Lev Grossman
Author of The Magicians
About the Author
Lev Grossman was born on June 26, 1969. He received a degree in literature from Harvard University in 1991. He spent three years in the Ph.D. program in comparative literature at Yale University, but left before completing his dissertation. In 2002, he became a book reviewer and one of the lead show more technology writers for Time magazine. He has written for Salon, The Village Voice, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, The Believer, Lingua Franca, and the New York Times. His first novel, Warp, was published in 1997. His other novels include Codex, The Magicians, which won a 2010 Alex Award, The Magician King and The Magician's Land. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: By Larry D. Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17326275
Series
Works by Lev Grossman
The Magicians Trilogy Boxed Set: The Magicians; The Magician King; The Magician's Land (2014) — Author — 376 copies, 2 reviews
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things [2021 film] — Author — 4 copies
Sir Ranolph Wykeham-rackham 2 copies
Endgame 2 copies
Buyuculer 2 copies
Buyucu Kral 2 copies
The Girl in the Mirror [short story] 2 copies
Lev Grossman Magicians Trilogy 3 Books Collection Set (The Magicians, The Magician King, The Magician's Land) (2021) 1 copy
The Bright Sword 1 1 copy
The Magicians Short Stories 1 copy
Coming into the country 1 copy
The Seven Golden Keys 1 copy
Magicienii. 1.Magicienii 1 copy
Associated Works
The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: Exhibits, Oddities, Images, and Stories from Top Authors and Artists (2011) — Contributor — 486 copies, 17 reviews
Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process (2017) — Contributor — 162 copies, 5 reviews
Lost Transmissions: The Secret History of Science Fiction and Fantasy (2019) — Contributor — 154 copies, 5 reviews
Eat Joy: Stories and Comfort Food from 31 Celebrated Writers (2019) — Contributor — 84 copies, 3 reviews
The Artists' and Writers' Cookbook: A Collection of Stories with Recipes (2016) — Contributor — 19 copies
The Magicians #2 — Creator — 5 copies
The Magicians #3 — Creator — 2 copies
The PaulandStormonomicon — Contributor — 2 copies
The Magicians #5 — Creator — 1 copy
Locus, July 2011 (606) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1969-06-26
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Lexington High School
Harvard University (BA|1991)
Yale University - Organizations
- Time
- Awards and honors
- Alex Award (2010)
Tolkien Lecture (2015)
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (2011) - Relationships
- Grossman, Austin (twin brother)
Grossman, Allen R. (father)
Grossman, Judith (mother)
Gee, Sophie (wife)
Grossman, Bathsheba (sister) - Short biography
- Lev Grossman is an American novelist and journalist. He was the book critic and lead technology writer at Time magazine from 2002 to 2016.
Grossman was born on June 26, 1969 in Concord, Massachusetts. He is the twin brother of video game designer and novelist Austin Grossman, brother of sculptor Bathsheba Grossman, and son of the poet Allen Grossman and the novelist Judith Grossman. He is an alumnus of Lexington High School and Harvard College. He graduated from Harvard in 1991 with a degree in literature. Grossman then attended a Ph.D. program in comparative literature for three years at Yale University, but dropped out before completing his dissertation. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Concord, Massachusetts, USA
- Places of residence
- Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
New York, New York, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- Massachusetts, USA
Members
Discussions
The Magicians - Lev Grossman in FantasyFans (April 2019)
Reviews
Best Grossman yet! A wonderful soup of legend and the latest research into that era (no longer 'the dark ages' but 'early medieval'). As a passionate fan of the novel Porius (which I suspect Grossman is too) and deep reader in anything that comes my way pertaining to that era or folklore, I was delighted by the way he wove the stories and facts together. Grossman also skilfully navigated the line between using appropriate language to evoke the times and descriptions (of bits of armour, show more swordplay, creatures, fay) but also having people speak in 'modern' voices, no 'forsooths' etcetera--it's logical anyway because to those people forsooth was the equivalent of "Who knew?". Of course, he pushed it to the limit which is why the book is a bit of a soup ranging from Mallory (1400's) or even Tennyson in the 1800's to the time in which the story is set, somewhere around 500 -- the same time frame of Porius. The Romans are gone for good, a hundred and some years ago. There are Britons in the west of Britain hanging onto customs and language but things are changing rapidly. That is how it was. Only later when 