"From beyond" sounds like a crypto scheme these days.
I don't know whether the theme of secret societies acquiring members through chance recruitment has ever been properly explored in fiction. Wouldn't be that different from prosperity theology where all one's fortunes are ascribed to direct and personal providence. You know, the same kind of circular logic that underlay basically every absolute (emphasis on "B" and "S" there) monarchy.
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do, we do
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do, we do
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do, we do
Who robs cavefish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do, we do
The Stonecutters' Song
Songwriters: Alf Clausen / John Swartzwelder
The Simpsons, "Homer the Great", S6E12
Jan 8, 1995
Quite catchy, in fact.
Bewarned before taking up on the offer though. On ample evidence "endless riches, fame and power" don't really seem to jibe with freedom or enlightenment. Not in the long term anyway.
