The Magician (by: Michael Scott, Random House, 2009, ISBN: 9780385737289) is the second novel in the bestselling The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. Beyond all measure, The Magician takes every weakness found in it predecessor, The Alchemyst—there are so very few—and eliminates them completely. With new characters and elaborate setting changes, The Magician is as good as it gets in children's literature.
The Plot of The Magician and its New Developments
The plot in The Magician starts right where The Alchemyst ended. Josh and Sophie Newman, along with Scatty and Nicholas Flamel escaped Dr. John Dee to find themselves transported to Paris, Nicholas' original home. They eventually find shelter and allies in Paris once Dee realizes where the twins and the remaining pages of the Book of Abraham the Mage are in Paris. With help from Joan of Arc and the mysterious Comte de Saint-Germain, Flamel and the twins rest comfortably, but only for a day.
John Dee recruits another immortal human the famous Italian political writer Nicciolo Machiavelli. These two characters make for a devious and dangerous duo. Together they convince the Disir, or Valkyrie, from the Elder Race to unleash a beast to hunt down the twins in order to retrieve the lost pages from the book. Meanwhile, a division grows between Josh and Sophie as her powers had been awakened and grow more powerful by the day, while Josh is left disconnected and isolated from his twin sister. Division becomes a major theme found in The Magician and something that makes the book so absorbing.
Nicciolo Machiavelli's Influence in The Magician
It is hard to follow a book like The Alchemyst with a sequel that properly honors its predecessor, and The Magician does this by adding new characters and themes that draw the reader in; Nicciolo Machiavelli is the character that makes The Magician so compelling to read. The book might be named after Dr. John Dee as he is most notable as a magician during his life, but the political dealings and strengths of Nicciolo Machiavelli is what creates more possibilities for plot twists and changes.
Nicciolo Machiavelli adds the sane side of evil Michael Scott lacked with Dr. John Dee alone. Dee is erratic and ill tempered. Yes, Dee is clever and thoughtful in his intentions, especially in his dealings with Josh Newman, but Machiavelli is more moderate almost kind. While Dee has no hesitations in setting loose an extremely dangerous beast to roam Paris, Machiavelli finds that type of action too much even for him.
Author Michael Scott makes Machiavelli intelligent, powerful, and most of all influential. He understands the power behind modern technology, something most immortals in the book ignore. Above all Machiavelli is simply interesting. He's balanced when evil isn't supposed to be. Machiavelli is what makes this book move powerfully and entertainingly. Machiavelli’s soft sarcasm is also endearing to the reader.
With additional characters and creatures, The Magician is a carefully crafted, fast-paced novel with strength and longevity. The storyline becomes more timeless and complex with every character addition. Michael Scott's ability to create a world within our own is worthy of a comparison to Neil Gaiman. The Magician is that rare sequel that is so astonishing that it makes the reader forget just how good its predecessor was.
David Tubbs - David is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with an Honours B.A. in History with a focus on medieval Europe. While his formal ...
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