'England' (the blending of Brits and Saxon, Jute etc) was seeking a backstory did the legend of Arthur grow -- but it has always acquired the customs of the era in which a new version of the legend has been put forth. So -- Grossman takes all of it to put into the novel. The bright sword is, of course, Excalibur, and the book is about the pivotal moment when whatever had been happening in Britain shifts when a steady influx of new people, refugees, come to settle the east. I love too how Grossman has Morgan say (paraphrased). Well, we came as refugees from the west a thousand years ago displacing the old ones who put up the stone circles, and now, in turn, we are being displaced. A timely lesson that it would behoove all of us to remember. Nothing stays the same and fighting to preserve the past is futile. It doesn't mean you should neglect history, only that trying to get back to some (now) mythical idyll (which never was anyway) will fail. Lovely book! ***** show less
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Lev Grossman’s adult fantasy novel “The Magicians” follows Quentin Coldwater, a smart but mopey teen from Brooklyn. Quentin is disappointed and depressed, and the only thing he is genuinely interested in is a series of five children fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to a secret Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, things seem about to change. However, new powers come with new disappointments. Quentin’s life show more soon becomes as dull as it was before, until one day he discovers that his childhood fantasy is real. But you know what they say: be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
THUMBS UP:
1) Unique perspective on magic.
Grossman can be complemented for an unusual yet very convincing perspective on magic, which might not be that magical after all. In “The Magicians,” magic is complicated and organic, it does not promise you happiness or adventure, and it is definitely not an answer to everything.
2) Realistic and relatable perspective on life.
The characters in “The Magicians” are flawed, depressed and bored. They constantly make bad decisions, do not appreciate what they have and are lost and disappointed in life. Things do not always turn out OK and there is no happily ever after. Sounds like an entry from my diary.
3) Important message.
Indirectly, Grossman urges us readers to seize the moment and appreciate what we have, because if we are not happy with who we are and what we have, there is no guarantee that we will ever be happy, even if we get what we want.
COULD BE BETTER:
1) Misleading comparison to Harry Potter.
I REALLY wanted to love this book. How could I not when it was advertised as Harry Potter for adults? Unfortunately, “The Magicians” is nothing like Harry Potter. I don’t mean it as an insult though; I don’t think this book was supposed to be like Harry Potter. It is rather like Bill Willingham’s comic book series “Fables,” which boldly suggests that happily ever after does not exist. Anyway, Harry Potter comparison totally misdirected my expectations, and, as a result, I was deeply disappointed.
2) VERY depressing.
The life portrayed in “The Magicians” is very realistic, yes, but it’s just too dark and too depressing, without a hint of transformative joy. It’s definitely not an escapist fantasy, but, unfortunately, that’s exactly what I want from the book: to escape into a good story.
3) Unlikable characters.
I neither liked nor cared for any of the characters, which made even the most suspenseful scenes rather boring. They are nothing more than self-centered, arrogant and ungrateful privileged brats who waste their lives away… though, unfortunately, there are many like them in the real world.
4) Overdone.
Although “The Magicians” is indisputably creative, quite often certain details seem a little bit forced, too random and too weird, and almost always extremely cynical.
VERDICT: 2 out of 5
Despite my every effort to like this book, I didn’t enjoy it. However, it is creative and extremely realistic (depressing and hopeless included!). Thus if it sounds like something you might want to try out, go ahead and see for yourself. Just don’t expect it to be anything like Harry Potter. show less
Lev Grossman’s adult fantasy novel “The Magicians” follows Quentin Coldwater, a smart but mopey teen from Brooklyn. Quentin is disappointed and depressed, and the only thing he is genuinely interested in is a series of five children fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to a secret Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, things seem about to change. However, new powers come with new disappointments. Quentin’s life show more soon becomes as dull as it was before, until one day he discovers that his childhood fantasy is real. But you know what they say: be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
THUMBS UP:
1) Unique perspective on magic.
