TIHKAL: The Continuation

TIHKAL: The Continuation
by Alexander and Ann Shulgin
(Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved)


9.0 / 10

The world's leading inventor, indexer and researcher of psychedelic drugs returns with "TIHKAL: The Continuation", an instant classic reference guide for psychedelic Tryptamines. The bold tone unique to Shulgin can be seen even in the preface, which makes it clear that this title's publication faced resistance. After explaining why government-hired toxicologists considered this book an imminent disaster, Alexander Shulgin explains thoroughly "Why I Do What I Do" in spite of ideological and legal opposition. As Shulgin moves across the country speaking at colleges and encountering psychedelic luminaries such as Leary and Ginsberg, it becomes clear that his path is irreversible. And through it all, his wife Ann remains devotedly by his side.

The structure of TIHKAL is nearly identical to that of it's predecessor. The book is divided into two smaller books, the first consisting of "Shura" and "Alice" relating chunks of the author's lives in a fictionalized prose form. As with PIHKAL, this is further divided into various 'parts', the first of which picks up where PIHKAL left off. The first chapter discusses an intense ideological clash between Shura and government authorities. In this reflection of the trials Dr. Shulgin faced following the release of his first book, investigators invade the chemist's lair. They are determined to stop him from going any further with his work, as they believe the invention of new psychedelic drugs is dangerous. But they refuse to explain the reasons why they are there. Rather than entering an ideological argument with the man most well-equipped to defend the virtue of psychedelics, they criticize Shura for his organization. Before they leave, they have taken away many of Shura's drugs... as well as his right to possess them.

This was not the end of the man's career, however, but really only the beginning. In TIHKAL Shura shows us how the direction of life has changed. Whereas in PIHKAL Shura was a humble chemist discovering a love for the psychedelics along with his wife and friends, now he finds himself a representative of psychedelic culture and of the rights of people to experiment with and learn about drugs. The love triangle that was so central to PIHKAL's first book is gone here. Shura and Alice's love for each other is complete, and the ramifications of Shura's inventions have become the center of his life.

After telling the story of the Invasion, the book becomes a retrospective for the next several chapters. A number of interesting stories from throughout the years unfold: Shura learns about the intense time-distorting properties particular to a powerful strain of cannabis called "The Dred". Shura meets a Brazilian businessman with a special interest in MDMA, which he uses as as a spiritual and therapeutic device and refers to as "the Essence". It is not until the fifth chapter that the Tryptamines take center stage, in a section entitled "Shrooms". The visual and psychological effects particular to the Tryptamine family become prominent here. There are also comparisons between naturally-occuring Tryptamines and some of Shulgin's personal Phenethylamine creations.

The second part of the book is a psychological and spiritual treatise. It describes the ritualistic and transformative uses of psychedelics. Many specific altered states of consciousness (or "places in the mind") are discussed, sometimes independently of any drugs that might induce them. The author shows his appreciation of Freudian and Jungian psychology, and gives definitions for such intriguing states as "synaesthesia" and the "out of body experience". He continues to draw upon real-life experience as he goes, and although the continuity from chapter to chapter is somewhat less than in PIHKAL, the writing is every bit as engaging and nuanced.

Part Three of the book, entitled "Tryptamina Botanica", is a miniature encyclopedia of information on plants which contain natural tryptamine hallucinogens such as DMT, psilocin, harmine and LSA. Everything from Bufo toads to Canary grasses to Ipomoea seeds are discussed. There is even discussion of the Quinines, which have become the subject of their own entire book. In the fourth and fifth parts, many other assorted subjects are discussed. This includes commentary on the term "Designer Drugs", which has been unwittingly attached to many of Shulgin's creations, and even some hypotheses on religion and physics. The final part, titled "Drugs and Politics", spends forty pages analyzing drug laws and bringing their flaws to light. Attention is drawn to the near-impossibility of research into substances that have been deemed illegal. The conclusion is a call for 'peace negotiations' with the Drug War as it now exists.

The second section of the book covers the names, synthesis steps, dosages and effects for 55 different Tryptamine-related chemicals. From the the brief but alarming effects of Bufotenin, to the spiritual usages of DPT, to the bizarre auditory distortions of DiPT, few possibilities are left out. As with the entries from PIHKAL, every one is abundantly useful... even if a few of them are incomplete. They will remain the best overviews of Tryptamine chemistry available until the author's follow-up is released. And as with PIHKAL, this information has changed the world of psychedelics already. New compounds have sprung into existence since the publishing of the book, and chemists find themselves better equipped to manipulate some of the most ancient psychedelic molecules.

While not quite as dramatic of a revelation as it's predecessor, PIHKAL, this book is still vital. It continues the story of two of the most pivotal lives in psychedelic history. It continues the technique of combining firm science with prose and social commentary.
And even now, over a decade since its original publication, it remains the golden standard guide to the tryptamine hallucinogens.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	food review JD
	thanks for the review, nice breakdown