The Prestige by Christopher Priest Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Prestige
Book Review: Good tribute to RLS, Poorly realized female characters
Summary: 3 Stars
Nothing to add to the other reviews in terms of plot critique other than the magic is just too Spontaneous Generation-ish (a pile of straw and dung turns into mice kind of thinking) and I wasn't willing to suspend my disbelief. I did very much like the descriptions of the principles of stage magic that one magician offered in his diary, and the whole treatment of self is very much like Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Who is "I" and what have "I" become?
However, the women in the book are cardboard cutouts, The Devoted Wife and The Scheming Mistress. (the modern woman is OK). I kept waiting for one of them to do something unexpected, but neither lady ever did. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Priest's books to see if he overcame this technical, stylistic, and most basic hurdle in character creation.
Book Review: Good... not great
Summary: 3 Stars
The book was a good, enjoyable read. However i believe that the movie (The Prestige) took the book and vastly improved upon it. The book somewhat lacks a climax and could be considered a disappointment. The movie outdid the book, but that doesn't mean it's not a good read.Book Review: Haunting Dramatic Impact
Summary: 5 Stars
The idea of a novel is to present a story outside of your own experience, and The Prestige certainly does that. I saw the movie before I ever heard of the book, and the story was so compelling I wanted to read the original. It was far and beyond one of the most moving books I've read. The themes of illusion, revenge, and deception play out in a story rich with texture of Elizabethan London, with scenes in surrounds and post-expansion America.
Borden and Angier are fully-realized characters, each drawn in realistic backgrounds and motives. Their professional feud makes up the bulk of the story. Cause and effect play out until the consequences seem inevitable. The dramatic impact of the story is spellbinding and haunting. It should stay with you for a long time, and keep you thinking long after you turn the last pages.
Book Review: I like it but I don't. Now beam me up.
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd like to give this book 4.5 stars, since it's a great read (I stayed up to the earlier hours to finish it), and is very cleverly plotted with great surprises and twists.
My main problem with the book is probably my fault. I believed it to be a 'historical' novel, something like "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen David Gold. I didn't know it had won the 1996 World Fantasy Award. This meant I became rather upset when the book took a sharp turn into the fantastical during the Tesla part of the story. I was thinking TV, not the pseudo-science that actually appears. It seems to me something of a cheat for a book that's about stage magicians, not real Magicians.
It was also a shame that the mechanisms behind the two great magic tricks were revealed. This goes against the magician's code, and spoils their mystery. That's why I can't imagine reading the book again, since most of its charm is in that mystery.
To be fair, there is some ambiguity about how one of the magicians does his great trick. Unfortunately, this is jettisoned in the movie.
The last part of the book seems rushed and unconvincing. Of course, it allows for a great ending.
I was pleased that one of the character is called Andrew, and is from Wilmslow. Me too; a nice bit of duality there.
Book Review: It's a very unique book, exciting, with passion...
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is about two early 20th Century Magicians who have a dangerous rivalry with one another. The book is dark, but the two characters sway from being evil-natured, to showing some compassion at times. The character of Nicola Tesla (not one of the main characters) is very interesting, and he was a real historic inventor, and figure of the time, his portrayal in this book makes me want to study up on him! Christiopher Priest came up with a pretty original structure to the book, instead of having traditional chapters, the book consists of the diaries of each of the two main characters, and it tells the story from each man's very personal perspective. I found this very interesting because it's a different approach, and Priest really illustrates the unbelievable passion each magician has toward his craft, and toward seeking revenge on his enemy. The book is good, and the movie is even better, yes, this is one of those cases that the film tops the book, but I recommend both!