Grossman can be complemented for an unusual yet very convincing perspective on magic, which might not be that magical after all. In “The Magicians,” magic is complicated and organic, it does not promise you happiness or adventure, and it is definitely not an answer to everything.
2) Realistic and relatable perspective on life.
The characters in “The Magicians” are flawed, depressed and bored. They constantly make bad decisions, do not appreciate what they have and are lost and disappointed in life. Things do not always turn out OK and there is no happily ever after. Sounds like an entry from my diary.
3) Important message.
Indirectly, Grossman urges us readers to seize the moment and appreciate what we have, because if we are not happy with who we are and what we have, there is no guarantee that we will ever be happy, even if we get what we want.
COULD BE BETTER:
1) Misleading comparison to Harry Potter.
I REALLY wanted to love this book. How could I not when it was advertised as Harry Potter for adults? Unfortunately, “The Magicians” is nothing like Harry Potter. I don’t mean it as an insult though; I don’t think this book was supposed to be like Harry Potter. It is rather like Bill Willingham’s comic book series “Fables,” which boldly suggests that happily ever after does not exist. Anyway, Harry Potter comparison totally misdirected my expectations, and, as a result, I was deeply disappointed.
2) VERY depressing.
The life portrayed in “The Magicians” is very realistic, yes, but it’s just too dark and too depressing, without a hint of transformative joy. It’s definitely not an escapist fantasy, but, unfortunately, that’s exactly what I want from the book: to escape into a good story.
3) Unlikable characters.
I neither liked nor cared for any of the characters, which made even the most suspenseful scenes rather boring. They are nothing more than self-centered, arrogant and ungrateful privileged brats who waste their lives away… though, unfortunately, there are many like them in the real world.
4) Overdone.
Although “The Magicians” is indisputably creative, quite often certain details seem a little bit forced, too random and too weird, and almost always extremely cynical.
VERDICT: 2 out of 5
Despite my every effort to like this book, I didn’t enjoy it. However, it is creative and extremely realistic (depressing and hopeless included!). Thus if it sounds like something you might want to try out, go ahead and see for yourself. Just don’t expect it to be anything like Harry Potter. show less
Out looking for their missing Uncle Herbert, Kate and her brother Tom encounter another train, The Golden Swift, and its conductor, Jag - a new classmate of Kate's. Jag is on a covert mission - unapproved by the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway - to restore populations of animals that have gone extinct in specific places, e.g. bringing lynxes back to Scotland. At first, Kate is opposed, but Jag wins her over to his view, and they work together. But some of the populations they re-home show more suffer terrible fates, and other animals (and trees) come together to stop them. Kate and Jag then grasp, as few adults do, that no matter what harm humans have already caused to the other flora and fauna on Earth, we must keep trying to help, mistakes and all.
Sweet, magical, poignant, and inspiring, with moments of levity (especially when the Silver Arrow itself speaks, and the wolverine).
See also: Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee (MG fiction); When Beavers Flew by Kristen Tracy (picture book nonfiction); Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King (MG fiction) show less
Sweet, magical, poignant, and inspiring, with moments of levity (especially when the Silver Arrow itself speaks, and the wolverine).
See also: Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee (MG fiction); When Beavers Flew by Kristen Tracy (picture book nonfiction); Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King (MG fiction) show less
It is inevitable that “The Magicians” is compared to the Harry Potter and Narnia series. It involves a school of magic…and a tale of children who discover a far off magical world complete with talking animals. And yet – when I started this book, I found that there was a gigantic difference between those stories and this one.
Those books are written about quests, about young people who feel lost in their own worlds, true, but this book touches on a dark side of magic that seems nearly show more ignored in the others. Not the darkness of evil magic, but the darkness that comes with the power of magic, the realization that with magical powers, one has no need to do anything…at the same time that one can do everything.
