The Laser Sword Samurai

The magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a glass of weak tea’

George R. R. Martin

However recurrent this quote is, it has become one of the best ways of describing The magicians.  And maybe that is the main reason why the majority of readers have chosen no ordinary book in the fantasy and sci-fi section but this book. Truth be told, it is not easy to get such quote from one of the most famous fiction authors, and it can be the perfect sales pitch. However, after reading and analyzing this book, one may be wondering about to such extent this is true.

Lev Grossman shows the story of Quentyn, an exceptionally gifted young boy who is obsessed with Fillory, an imaginary world. Furthermore, this main character lacks motivation and, at the beginning of the story has no interest in nothing and no one… until he founds in a strange way – similar to Narnia Chronicles -the magic university Brakebills, and that is when his idea of the world starts to change…or at least it is what he thought.

Having said so, it is not really strange that one may think that this book is completely related to the famous masterpieces of J. K. Rowling. In spite of that apparent similarity, nothing could be more wrong. The magicians shows a majority never seen before in that kind of novels, let alone the fact that The magicians’ world is much more cruel, gloomy and complex. Quentyn, who is far from being the hero prototype we are used to, is a selfish, hedonist and depressive person, which just adds reality to the story. In fact, once in Brakebills, the main character meets up with other young magicians in similar circumstances, who will be his partners in a lot of adventures, some of them finishing in a whirl of sex, drugs and alcohol.

In fact, as the story goes on, one starts wondering what happened with those sweet vehement characters which are typical in this kind of books. That is the way how Lev Grossman in an original and smart way, tears apart the fantasy world as we know it.

On the other hand, the author’s narrative writing is very dark, intelligent and, even though it may sound contradictory, it could be funny and sad at the same time. It could be said that Grossman uses conventional characteristics of fantasy fiction adding big doses of good humor and drama, giving a sweet and sour tastes in one’s mouth. Besides, the chaotic way of writing plus a very precise description of each and every action makes this book a ‘must-have’ to any person who love this kind of novels. But one thing is for sure: it is eccentric and extravagant, to the extent that it provokes both revulsion and pleasure. Some people hate it, some love it, but what is undeniable is that one doesn’t feel indifferent once he has read it.