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by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 00:49

Just thought I'd add a post about magic in fiction, and where it seems that the authors are on to something. A couple of examples that I think are good.

Dirk gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Douglas Adams wrote:
{After Richard has given Dirk details of a trick he saw performed}

"But it was only a conjuring trick, for heaven's sake," said Richard. "He does them all the time. It's just sleight of hand. Looks impossible but I'm sure if you asked any conjurer he'd say it's easy once you know how these things are done. I once saw a man on the streets of New York doing - "
"I know how these things are done." Said Dirk, pulling two lighted cigarettes and a large glazed fig out of his nose. He tossed the fig into the air, but it somehow failed to land anywhere.
"Dexterity, misdirection, suggestion. All these things you can learn if you have a little time to waste. Excuse me my dear lady," he said to the elderly slow-moving dog-owner as they passed her. He bent down to the dog and pulled a long string of brightly coloured flags from its bottom. "I think he will move more comfortably now." he said, tipped his hat courteously to her and moved on.
"These things, you see," he said to a flummoxed Richard, "are easy. Sawing a lady in half is easy. Sawing a lady in half and then joining her up together again is less easy, but can be done with practice. The trick you described to me with the two-hundred year-old vase and the college salt cellar is -" he paused for emphasis - "completely and utterly inexplicable."

I'm sure we've all seen stuff on occasion and thought "I thought I knew a bit about magic - but that was completely impossible". Often happens to me when I see clips of that Cyril chap (amongst many others).

Another one I like is in a book called "Stranger in a strange land" by Robert Heinlein. There's some interesting references in there about this martian guy with real supernatural powers becoming a circus magician, and performing amazing effects for people with real magic, but being a failure as a magician as he didn't have an understanding of human psychology, and how to relate to people.

Anyone else got any favourites regarding magic in fiction?

by **EckoZero** » May 9th, '06, 01:01

Not sure if I entirely understand your post, so if this doesn't make sense/doesn't apply then I apologise

But for magic in fiction, I can definitely recommend Neil Gaiman's book, American Gods.

The main character, Shadow, goes to prison for three years, (for assault and battery I think...) and whilst he's there, he gets a copy of Bobo's Modern Coin Magic from the prision library and starts learning all the stuff in there.

When he comes out, there's a million and one references to his magic, with some nice stuff that some of the gods he meets do as well, which are actually really magic and not sleight of hand.

Actually the book that got me back into magic

Well worth checking out

by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 01:08

EckoZero wrote:Actually the book that got me back into magic
Well worth checking out

Yes, that's exactly the sort of thing I'm talking about. I think it's often interesting to get fiction authors ideas about what they think magic is (primarily conjuring/sleights rather than D&D/Tolkein type magic), and how their characters relate to it.

Hehe, I'm surprised at the reference to Bobo in a general fiction book - I would have thought it would pass by most readers.

Sorry about the not making sense thing. It's partly an effect of the insomnia, and partly just because I'm just like that.

by **EckoZero** » May 9th, '06, 01:17

In that case, definitely check out American Gods. Shadow is somewhat characterised by his magic, and how he performs for people he knows, and how he tries to impress the gods and stuff.

Also worth noting that Neil Gaiman actually bought a copy of Bobo's Modern Magic and started learning from it, to make the experience of Shadow doing magic more realistic...

And the insomnia is forgiven

Why do you think I'm here at this time? lol

by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 01:31

EckoZero wrote:Also worth noting that Neil Gaiman actually bought a copy of Bobo's Modern Magic and started learning from it, to make the experience of Shadow doing magic more realistic...

Wow, that's thorough. I wonder if he dabbled with summoning the horsemen of the apocalypse as research for Good Omens

Thanks, I'll check the book out

by **magicmandy** » May 9th, '06, 01:41

off subject a little, Douglas Adams is my hero! HHGTG [hitchikers guide threw teh galaxy.] and Dirk Gently are my all time favorite books!.

K I am done.

by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 01:46

Very wise indeed.

Personally I prefer the style and setting of the Dirk Gently books, even though they are somewhat flawed. HHG2G is a masterwork though.

by **EckoZero** » May 9th, '06, 01:49

Wow, that's thorough. I wonder if he dabbled with summoning the horsemen of the apocalypse as research for Good Omens

Thanks, I'll check the book out

Being Neil Gaiman it really wouldn't surprise me

On the subject of Good Omens and Magic... (sort of) his co-writer, Terry Pratchett, writes a series called Discworld, and in Discworld there's a bunch of Wizards and Witches who do all sorts of magical stuff.

Whilst that's obviously sci-fi/fantasy magic, the application of it isn't so much.

Whilt both witches and wizards in Discworld possess magical powers, they very rarely use them.
Why?
"Headology" or psychology to us lot.
They make people think that the magic they do is real, when really it's not at all.
Lots of faux-hypnotism stuff in there actually.
Nice sideways view to magic I find

by **magicmandy** » May 9th, '06, 01:50

agreed! w00t you rock!

by **magicmandy** » May 9th, '06, 01:52

agreed! w00t steverino you rock!

by **magicmandy** » May 9th, '06, 02:02

K I dont know what happened there, lets just say I was telling you both had good points! and you rock

by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 02:02

EckoZero wrote:On the subject of Good Omens and Magic... (sort of) his co-writer, Terry Pratchett, writes a series called Discworld, and in Discworld there's a bunch of Wizards and Witches who do all sorts of magical stuff.

Yes indeed, I'm very familiar with his work - a full set of his books are bending my bookcase into a rather strange shape. Some are better than others but the world and characters he's created overall are brilliantly developed.

by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 02:05

magicmandy wrote:K I dont know what happened there, lets just say I was telling you both had good points! and you rock

w00t we all rock

ahem. back to being english again for me.

by **EckoZero** » May 9th, '06, 02:17

Steverino wrote:Yes indeed, I'm very familiar with his work - a full set of his books are bending my bookcase into a rather strange shape.

Must be all the octarine :wink:

by **Steverino** » May 9th, '06, 02:44

EckoZero wrote:Must be all the octarine

I think my bookcase is joined in L-Space with a second hand bookshop somewhere. I swear I just saw a copy of Rosemary Conley's Hip and Thigh Diet :shock:

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