[Mithfânion]

Having seen the Prestige and The Illusionist and being more than a little impressed with both of these fine films, I am looking for some books , non-fiction and fiction, which feature magicians and or illusionists. Of course The Prestige book is on my shelf, but what else is there?

[Kaellyn]

I have a book called Nevermore (haven't read it yet) by William Hjortsberg.
It is about Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. They have to find a serial killer copying deaths from Edgar Allan Poe stories. Sounds really good you may want to check it out.

[Beleg]

This one.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/lisa-goldstein/walking-labyrinth.htm

By no means great but kept the pages turning.

[Amaunette]

Michael Chabon's Kavalier and Clay is actually centered around super-heroes, but one of the main characters receives training at a young age as an escape artist. Now that I've just written that, it might not be what you're looking for, but it's similar to being an illusionist, I think.

[Randy M.]

Fata Morgana by William Kotzwinkle.

I'm not sure I could summarize without spoiling the story, but it involves a great magician who may or may not be using magic and the detective who is looking into his past.

A fun light, confection of a read.

Randy M.

[Phil Connors]

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a good read, if a *little* over-hyped on release. Susanna Clarke really captures a bygone era - her style would sit comfortably in the 19th Century, which is interesting, if occasionally twee. ;)

[mag74b]

Carter beats the devil by Glen David Gold,
A fictional biography of stage magician charles Carter "Carter the great" during the late 19th, early 20th century and a mystery involving the death of president Harding

[Ouroboros]

I'd highly recommend 'Shadowland' by Peter Straub. I read the recent re-release as part of the Voyager Classics series. It's like a modern version of some dark Germanic folk tale.

'Voices of our Shadow', by Jonathon Carroll, rereleased as part of the Gollancz Fantasy Masterworks series would also be a good choice.

[Mithfânion]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Carter beats the Devil seems to be precisely what I'm looking for so that trade paperback is going on my to buy list.

Kavalier and Clay as well as Jonathan Strange are already on my shelves.

Of the others I'd say the description of Shadowland has me tempted.

[Mock]

Omgosh me and Mithfânion are in the same boat, although The Prestige spanks The Illusionist. :p

(No really it does.)

I will soon begin my hunt for Strange at the local Barnes & Noble.