In the late nineteenth century, two stage magicians, Alfred Borden and Rupert Angier, become rivals after an accident at a séance. Each tries to perfect a version of "The Transported Man," an illusion in which the magician seems to move instantly from one place to another. Christopher Priest tells the story through diaries, memoirs and letters of the two men and of their descendants in the present, and slowly reveals that their competition goes beyond showmanship, involving Nikola Tesla and a machine. The novel plays with the idea of deception, duality and storytelling.
Readers who like clever, structurally inventive science fiction and the history of stage magic will find a puzzle that rewards attention.
Deep and open-ended; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1995
- Language
- EN
