Preisler, who earned the nickname "Uncle Fester" while at Marquette during the late 1970s and early 1980s, is the writer of cookbooks on how to manufacture methamphetamine, poison gases and LSD.,”

Like other Marquette alumni, Steve Preisler decided to donate some of his books to the University Archives' alumni authors collection. But these writings might shock you.

Preisler, who earned the nickname "Uncle Fester" while at Marquette during the late 1970s and early 1980s, is the writer of cookbooks on how to manufacture methamphetamine, poison gases and LSD. His latest book details "bloody Brazillian knife fightin' techniques."

He was jailed for methamphetamine possession in 1984, just two years after graduating from Marquette with a double major in chemistry and biology. It was there, in jail, that he borrowed a typewriter from another inmate, and started writing his most popular book, "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture."

"I started banging that thing out, and I was there with all the other cons, mostly typing up court papers trying to appeal cases," Preisler said. "I did something a little bit more useful because appeals always get denied."

Since the book was first published in 1987, Preisler has written seven editions of "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture."

"Every few years you've got to update, otherwise it gets hopelessly non-functional," Preisler said.

Marquette alumni including Preisler have donated their publications to the University Archives, according to archivist Phillip Runkel. Preisler has donated six books to the "Alumni Writes" collection. Sales of new editions of Preisler's original book, and six others he has written, have been in the thousands, Preisler said.

His books are available on Amazon.com, and on his personal Web site.

"I get 'em out as fast I can in the limited amount of time I have," Preisler said.

During the day, Preisler works at an electroplating factory near his home in Green Bay. Co-workers know about his side job. In fact, they ask for his mad scientist laugh, Preisler said.

At Marquette, Preisler said western civilization was his favorite class. He also said he enjoyed independent study rather than chemistry lectures.

Preisler's independent study led to his interest in "clandestine chemistry" – a field he says he developed. He defined the term as "subverting everyday materials into the chemistry projects of your dreams," he said.

While at Schroeder Hall, Preisler said he got his nickname because of his knack for wild chemistry projects.

"I liked to cook little batches of nitro, where you head out to the back alleys and blow the stuff off," Preisler said. "It's like blowing off an M80 – except it only takes a drop or two.

"The characters on the ol' floor, they go, 'Hey, Uncle Fester, he's cookin' nitro again.'"

Preisler said the government keeps tabs on him, but he's not concerned.

"If I was afraid of what the hell they had up their sleeves next there, I'd have been long ago out of the business," he said.

Wisconsin officials have increased pressure on those making, distributing or using methamphetamine. The state's Department of Justice established the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Task Force in 1999.

Since then, the operation has shut down 527 methamphetamine labs in the state, according to the department's Web site.

Calls to Wisconsin's Department of Justice seeking comment on Preisler were not returned.

At the age of 49, Preisler said he doesn't make or take methamphetamine anymore. But that doesn't stop him from writing about it.

"I try to write my chemistry books so that people can understand them, which is the reason why they have become popular," Preisler said. "Because there's nothing worse than a dull, impossible to wade through chemistry book."

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