Customer Reviews

Magic

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

It's an injustice for this novel to be out of print. Although as one reviwer mentioned, the ending is a bit too obvious up-front, the story has many compensating qualities, especially the excellent portrayal of a good guy, Corky, plaqued by inner demons he just can't control. Thus, we have an excellent drama of the downward spiral of a character we come to like. Incidentally, the movie featuring Anthony Hopkins is even better, and it, too, was written/scripted by William Goldman. Also, maybe some of you might remember the trailer for this film in the late 70s. I was still a kid/preteen back then, and the trailer with the dummy scared me half to death, and to this day, it stays with me. Unfortunately, the video copy I have of the film doesn't contain the trailer. Anybody out there remember it, too? Anyway, if you aren't able to buy a copy of this book on an Amazon.com auction, try to get it through an intra-library loan at your local library. I think you'll be glad you did, for this is a forgotten gem from the greatest era of horror, the 70s, and it should still be in print today, because it's as good as any psychological-suspense-horror novel I've ever read.

Corky is the 1970s answer to Norman Bates, only with a ventriloquist's dummy instead of a mother. Author William Goldman, one of the great contemporary popular writers of the last two quarters of the 20th century, takes us inside of Corky's head as he valiantly tries to keep his sanity from whithering away completely. He escapes to his past, returning to his childhood home and searching out his teenage crush Peggy Ann Snow, now a grown woman in a troubled and rapidly dissolving marriage. In an isolated cabin rental, Corky makes his tragic last stand. A wonderful novel that manages to both be a melancholic love story as well as a harrowing psychological thriller. An essential for any William Goldman addict.

This book mirrors its name: Goldman's skill is pure magic. (Cheesy, cheesy, but true.) Corky's descent into madness is funny, painful, violent, disturbing, and so so sad. There are some fabulous kickers in here--prepare to be surprised. Found myself forgetting everything as I plunged through it.

A long-forgotten little gem of William Goldman's, it's becoming more and more difficult to find this book anywhere. I was lucky to have found my copy in the library. The book is both very funny, touching and violent, with moments of brilliant humor, suspense and romance scattered throughout. Goldman can make a somewhat silly idea seem unquestionably plausible. The book switches back and forth from present time to the past, then back to present time. Also, the movie (starring Anthony Hopkins and Ann-Margret) is wonderful if you can find a copy as they too are scarce. Great to read and watch if you can find copies.

If you haven't seen the movie, I urge you to read this book. It is one of Goldman's best and almost all the reviews here give away the book's major twist, so you might want to avoid them.

This is one of those stories that will have you jumping out of your chair when the twist comes. It's right up there with Ira Levin's A Kiss Before Dying. Goldman is one helluva writer and is, in fact, one of my own biggest influences. Much of my desire to write books came from reading his work.

Goldman is one of my favourite writers. What a pity he no longer writes novels but has now devoted himself to the screen world. Of all his books, I liked "Control" the best, but "Magic" was a good enough second. His style is brilliant, just brilliant. As for holding the reader's interest, well, not for one moment can you put this book down. I kept saying I'll go to sleep now but 4 or 5 chapters later, I was still holding my breath and turning the pages with awe. Way to go, Mr. Goldman. Couldn't we have more, please. I have read all your books. I think your successor is Peter Abrahams, but would like to read more Goldmans.

This book, Magic, is a great book for suspense. The charictars were quite believable and so was the plot. William Goldman has created a winner in my opinion. The discription of Corky went into great depth while Fats charictar was expressed with great humor. Even the ending was good and a little suspenseful.

This book was really cool. Corky is a struggling stage magician trying to make it big and dreaming of a girl he knew in high school. Very nearly laughed off the stage the first time he performs, he employs the help of a dummy named Fats. At the beginning of the story, you think Fats is a real person, and its only later you realize that Fats is just a wooden dummy. Towards the end you're not sure if Corky is going insane or if its all real. This is a great page-turner and the characters seem very real. Anyone who likes reading avant-garde mysteries and pschological thrillers would enjoy this one.

Too bad this book from novelist/screenwriter William Goldman has fallen out of print. This is great psychological horror that reads fast (most of the book is dialogue) and has some genuine creepy moments. It's a kind of combination of Jekyll & Hyde meets The Tell Tale Heart mixed with magic and ventriloquism. It seems a mixed bag, but it works.

If you like the other horror books of the '70's -- The Other; Rosemary's Baby; The Exorcist; Carrie -- then you'll like this one. I've read people complain that this is like a long Twilight Zone episode, but since when is that a bad thing? The jekyll and hyde theme is one of the most basic in all of literature. And creepy dolls are SCARY! Try to find this at your local library, used book store, or garage sale. It's a great weekend read.

An easy-to-read novel by William Goldman, with very strong moments and thrilling climax.
Charles Withers, a 10yr old boy has a football star of an older brother, a jock father and an estranged alcoholic mother, but little self-esteem. He's quiet at school and spends his free time posing in his mirror, craftmaking and lately a newly found talent..magic.
Spending his teenage years perfecting card tricks and rabbit-pulls he meets mentor Merlin Jr, an author of magic pamphlets and together they tour the east coast of America. But Charles, better known as Corky, is a meek apprentice and shows little confidence as a soloist.
Corky discovers the secret to his lack of confidence lies in his new act..ventriliquism and hits it big with 'Fats' a hilarious X-rated dummy. With 'Fats' on his lap as well as a TV contract the pressure of success grows into a destructive cycle of murder and suspense.
Highly readable, Goldman places the reader on a chilling voyage into the mind of a disturbed comic. All in all an excellent novel, and frankly I expect nothing else from Goldman.