- Magic (novel)
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For the feature film adaptation, see Magic (1978 film).
Magic: A Novel 
Current coverAuthor(s) William Goldman Country United States Language English Genre(s) Novel Publisher Delacorte Press Publication date August 1976 Media type Print (Paperback, Hardcover) Pages 243 pp (first edition, hardback) ISBN ISBN 0-440-05159-2 (first edition, hardback) OCLC Number 2415446 Dewey Decimal 813/.5/4 LC Classification PZ4.G635 Mag PS3557.O384 Magic: A Novel is a psychological horror novel written by William Goldman. It was released in the United States in August 1976 by Delacorte Press. In 1978 Richard Attenborough directed a feature film adaptation of the story.
Plot summary
The novel concerns a man named Corky Withers, a shy, odd-tempered and alcoholic magician, whose lackluster performances start to turn around when he adds a ventriloquist's dummy, Fats, to the show. It chronicles Corky's childhood and adolescence, and his deep love for a high-school crush named Peggy Ann Snow. After seeing the increasingly disturbing connection to Fats, many people begin to worry about Corky. Although Corky thinks Fats is alive, and can not bear to be apart from Fats for a long period of time, his friends know that Fats is actually an outlet for a hidden homicidal trait in Corky's personality, and that he has multiple personality disorder. Soon, "Fats" begins to tell Corky to murder anyone that threatens their relationship. All these factors combine and quickly reach a shattering climax during a weekend at Peggy's home in the Catskills. The novel is written kaleidoscopically, changing time period, location, and point of view swiftly and leaving certain aspects of important events unknown for extended periods of time, especially concerning the identity of Fats the dummy for the early portion of the novel.
External links
The novels of William Goldman The Temple of Gold (1957) • Your Turn to Curtsy, My Turn to Bow (1958) • Soldier in the Rain (1960) • Boys and Girls Together (1964) • No Way to Treat a Lady (1964) • The Thing of It Is... (1967) • Father's Day (1971) • The Princess Bride (1973) • Marathon Man (1974) • Magic (1976) • Tinsel (1979) • Control (1982) • The Silent Gondoliers (1983) • The Color of Light (1984) • Heat (1985) • Brothers (1986)Categories:- 1976 novels
- American horror novels
- Novels by William Goldman
- American novels adapted into films
- Magic in fiction
- Novels set in New York
- 1970s novel stubs
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