Peter Sotos
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Peter Sotos (born 1960?) is a Chicago-born writer who has contributed an unprecedented examination of the peculiar motivations of sadistic sexual criminals. His works are often cited as conveying an uncanny understanding of myriad aspects of pornography. Most of his writings have focused on sexually violent pornography, particularly of that involving children. His writings are also considered by many to be social criticism often commenting on the hypocritical way media handles these issues.
In 1984, while attending The Art Institute of Chicago, Sotos began producing a self-published newsletter or "fanzine" named Pure, notable as the first zine dedicated to serial killer lore. Much of the text and pictures in Pure were photocopied images from major newspapers and other print media. Sotos also used a photocopy from a magazine of child pornography as the cover of issue#2 of Pure. In 1986 this cover led to his arrest and charges of obscenity and possession of child pornography. The charges of obscenity were dropped, but Sotos eventually was found guilty of the possession charge, and was given a suspended sentence and a fine. Sotos was the first person in the United States ever to be charged for owning child pornography.
Sotos' writings explore sadistic and pedophilic sexual impulses in their many, often hidden, guises. Often using first person narratives, his prose takes on the point of view of the sexual predator. Despite his early legal troubles, and the seemingly fatal stigma of being (falsely) labeled a pedophile, Sotos continues to garner support for his ideas and literary output.
He was until 2003 a seminal member of the industrial noise band Whitehouse.
Quotation
- "No one comes close to Sotos in his ability to rape a blank page." —Jim Goad, author of ANSWER Me!.
- "In a real sense, reading Sotos is like peering into the appetitive, aquisitive aspect of the heart of life itself."-Michael Lujan, "Sotos: A Case Study in Lust and the Unconditioned".
Works
- Total Abuse: Collected Writings, 1984-1995: Pure, Tool, Parasite, 1995 (Goad to Hell Enterprises, Portland, OR, ISBN 1111178321, out of print).
- Special, 1998 (Rude Shape, ISBN 1890528021, out of print).
- Tick, 2000 (Creation Books, ISBN 1840680482).
- Index, 2000 (Creation Books, ISBN 1840680105).
- Lazy, 2000 (Creation Books, ISBN 1840680105).
- Selfish, Little: The Annotated Leslie Ann Downey, 2004 (Void Books).
- Proxy: Peter Sotos Pornography 1991-2000, 2005 (Creation Books), a compendium of five of Sotos' works (Tool, Special, Tick, Index and Lazy). First edition, with CD by Sotos and Steve Albini ([1]).
- Comfort and Critique, 2005 (Void Books)
- Predicate, 2005 (Creation Books)
- Waitress, 2005 (Creation Books), Came as an extra for those who preordered a copy of Predicate from Creation Books
Texts featuring Sotos
- Apocalypse Culture, edited by Adam Parfrey, interview with Sotos (Amok Books, 1990, ISBN 0922915059)
- .45 Dangerous Minds edited by Steve Blush and George Petros, interview with Sotos (Creation Books, 1999, ISBN 1840681241).
- Apocalypse Culture II, edited by Adam Parfrey, chapter by Sotos (Feral House, 2000, ISBN 0922915571)
- The Gates of Janus by Ian Brady, afterword by Sotos (Feral House Books, 2001, ISBN 0922915733)
- Straight To Hell: 20th Century Suicides, edited by Nomida King, contributed to by Sotos (Creation Books, 2003, ISBN 1840680903).