The main character of “The Magicians” is Quentin. Like Harry Potter, he discovers the world of magic at a late age. Like the children of Narnia, he is drawn to the idea of a quest. A high achiever throughout his life, his new life at Brakebills (the magical school) gives him something to be consumed by, to immerse himself in.
“As much as it was like anything, magic was a language. And like a language, textbooks and teachers treated it as an orderly system for the purposes of teaching it, but in reality it was complex and chaotic and organic. It obeyed rules only to the extent that it felt like it, and there were almost as many special cases and one-time variations as there were rules.”
After Brakebills, Quentin discovers that this discovery of this magical world nor any external event provides a permanent solution to his inner emptiness.
“Who would ever have thought he could do and have and be all those things and still feel nothing at all? What was he missing? Or was it him? If he wasn’t happy even here, even now, did the flaw lie in him? As soon as he seized happiness it dispersed and reappeared somewhere else. Like Fillory, like everything good, it never lasted. What a terrible thing to know.”
Instead of having an enemy to fight against, a noble cause to pursue, the battle Quentin must fight is against himself. Against his inner demons of boredom, jealously, uncertainty and confusion.
Which in a way makes it a much more interesting journey. There is always a sense in magical worlds that although the side of the good will suffer losses on its way to victory, good will always triumph over evil. But when there is no easily identifiable evil or good…only one’s humanity - then the battle is harder to define and much harder to win.
“In a way, fighting like this was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, cause tears to fall, drive people away, make yourself feel better, make your life worse.”
I see “The Magicians” not just as a story about a young man who becomes a magician, but a magician who has a much harder struggle learning how to become a man. As a tale of an epic battle not in the world of magic, but in the human world in which magic exists. show less
Those books are written about quests, about young people who feel lost in their own worlds, true, but this book touches on a dark side of magic that seems nearly show more ignored in the others. Not the darkness of evil magic, but the darkness that comes with the power of magic, the realization that with magical powers, one has no need to do anything…at the same time that one can do everything.
The main character of “The Magicians” is Quentin. Like Harry Potter, he discovers the world of magic at a late age. Like the children of Narnia, he is drawn to the idea of a quest. A high achiever throughout his life, his new life at Brakebills (the magical school) gives him something to be consumed by, to immerse himself in.
“As much as it was like anything, magic was a language. And like a language, textbooks and teachers treated it as an orderly system for the purposes of teaching it, but in reality it was complex and chaotic and organic. It obeyed rules only to the extent that it felt like it, and there were almost as many special cases and one-time variations as there were rules.”
After Brakebills, Quentin discovers that this discovery of this magical world nor any external event provides a permanent solution to his inner emptiness.
“Who would ever have thought he could do and have and be all those things and still feel nothing at all? What was he missing? Or was it him? If he wasn’t happy even here, even now, did the flaw lie in him? As soon as he seized happiness it dispersed and reappeared somewhere else. Like Fillory, like everything good, it never lasted. What a terrible thing to know.”
Instead of having an enemy to fight against, a noble cause to pursue, the battle Quentin must fight is against himself. Against his inner demons of boredom, jealously, uncertainty and confusion.
Which in a way makes it a much more interesting journey. There is always a sense in magical worlds that although the side of the good will suffer losses on its way to victory, good will always triumph over evil. But when there is no easily identifiable evil or good…only one’s humanity - then the battle is harder to define and much harder to win.
“In a way, fighting like this was just like using magic. You said the words, and they altered the universe. By merely speaking you could create damage and pain, cause tears to fall, drive people away, make yourself feel better, make your life worse.”
I see “The Magicians” not just as a story about a young man who becomes a magician, but a magician who has a much harder struggle learning how to become a man. As a tale of an epic battle not in the world of magic, but in the human world in which magic exists. show less
Lists
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2010s (2)
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Winter Books (1)
Wilson (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 33
- Also by
- 30
- Members
- 24,592
- Popularity
- #852
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 1,210
- ISBNs
- 233
- Languages
- 16
- Favorited
- 30
