1. How can I buy the books of Richard Crasta, and describe the four main kinds of ayatollahs?
2. Where can I find books in India ?
3. Why can't I get books shipped by FedEx/UPS from the U.S ?
4. Who is Richard Crasta/ Arunachalam Kumar/ Ralph Nazareth/ John Baptist Crasta?
5. What is the difference between Invisible Man Press and Invisible Man Books, and invisiblemanpress.com and richardcrasta.com?
6. What is the difference between Invisible Man Press, New York, and Invisible Man Books, India?

1. How can I buy the books of Richard Crasta?

This is a book publisher's site, and at the moment of writing, in August 2008, the books are unofficially but effectively banned by a bunch of thugs and lowlifes--however, things have been improving (books are available at Oxford Bookstore, New Delhi and Bangalore, and a few other stores in Bangalore). For reasons of economy, this site presently combines the web sites of Invisible Man Books (the publishing imprint) and Richard Crasta (the author). Because some of the books here are the most daring and freest books that have ever come out of India, Ayatollahs of all stripes would like us to vanish--don't encourage them.

Oh, yes, the four kinds of Ayatollahs: 1. With turbans 2. Dotheads or their male relatives 3. Wear skirts  4. Wear pants.

In an imperfect and screwed up world, the quality and originality of an author's writings don't always match what is offered in bookstores. An Indian bookstore may display, face-up, ten copies of some bestselling author like John Macdonald or John Grisham, while denying any space, even back-shelf space, to the books of some of India's most courageous authors. Discreet and underhanded censorship by pipsqueaks playing ayatollahs has resulted in our books being shockingly impossible to purchase in almost any part of the world. Until a few weeks ago--and possibly even right now--you would have had to pay $220 for a used copy of Impressing the Whites on amazon.com: a guaranteed way to muffle the author.

To resist such de facto censorship is not just honorable, it is a democratic duty. Your purchase of one book may not make a difference to us financially, but even a single order is an encouragement to us to resist the ayatollahs.

You may buy the books in these stores, click on the "Add to Cart" button to pay by credit card, or send a check or draft in US dollars for the price of the book, plus ten dollars postage and handling per book, to David Lutzer, 320 West 20th Street #11, New York, NY 10011 USA with a small note containing your address and the books desired. Please wait for 2 to 5 weeks for delivery.

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2. Where can I find books in India?

WHERE and how TO BUY BOOKS IN INDIA
[Indians! Please protect your right to information, opinion, and free expression; ask your bookseller to contact distributors listed below and to stock the books*]--
 

WALK-IN PURCHASE LOCATIONS:

BANGALORE:

--Oxford Bookstore, Leela Galleria, Airport Road, Tel: 41155222
--Gangaram's Bookstore, M.G. Road, Tel: 25587277
--Fountainhead Bookstore, Lavelle Road, Bangalore.
--Strand Book Stall(only The Revised Kama Sutra), Tel:25580000
--Sankar's

MUMBAI:
--Danai Books, Bandra

MANGALORE:
--Athree Book Centre, Balmatta Road, Near Jyothi.
--Aim Insights, Valencia Circle, Tel: 2432129

NEW DELHI:
Oxford Book Store, Barakhamba Road, Statesman House.

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3. What are the shipping options and times, and why can't I get the books shipped Fed-Ex or UPS from the US?

For now, it is more practical for us to send the books by Registered Air Mail from India, which will take 10-16 business days to reach the U.S., and perhaps a bit more or less for other countries. We also have an Express Delivery option, which will take 4-7 days to the U.S.. When we have sufficient sales numbers to afford a U.S. representative, we may be able to ship them FedEx or UPS from the USA itself. If in rare cases the books are not received on time, please email us, and we will send copies from a small backup supply in the U.S.

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4. Who are Richard Crasta/ Arunachalam Kumar/ Ralph Nazareth/ John Baptist Crasta ?

Does it matter? If it does, these are the names of authors published by Invisible Man Books. For biographies, look up the bio section by clicking on Life on the top left. Some of these were invisible at the time of publication by Invisible Man Press, and are no longer as invisible now. Which suggests that whatever we are doing may be working.

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5. What is The Invisible Man Press or Invisible Man Books?

Invisible Man Press Inc. is the company based in New York, and Invisible Man Books is the imprint. They were founded by Richard Crasta, who agreed with the man, woman, or person of indeterminate sex who said that freedom of the press belonged to the man/woman/person who owned one. Well, actually, he felt that to be able to write with maximum independence and to put forward minority viewpoints without self-censorship, it would at least help to publish the books you believed in--even if they sometimes happened to be your own books. www.richardcrasta.com places slightly more emphasis on one author, but for now, it also presents information about all the authors published by Invisible Man Books, whose philosophy is: Publishers for the Invisible Man: indeed, all invisible men, invisible women, and invisible viewpoints.

Invisible Man is a metaphoric term, derived from Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man, to refer to persons who are not recognized or heard or seen by society, and given equal democratic rights of expression. Thus an Invisible Man may be a man, woman, child, or a ladyboy.

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6. What is the difference between Invisible Man Press, New York, and Invisible Man Books, India?

Invisible Man Books, India (registered as Invisible Man Publishers & Co.), is the Indian publishing arm of Invisible Man Press, Inc., New York. The legal responsibility and rights for the titles published by Invisible Man Books, India, rest with Invisible Man Press, Inc., New York. In return, Invisible Man Books has the right to distribute the books it publishes within India. Invisible Man Books' long-term goal is to promote courageous Indian writers and thinkers, as well as viewpoints that are not currently being given adequate attention. However, until there is an injection of funds through investment or a grant by a foundation or individual who regards free expression as a value that is precious in itself, its publishing program will be highly limited. Invisible Man Books, India, shares certain editorial, design, and management services with The Invisible Man Press, U.S.A., including sharing a common web site; the books of Invisible Man Books, India, may be ordered through the Invisible Man Press, U.S.A. or through richardcrasta.com.