Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) was an English mystic and poet, an occultist and ceremonial magician, and the creator of the religious-philosophical system of Thelema. He was dubbed in the press of his time “the wickedest man in the world” and authored many magical treatises, the most famous of which is “The Book of the Law”. He was for a time an influential member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as the founder and leader of several other occult and magical societies.

Crowley, often regarded as the most famous occultist of all time, had many talents and eccentric interests, including literature. “Moonchild” is one of two novels in his extensive bibliography, which also includes poetry, drama, sacred texts, epigrams, scientific studies, practical manuals, textbooks, and more. His work, like his life—which often resembled his literary, artistic, and magical explorations—has significantly influenced, and continues to influence, various fields of culture and art. References to Crowley’s legacy can be found in many well-known musicians, writers, film directors, esotericists, and even scientists, including Jimmy Page, Kenneth Grant, Kenneth Anger, Timothy Leary, Jack Parsons, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Dickinson, Alfred Kinsey, Anton LaVey, Gerald Gardner, and others.

The plot of “Moonchild” centers on a young magician who, while mastering occult knowledge, dares to undertake a bold and unprecedented experiment and simultaneously becomes involved in a conflict with the “Black Lodge”, whose members practice forbidden magical arts, risking the fragile balance of the world. Interestingly, the protagonist is based on Crowley himself, and in the novel he describes his real experiences in magical orders, particularly the famous Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, whose members also included writers such as Arthur Machen, Abraham Merritt, and Nobel laureate W. B. Yeats.