Rambling About Hysteresis
A Review (of sorts) of Hysteresis by Roger Knoebber
Recently I had the pleasure of getting my hands on a copy of Hysteresis: A Portrait of Brion Gysin by Roger Knoebber (1939-2004). I have been looking forward to this release since I knew of its inception, and after reading it, am even more excited to share some of my thoughts on it.
In 2021 I joined “Burroughs & Associates,” a Facebook group dedicated to all things William S Burroughs and, as the name suggests, anything or anyone associated with him. If you were to join this group you would immediately be met with a treasure trove of information, and most likely, you would run across a handful of key players who make regular appearances in the group. One of these being demi raven, a Seattle based artist who in addition to running The Grocery Studios with wife janet galore, is also a great collector of all things Burroughs and Gysin. Anyway, the reason I bring up demi is because not only are they a great friend, but also the editor of Hysteresis.
I recall hearing of the journey to California a few years ago now, where demi met with Cosmo Knoebber, son of Roger, to discuss and help catalog and archive different material of Roger as well as Brion Gysin. I will not pretend to know the ins and outs of this trip, but in my mind, and I’m sure all involved with Hysteresis, this marked a significant milestone. Fast forward and now demi is the caretaker for the Knoebber Archive of Gysin materials, and has done an excellent job, alongside peers, bringing the material to the forefront of Gysin, Knoebber, and Burroughs fanatics alike.
At this point I imagine some of you are thinking:
okay, now what about the book, you know, the thing this article is meant to be about?
And you would be right. I should probably tell you about that.
Hysteresis is a most apt title for such a profile. Seriously, I fell down a hole researching this books namesake, but I will save you from my thoughts about it for now and instead leave you with the provided definition at the beginning of the book–
“Hysteresis (physics): The continuation of an effect after its cause has been removed.”
Hysteresis is upfront about what it is from the beginning, almost unapologetically so. If you’re looking for a biography of Brion Gysin, then perhaps enter with the knowledge that it is not that. But don’t let that dissuade you from picking it up. As you read this book, you will begin to piece together an understanding of Brion as presented to you by Roger and other friends and associates.
Fictionalized conversations often help guide the reader through the book, intertwining with very real conversations, letters, and accounts. And not to worry, it is made incredibly apparent which is which from the start. It is a fantastic narrative choice made by Knoebber, and I imagine, a sometimes difficult editing project for demi, so I applaud both in their efforts to make sure it is digestible for readers such as myself.
There are appearances from many of the usual characters, and some I personally had no knowledge of prior to reading. I could have finished the book way quicker than I did, but found myself wanting to use it as a sort of launch board for research into other people and things mentioned. This is a book you could certainly breeze through, though I wouldn’t advise it, and in fact believe that a re-read is probably necessary. I have yet to do that myself, but it is most certainly something I will be doing.
Publisher Theo Green states in the Foreword that, “It is as accurate a portrait of Brion as one can imagine, and I don’t think it will be duplicated.” Obviously, I did not, nor will I ever, know Brion Gysin. I also did not, nor will I ever, know Roger Knoebber. I say this because I think there is a certain level of “missing out” that comes with being part of a newer and younger generation of scholar and collector. A certain need to have “been there” or, at the very least, been in the proximity of these people and this history.
Instead, though, I was born in 2001. And 23 at the time of the publication of Hysteresis, which as I’m sure you know, is either a coincidence (probable) or the funniest inside joke ever (also probable). My knowledge of Brion comes from his art, from his writing, from friends of friends of friends, and so on. And yet, in reading Hysteresis I do feel like I’ve gained some further insight into not only who Brion was, but also Roger. Works such as these are invaluable to us as collectors, historians, friends, and associates.
I was sad to finish the book, but happy that it was available to me at any time to pull from my shelf. Which brings me to my next point. It’s a beautiful book. Obviously the contents of a book are what really make or break it, but it certainly helps when the book is also, well, visually appealing. In this edition of Hysteresis there are 300 copies in wrappers, and 50 clothbound copies (26 lettered and signed, 15 Roman numbered contributors copies, and 9 hors commerce copies).
Here are some photos that display some of the various copies I just mentioned:
These photos show the inside of my copy of Hysteresis, which is one of the hors commerce copies. It features the posthumous stamped signature of Roger Knoebber, which is featured only in hard cover copies of the book, and a few of the softcovers bought at the book launch event.
Certainly a great way to further include Knoebber in a milestone release. When talking to demi about this, they state that the idea was born from the last book Brion Gysin worked on before he passed in 1986, Fault Lines, a collaboration with the equally as legendary Keith Haring. Gysin passed before being able to sign any of the books, thus his signature was added via stamp posthumously.
The clothbound copies of Hysteresis also features the signatures of Theo Green (publisher), Cosmo Knoebber (son of Roger), and demi raven (editor).
Below are photos of the lettered copy, as well as the Roman numbered copies for contributors.
There’s really marginal differences to be seen here, but collectors such as myself (and perhaps you!) do like to point out and see those differences.
All that being said, regardless of what copy you have or will get, you are in for a treat…
So maybe go pick yourself up a copy. If you reside here in the US, you can do that by contacting Theo Green at Inkblot via email at orders@aftermathbooks.com
UK folks, you can email James Pennington at info@aloesbooks.co.uk
Friends in the EU, email Ben Schot at order@sea-urchin.net.
Theo also has copies on Abebooks here and Jeffrey Weinberg has some listed on eBay.
Very well done! Thanks for good work! All my best, Richard