About this title: A story spanning three generations of people, bound not only by blood, but by the inheritance of a terrible and deadly secret. The novel explores magic, the phenomenon of twins, the veracity of science, parallel worlds and the very essence of reality itself.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. 2005-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575079069ISBN:0575079061
Description: Good. Crease to cover. EXCELLENT value for money and ready for dispatch. Delivery usually within 3/5 days. Our reputation is built on our Speedy Delivery Service and our Customer Service Team. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575079069ISBN:0575079061
Description: Fair. Paperback, large format, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Tor Books
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780312858865ISBN:0312858868
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780575075801ISBN:0575075805
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Description: Good. Ships from the UK. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Description: New. Fast dispatch from an established online seller. Please note that some of our items may have a different cover to that shown, and some may have slight shelf wear. However, they are all brand new unread books, unless clearly stated in the listing. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575079069ISBN:0575079061
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575079069ISBN:0575079061
Description: Good. This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575079069ISBN:0575079061
Description: Good. This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. read more
"This story has everything, it has a modern day search of an adopted child to find and understand himself, it has a good old feud between rival professionals (in this case illusionists), it has tragedy and hope, love and hate and everything in between with a bit of magic, illusion and slight of hand (by both the characters and the author) thrown in for good measure. The story is superbly written and the changes between the narrating characters are not only smooth but also alternates the writing style to suit the narrating character absolutely flawlessly. The story has numerous twists and turns and Alfred's narrative suggests the secret behind his illusion without actually revealing leaving the reader thinking they know and knowing they know but doubting themselves constantly until the secret is finally exposed during Angier's narration. Priest not only gives an insight into the secretive and mysterious world of 19th century magic but he also brings 19th century Britain and America to life without losing sight of a single moment of the story itself. The ending although fairly abrupt suits the story brilliantly and leaves the reader wanting more. A thoroughly enjoyable and readable book, one I'm certain to read again and again and get something different from every time."
"This book was very well written and is one of the most intriguing plots I've ever read. It is a 5-star book in my opinion. I was constantly thinking about this book while not reading it, it is a mysterious page-turner. My only complaint is he probably could have cut out about 50-75 pages between pages 250-350 and still had just as good a book (went into a little more detail than needed, IMO). I would also like to note that the movie is also absolutely thrilling, but the movie is only loosely based on the novel, and each are very unique in their own way. In other words, even if you already saw the movie, this book is still a must-read, as the plot is much different, yet just as (if not more) enjoyable."
"Unwisely, I saw the film The Prestige before I read the novel. In fact, I saw the movie before I even know it came from a book. My father picked it up however, and I dove right in. As might be expected, from one who saw the movie first, I found the book a little dry.
Don't get me wrong, it's an incredibly interesting plot line. A Victorian epic full of love and deception, hated, arrogance, secrets, betrayal, and mystery. It's easy to go wrong, but Priest does it very well. He creates for us two very interesting protagonists. The reader manages to sympathize with both protagonists, but both magicians, Borden and Angier, are horrible people. They are very human, and suffer very real guilt at their crimes, and feel true elation at their victories. I couldn't get enough of either of them, twisted and malformed as they were. Hearing the bad guy's story is always fun, but hearing two bad guys' stories is just awesome. Through the course of their diaries, the reader really gets to know the two magicians. This sense of reality is certainly Priest's strong suit.
That reality is heightened by the myriad tones used in the novel. The modern day characters, reading these diaries, record their own thoughts in incredibly different ways. The daughter of a long line of dying aristocrats thinks thusly, and very differently, of course, from the bored journalist who finds himself in the middle of a 3 generation conspiracy. The tone of the two magicians, speaking around the turn of the century, feels authentic without being quaint, much less antiquated. Priest speaks very well though them, giving them wholly unique and developed personas, without distracting the audience with ridiculous dialogue. You can feel Borden's torment at his own secrets, and you can share in Angier's anger without becoming a part of it. Truly, this is a unique gift.
What I don't like about The Prestige is hard to say. I don't want to spoil it, because it truly is an ingenious plot, but it should be obvious that secrets abound. I feel that these secrets were divulged too easily. The come to Angier through another outside figure - not quite Deus ex machina, but not far from it either. I was just as interested in the plot elements as I was in the characters. So, to see the plot given away so easily, in my opinion, made me a little upset. It did not ruin the novel, but it was a heavy blow. Fortunately, some of the suspense is regained in the final Part, where Priest builds the horror back up, and gives us an ending that Bram Stoker would have looked upon proudly.
In the end, I have to admit my own prejudices. Seeing the film first totally warped my view I know. Really, I do like the movie better, something rarely said about books. Granted, it's one of my favorite movies now, so that's ultimately still a compliment to the novel. I would give it three and a half stars, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and round up. Either books or film though, this is a great story, and needs to be experienced."
"page 290: "It is difficult to deal with massy, inorganic compounds. Living tissue is not of the same order of problem."
page 291: "...it would be a simple matter with life organisms. The structure is so much simpler than that of the elements."
...WHAT.
I threw the book (at a couch, and when it bounced and landed open I rescued it immediately). What the hell. And at the same time blithely saying that "energy and matter are but two manifestations of the same force" in 1900 (mass-energy equivalence was first proposed in a 1905 paper by Einstein) - NO. You do not get to anachronistically rock E=MC^2 while simultaneously saying that metals are more complicated than people.
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