Paladin Press Collection Hot ~repack~ May 2026
The air in the basement didn’t smell like a normal library. There was no scent of vanilla or aging parchment. Instead, it smelled of gun oil, CLP, and the sharp, metallic tang of an old Xerox machine.
- Author: “Rex Feral” (pseudonym)
- Published: 1983
- Content: Step-by-step instructions on murder-for-hire, including avoiding forensics, alibi construction, weapon selection.
- Criminal Use: In 1993, hired killer James Perry used Hit Man to murder three people (including a child) in Maryland. The victims’ families sued Paladin Press.
- Legal Outcome: Paladin initially won on First Amendment grounds, but the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed (1999), ruling that Paladin intended the book to be used for crimes and that it was “speech that is not protected because it constitutes criminal aid and abetment.”
- Settlement: Paladin settled for an undisclosed sum, withdrew Hit Man, and destroyed remaining copies.
If you're interested in exploring the Paladin Press Collection, you can find their books through various channels: paladin press collection hot
2. Background on Paladin Press
These books were "Hot" because they were dangerous—not just because of what they taught, but because they represented a brand of radical independence that didn't play well with modern algorithms. They were relics of a time when you could order a manual on how to disappear, how to fight, or how to build a fortress, all through a mail-order catalog in the back of a magazine. The air in the basement didn’t smell like a normal library
Ideology
: The company was associated with libertarian and right-wing viewpoints, focusing on individual empowerment, self-reliance, and a deep distrust of authority. If you're interested in exploring the Paladin Press
Since the company ceased operations in 2018, many of its books have become rare collectibles or have surfaced in digital archives.