The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok, Mr. Maugham, you just blew me away again.

Step aside, Of Human Bondage, and look carefully, The Razor’s Edge--one of your brothers is fuming mad and tearing up the kitchen.

I can't believe I've never heard of this one before. I'm just going through all his novels because he's simply GOOD. But The Magician is wickedly good. It's a fantastic FANTASY HORROR, folks. It belongs on any self-respecting horror shelf, and better yet, it pre-dates all our happy, white-washed wizards. (Yeah, I'm looking at you, Gandalf.) Welcome in a Crowley-like villain, Paris, 1908, with a positively ENCHANTED maiden, succumbing to Dracula-like whiles, with a particularly evil, nay, grotesque story.

You know what's great about it? It feels absolutely MODERN, a dark romance, great action scenes, and almost reasonable characterizations. :)

Heads up, people, this is a keeper!


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

Arctunn.com

View all my reviews