I would like to recommend a novel that I think most of you will enjoy. It's a thriller by John Case called 'The Murder Artist'. I picked it up after reading a review of it by John Racherbaumer in his column some months back. I won't give too much away...but the story does include magic, voodoo, bizarre themes and a trip to the Magic Castle. You can pick it up in paperback. And while we're at it...does anybody out there have any other novels to recommend those of us interested in the bizarre side of magic? 'Magic' by William Goldman comes to mind...a good movie but a terrific book! Any others?

Hiya Prof. and thanks for the book tip!

Have your tried "The Arcanum" by Thomas Wheeler?
A Houdini, Doyle, Lovecraft adventure?

The Bullet Trick, Louise Welsh, 2006

H D X!

--Lydia 15

Of course run don't walk to read
"Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen Gold

Magicians will also enjoy the alternative world of Victorian Magic in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel by Susanna Clarke

This book puts the fear back in mirrors

For fans of Strange & Norrell, be pleased to note that Ms. Clarke has a new book of short stories coming out soon-ish. These stories are (supposedly) set in the same world as Strange & Norrell. Expect to see Strange himself and Childermass.

I can also recommend Robertson Davies' "Deptford Trilogy." Check out what magician Magnus Eisengrim says about being a magician in book two.

Note: I work at a major chain bookstore.

Regards,
Rob

Rob:

Thank you. Hopefully there are further adventures on the other side of the looking glass.

Tony

Geek Love!

The Amazing Adventures of Kavelier & Clay by Michael Charbon is fantastic!

Tourists by Lisa Goldstein is a wondrous book, and I'm about to read another novel of hers, The Red Magician.

For a whole anthology of magic-themed mystery and crime fiction, find a used copy of Sleight Of Crime: 15 classic tales of murder, mayhem and magic.

Richard Matheson -- author of a number of sci-fi and horror classics, penned a fun magical thriller that's easy to find used, called Now You See It....

The mystery/crime novels of Clayton Rawson -- frequent contributor to The Jinx, and one of the four founding members of Mystery Writers of America -- often featured the supersleuthing exploits of a magician (The Great Merlini, Don Diavolo). All of the following can be found used, and some have been reprinted: Death From A Top Hat; Footprints on the Ceiling; The Headless Lady; No Coffin For The Corpse; Death Out Of Thin Air.

Nightmare Alley by William Gresham, a great noir novel about a carny mindreader (made into a classic noir film starring Tyrone Power ).

Best,
Neil

P.S. For the best used book searches, go to http://www.Addall.com

The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot, His Wonderful Love and his Terrible Hatred by Carl-Johan Vallgren, Vintage 2006.

H D X!

--Lydia 15

These are some wonderful suggestions. Some I have read...and some I own but haven't gotten to yet, such as the Matheson book (his 'I am Legend', although not a magic-related story, is one of my favorite horror novels of all time). I am making a list and will start hunting for the others. Thanks, guys! I recall a great short story called 'The Problem of Cell 13' which kind of fits the bill. Not magic-related, but it involves a clever escape. Can't remember the author's name.

>'The Problem of Cell 13' which kind of fits the bill. Not magic-related, but it >involves a clever escape. Can't remember the author's name.

The author's name is Jacques Futrelle, who was born in Georgia, wrote for a Boston newspaper, and went down on the TITANIC. Wrote a number of clever and vastly entertaining stories about Prof. Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen ("The Thinking Machine"), and "Cell 13" is only one of them.

Van Dusen stories have been reprinted several times in the last twenty years or so, so you should have little difficulty finding them if you're interested.

Enjoy!

Rory

Rob,
That was very very exciting news about Ms. Clarke!

Yep Neil,
Kavelier & Clay is really fantastic. Have you seen some of the further Adventures of the Escapist in the graphic novels?

Right now I'm finally reading The Prestige by Christopher Priest and I'm enjoying it, trying to finish it before I see the film.

Speakingof graphic novels, if you have any interest in this fantastic artform, do yourself a favor and check out the work of Thomas Ott, especially his latest 'Cinema Panopticum'.

The "Lord Darcy" stories by Randall Garrett, available in a paperback collected works edition. Detective stories set in a parallel world where magic works but technology doesn't. Plenty of discussion of the theory of magic.

Barry

For lovers of old times Luna Park and tats: The Electric Michelangelo, Sarah Hall, 2004, PB, Harper Perennial. Her stunning prose will astonish you.

H D X!

--Lydia 15

Shadowland by Peter Straub!!!!!

Straub is great (Ghost Story is a favorite). And just read the Shadowland synopsis on Amazon. That looks like a beauty!

Thanks,
Neil

Interesting Magic theory and images in those Philip Pullman "His Dark Materials Trilogy" books.

Every adult I recommend them to seems to then really groove on them...I think it became a theatre/play also...a movie in the works?

A very out there story.

"The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub. A great fun read. Not your typical Stephen King, (disturbing, graphic horror, knocking off kids and other innocents for a schock factor). This one moves along with excitement, wonder, adventure and suspense. Peter Straub was a good influence for a really decent novel from the two of them.