MAGIC

by William Goldman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1976

If you're William Goldman you can pick a card, any card, and it always comes up the Ace of Spades. After the suspense supreme of The Marathon Man what could be next or quite as exciting? This is a sleight-of-charm-and-horror story about Corky Withers who spends his ""whole life getting his disguise on straight."" When first met as a skinny kid of ten he's a great whittler; he also tries to please people, particularly Peggy Ann, and he hopes to develop his physique through mail order help from Charles Atlas. Later he learns magic from Merlin, Jr. to whom he becomes apprenticed. Finally he manages to do a number on fifty-two cards but his first appearance is a bust and he turns on the gas. Now, fifteen years later, after success with Fats, his funnyman partner (is he ever funny) and Postman his agent, he shows signs of being more fragile than he ever was. Were it not for Peggy Ann who turns up in his life again and might, just might, show him the way out. Discussing this any further will most surely spoil the illusion but once again Goldman has created one of the fastest disappearing tricks in the business. Maybe not quite so fast if you're palming a million dollar film sale and a Literary Guild co-selection for November. In any case you'll enjoy reading it T and seeing it R S E R T I A F L

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1976

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1976

Categories: FICTION