Update: Merlin, publishers of The Complex, have provided us with a statement.
Update: We have now published a review of the The Complex.
On 7 October, John Duignan, who spent 22 years inside the secretive and dangerous cult of Scientology, published The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology. Here’s the publisher’s description:
For the first time ever, a former high-ranking member of the Church of Scientology is lifting the lid on life inside the world s fastest growing cult. The Complex reveals the true story behind the religion that has ensnared a Who’s Who list of celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and convinced thousands of ordinary people to join up.
Duignan describes how two years ago he staged a dramatic escape from the elite paramilitary group at the core of the Church, the Sea Organisation, and how he narrowly evaded pursuit by Scientologists from the Office of Special Affairs. He looks back on the 22 years he served in the Church’s secret army and describes the hours of sleep deprivation, brain-washing and intense auditing or religious counselling he endured, as he was moulded into a soldier of Scientology.
He talks about the money-making-machine at the heart of the Church, the Scientology goal to Clear the Planet and Get Ethics In, the training programmes, the Rehabilitation Project Force and the punishments meted out to anyone who transgresses, including children. We follow his journey through the Church and the painful investigation that leads to his eventual realisation that there is something very wrong at Scientology’s core.
But, according to The Register, this 318-page exposé of the practises of the Church has been withdrawn from sale by Amazon UK “for legal reasons“. The book was removed from the site on 23 October. Amazon US is reporting that it is “out of stock”.
From The Register’s coverage:
The Complex was published by the Dublin, Ireland-based Merlin Publishing. Famously, Andrew Morton’s unauthorized biography of American film star Tom Cruise - which also served as a Scientology exposé - was published in the US, but not in the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, thanks to stricter libel laws
The Complex is still available from UK booksellers WH Smith and Waterstones. My advice? Buy it while you still can.
Since this post we reported again. Additionally, Merlin, publishers of The Complex, have provided us with a statement.
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16 responses
Bookstores like Waterstones, WHSmith and Foyles have had to pull The Complex too.
Do watch this video, which gives more information about the book:
http://anontube.com/5191/mike-garde-talks-about-the-complex/
It looks like one of the few ways you can get it ouitside of Ireland is to order from Eason’s in Ireland online. I was just notified they have shipped my copy to the USA.
http://www.eason.ie/look/9781903582848/Complex/John-Duignan
This is a real free speech scandal. Thanks for blogging about this. I hope you will continue to follow the story.
Statement from publisher: http://counterknowledge.com/?p=727
Find out why the “Church” of $cientology is trying to ban this book, at http://WWW.XENU.NET or just Wikipedia “Scientology” or “Dianetics.”
- What are “secrets” they trying to cover up?
- Why did a sword-wielding former member of the CoS show up their Hollywood building? How had the CoS driven him to insanity? And WHY was he murdered in cold blood by hired security guards?
- What is the CoS trying to protect…. or hide?
- Why does the Co$ attract Hollywood types like Tom Cruise and John Travolta?
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