The Prestige by Christopher Priest is an old-fashioned science fantasy reminiscent in some ways of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in narrative tone and conception at least. It’s about rival Edwardian stage magicians and how — and ultimately why — their feud affects several generations. Nikola Tesla plays an integral part and has an extended cameo, and along the way we learn a good deal about stage magic, Edwardian manners and mores, and the tangled ways in which people accommodate the impossible.
The writing is superb throughout, and a joy to read. It is clear as meltwater and yet, given some of the usages, can be puzzling for those who may have the instinct to mistrust. In this case, trusting Mr. Priest to deploy his phrasings deliberately is rewarded; when he writes such oddities as, “I now interrupt so I can finish this, rather than I,” he is winking and having fun in a wonderful game of layering that becomes clear only at the end, when attentive readers understand.
Inattentive readers may wish to move on to a franchise novel or some such.
Although the book is told in several major voices, the tone is unflaggingly civilized and urbane, and in truth, it is not voice so much as narrative that keeps one reading. Then again, given the revelations readers encounter, perhaps the voices reflect accurately the different threads of the story. It’s an interesting aspect for literary discussions.
This excellent book, winner of the World Fantasy Award in 1996, is soon to become a movie made by director Christopher Nolan, with a screenplay by his brother, Jonathan, the same duo who wrote and directed MEMENTO. Christopher is coming off BATMAN BEGINS, the best Batman movie and one of the best takes on Batman ever. THE PRESTIGE will star Nolan’s Batman, Christian Bale as magician Borden; Hugh Jackman as rival magician Angier; and David Bowie as Tesla, with support from Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, and many an English character actor.
Only a team who gave us the twists and layers of MEMENTO could do justice to The Prestige, so there are high hopes for the translation of this book to the screen.
It took me awhile to get ahold of the Tor trade paperback edition of The Prestige. No other editions seem to be available in here. It’s worth seeking out, perhaps in a library, although, as I say, it is perhaps not to everyone’s taste. I’d imagine those who liked Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell would like this book, too, and anyone who likes immersing one’s self in a more genteel, and magical, time will find much to recommend in this beautifully-wrought science fantasy.
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