The War Magician [Paperback]

David Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1983

Jasper Maskelyne was a world famous magician and illusionist in the 1930s. When war broke out, he volunteered his services to the British Army and was sent to Egypt where the desert war had just begun. He used his skills to save the vital port of Alexandria from German bombers and to 'hide' the Suez Canal from them. He invented all sorts of camouflage methods to make trucks look like tanks and vice versa. On Malta he developed 'the world's first portable holes': fake bomb craters used to fool the Germans into thinking they had hit their targets. His war culminated in the brilliant deception plan that won the Battle of El Alamein: the creation of an entire dummy army in the middle of the desert.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Right from his memorable opening line [Fisher] shows a sure touch... a richly entertaining read.' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'a remarkable tale, delightfully told.' SOLDIER magazine 'This is one of those books that once you start, you can't give up... a fascinating read' REGIMENT --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

David Fisher is the author of more than 40 books on a wide variety of subjects. His work has appeared on bestseller lists around the world. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (November 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425062953
• ISBN-13: 978-0425062951
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Fisher is senior pastor of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. He was formerly senior pastor of Colonial Church in Edina, MN.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting August 25, 1997

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

Whether you are a magician or not, you'll love this book. The subjects of the book not only contributed to camoflage techniques, but it also explains how they "moved" the port city of Alexandria to hide it from Axis bombers. Forget smart bombs and laser weapons, here are some real wonder 'weapons'

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, critics can attack book but not wartime accomplishments April 1, 2007

By Go Texans

Format:Paperback

This book is entertaining, at times awe-inspiring, and is a fascinating glimpse at a little-known aspect of WWII. I take issue with the reviewers who dismiss the entire book as fantasy. You see I actually looked at Mr. Stokes' (a negative reviewer) "debunking" website which he links to in his review. I admit Mr. Stokes does successfully call into question aspects of the real Mr. Maskelyne's character and the dubious provenance of the accounts of interpersonal relationships in _The War Magician_. However, when I eagerly clicked to the part of the website which promised to disprove Maskelyne's actual feats -- moving Alexandria harbor, hiding the Suez Canal, his role in preparing for the Battle of Alamein -- all I found was a rambling essay on WWII strategic deception which had nothing to do with the promised topic. In the absence of specific, skeptical accounts of the actual wartime accomplishments -- rather than character aspersions -- from a website which obviously wishes to take Maskelyne down a peg a or two, I can only conclude that the absence exists because it is impossible to attack the feats. I am much more inclined to believe the reviewer who went to London and researched Maskelyne's official wartime record.

Now, regarding the writing of the book, it is definitely corny at times with the ridiculous dialogue and the pat characterizations of the misfit members of Maskelyne's "Magic Gang." An author's preface would have done much to explain how "David Fisher" (obvious pen name?) put together this account -- however, perhaps there is no preface because David Fisher was interested only in telling a good yarn and his methods would not stand up to scholarly scrutiny.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fact or fiction October 4, 2005

By M. A. Ramos VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

There is a lot of discussion on whether or not this book is fact or fiction. I picked it up to read because it was a work of "Non-Fiction". But after reading it I am not sure. The book does have verifiable historical detail. But it is filled with complete conversations of the characters/subjects. It seemed to me to be more of a historical novel. Though I do not think everything in the book is accurate, Most of what he is attributed to have done is plausible.

The War Magician written by David Fisher claims to be a true account of the exploits of the illusionist Jasper Maskelyne during the Second World War. Mr. Maskelyne comes from a long line of magicians. And like his ancestor who used his magic knowledge to help T.E. Lawrence in Arabia in WW I, he wanted to do his part in WW II. And so he does. His skills are used to help the British forces in developing new and creative weapons of illusion. Like making the armies look larger then they actually were. To innovations in camouflage, which are very interesting. And these camouflage techniques would take a mind such as Maskelyne had to conceive and execute.

The book makes for very interested reading. And just goes to remind us, that with enough ingenuity and hard work, anything can be accomplished. Regardless if the book is all factual, or if there is some embellishment, it is worth the read.