questions in the first place? And why?
Comparisons are drawn in other reviews to The Matrix, but I think this is a pretty strong story and any similarity is superficial at best.
This was one of the better stories I've found in independent distribution. CoP holds the attention well, and for the most part moves an exciting story along at a good pace.
It would have gotten five stars probably, but it kind of meandered a little in the middle, and it had one word that was used two or three times that actually needed the homonym used instead (but that's just a little quibble that probably only bothers me.)
I would recommend reading this. There's a chance I may even reread someday, which is high praise.
December 28, 2013
Having won this book from Librarything’s giveaway page I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I started out reading the confession of man but what was he confessing to? As I read further I realized this man was one who had been in the gerbil’s wheel racing to bigger and better lawyerly type things only to have seemingly randomly received a document that would change his life. At first I thought this was a book similar to The Celestine Prophecy type search to find the answer sort of book – a quest for knowledge. As I kept reading I began to see a man looking for answers but one who is taken from a straight arrow to an unethical rather paranoid man so intent on his goal and self preservation that nobody and nothing was valued any more. By the end of the book I began to wonder if the main character was sane at all or ever had been. I did look up Irem, The City of Pillars, online and found that it is mentioned in the Qu’ran and is supposedly the city of pillars that was so wicked it was smitten by the prophet Hod and God then driven into the sands of the Rub al Khali dessert – never to be seen again. Iram became known to Western literature with the translation of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. The book is well written, drives the reader and is thought provoking in many ways. I was on the fence about giving it three or four stars but ended up with four due to the fact it “made me think.”
August 4, 2013
CITY OF PILLARS by Dominic Peloso is difficult to define. It is a novel of ideas. It is a novel of action. It is a novel of one man, Mitchell Sinclair, who has everything and loses it and becomes a man with nothing left to lose but his humanity. Will he lose that humanity? Will he do whatever he must to survive?
As I followed him on his trek I wondered if he had gone mad. He has given up all he knew—his past, his future, his present. He leaves what he knew to follow the clues given in the document that was tossed in his lap at the toll booth. As he follows the clues he gets further and further from his humanity, his moral compass. He does whatever he must to survive, to get out alive.
In the end was it worth it? Did he give up too much? He claims he is a changed man but so is the reader who follows him to the end. Now the reader has to think would I make the choices Mitchell did? Would I leave my humanity behind on my quest? Would I lose my moral compass to follow my compulsion? Did Mitchell make the right choices? Is Mitchell telling the truth? Does he take the easy way out? You, the reader, must decide for yourself.
As I followed him on his trek I wondered if he had gone mad. He has given up all he knew—his past, his future, his present. He leaves what he knew to follow the clues given in the document that was tossed in his lap at the toll booth. As he follows the clues he gets further and further from his humanity, his moral compass. He does whatever he must to survive, to get out alive.
In the end was it worth it? Did he give up too much? He claims he is a changed man but so is the reader who follows him to the end. Now the reader has to think would I make the choices Mitchell did? Would I leave my humanity behind on my quest? Would I lose my moral compass to follow my compulsion? Did Mitchell make the right choices? Is Mitchell telling the truth? Does he take the easy way out? You, the reader, must decide for yourself.
February 1, 2013
City Of Pillars .. Itz story of a man who has got a secret manuscript and becoz of that his office, house, car and all that was His possession is destroyed. The Owner of the manuscript are the MEN-in-Black (In Authors Words), They are chasing him everywhere and killing everyone who comes in their way..
The Man wants to check what is the secret they are trying to hide .. and tries to read their manuscript.. but the manuscript is in different sections and every section is a differently coded different language. he manages to decode the manuscript step-by-step and section by section.. He Travels to Many Places to decode the document..and MEN IN BLACK are chasing him everywhere...
Story goes on like this till the end.. But on translating the last section he comes to know that ... Actually they needed men for their city (Irem - City of Pillars) and all this was only to check whether he qualifies or not..
At last the author tells us that he has qualified for the city.. but wants his previous life back. He knows that it cant happen ..... He knows their secret , they wont let him go and he has to live his life this way...
The Man wants to check what is the secret they are trying to hide .. and tries to read their manuscript.. but the manuscript is in different sections and every section is a differently coded different language. he manages to decode the manuscript step-by-step and section by section.. He Travels to Many Places to decode the document..and MEN IN BLACK are chasing him everywhere...
Story goes on like this till the end.. But on translating the last section he comes to know that ... Actually they needed men for their city (Irem - City of Pillars) and all this was only to check whether he qualifies or not..
At last the author tells us that he has qualified for the city.. but wants his previous life back. He knows that it cant happen ..... He knows their secret , they wont let him go and he has to live his life this way...
August 26, 2014
City of Pillars by Dominic Peloso is a suspenseful and thrilling ride into the depths of paranoia and conspiracy theories.
The main character, Sinclair, has a good life and a perfect wife. That is until he drives to work one day over the Golden Gate Bridge. On that fateful day, a strange toll booth worker (dressed in black) tosses a package into Sinclair's car. Once he opens the package and starts trying to decipher the text within, his world is turned upside down.
City of Pillars does remind me a bit of the Davinci Code by Dan Brown, but I actually enjoyed reading Mr. Peloso's book more than Dan Brown's. The characters are well-developed and the plot is very believable - makes the reader really stop and think about what is actually happening in the world.
I would definitely recommend this book to those readers who love suspense, thrillers and of course - conspiracies.
The main character, Sinclair, has a good life and a perfect wife. That is until he drives to work one day over the Golden Gate Bridge. On that fateful day, a strange toll booth worker (dressed in black) tosses a package into Sinclair's car. Once he opens the package and starts trying to decipher the text within, his world is turned upside down.
City of Pillars does remind me a bit of the Davinci Code by Dan Brown, but I actually enjoyed reading Mr. Peloso's book more than Dan Brown's. The characters are well-developed and the plot is very believable - makes the reader really stop and think about what is actually happening in the world.
I would definitely recommend this book to those readers who love suspense, thrillers and of course - conspiracies.
October 16, 2012
While the enormity of the conspiracy was discredited for me by the smallness of the narrator this was a really fun story.
June 25, 2013
I don't quite know how to describe this book. It's definitely wrapped up in conspiracy theory, it has some men-in-black to it, religious conspiracy, ancient cultures and almost a matrix-type feel.
The story is told as a confession. It took me a while to get into, but I was hooked as the adventure took off.
The story is told as a confession. It took me a while to get into, but I was hooked as the adventure took off.
August 21, 2012
You can get a copy of this ebook for free by going to http://www.tinyghosts.com/COP.html
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