Conspiracy rules the world because it's at work on every level of society. From the hallowed halls of Christianity to the rich palaces of presidential America – conspiracy is the word.

We all do it. Whether it’s a plot to bring about the downfall of a ruler, make a little dosh on the 2.30pm at Newmarket or get extra biscuits from the office tea trolley, conspiracy rules at every level of society and in every walk of life.

Our imaginations are made to fill in the gaps. And let’s face it, conspiracy theory is always more appealing than the simplest explanations can ever be. Everyone loves a conspiracy.

On the surface, everyday reality might seem a relatively calm affair: the usual round of daily events clicking routinely into place with no hint at the turbulent events taking place down below. Peer into these depths, however, and a far murkier world emerges: one in which John F Kennedy may not have been killed by a lone assassin; ‘God’s Banker’ Roberto Calvi might have had a little outside help in committing suicide; Elvis is still alive; and there’s intelligent life on Mars. This is what rules the world, it's exactly what you can’t see – conspiracy.

Read on …

Ken Hollings explains why conspiracy rules the world. He is a writer whose work draws freely upon popular culture, political intrigue and strange connections to reconfigure reality and demolish common assumptions, from digital imagery to occult symbolism, from flying saucers to cybernetics.