Over the years, I have quoted Larken Rose quite regularly, often introducing him as my favorite anarchist. He even got his own category on this blog. His writing has often covered philosophical subjects related to personal liberties, tyranny, and the voluntary submission to it.
After covering his thoughts on an internet mailing list for years, he then published a how-to book for the aspiring tyrant, “How to be a Successful Tyrant,” (Edit 2026: appears to be out of print), which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then came his book Kicking the Dragon, where he describes his story of becoming a political prisoner (within the US of A) — it was not at all a feel-good book. What can you expect? I believe it was at least partly written in jail, where he spent a year for a crime he clearly did not commit.
But he also used the time of forced vacation well to write his first novel, “The Iron Web,” which I pre-ordered, received last week, and finished in very short time. Other reviewers called it a page-turner, and I certainly agree. Just last Friday morning I had planned to do some work after breakfast and before I had to leave the house at noon, but I made the mistake of starting to read while I had my breakfast – – and then I was just done with the book when I really had to leave.
Without spoiling any (or much), I can say that the story is about the question of ‘who owns you.’ The answer should be a simple and obvious “I own myself,” but we often do things demonstrating that we apparently do not really believe this or act accordingly.
The book ends on a very positive note, and it reminded me quite a bit of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. I am here totally in agreement with Larken in that there will be a positive outcome – if only for the reason that I can envision it. Where fiction now meets reality is the evolving of a real Iron Web that he created in the fictional situation in his book.
Everybody can become a member of the Iron Web just by realizing that he owns himself and acting accordingly. There is not a secret handshake but a very public symbol. Here it is…
If you want to know the symbolism behind it, you will have to get the book from Larken, and I suggest you get at least a four-pack because you will want to give some away to friends.
Displaying this symbol here signals that I consider myself a member of the Iron Web and – maybe I am making history – could it be that a commercial website I am involved in – ThaiDye.com – is the first commercial website that proudly displays the symbol of the Iron Web?