by Bruce Boston
First published 1999
Stage magician Stephan Yarrow performs his tricks night after night, but he yearns for something more authentic than sleight of hand. He dreams of discovering genuine magic that could lift him to the stars themselves. Meanwhile, the celebrated Madame Tutoni captivates audiences across five continents, including the lost realm of Lemuria, with her supposed ability to communicate with the dead. But can she truly reach beyond the veil, or is she just another performer? Actor Laslo Strand faces his own theatrical crisis, wondering if his career will bottom out with him reciting Shakespeare to a primate audience. These eccentric characters navigate a world where the line between performance and reality blurs. Boston weaves together their stories in a tale that shifts between romance and adventure, mixing historical elements with absurdist comedy. The characters chase their dreams while grappling with questions of authenticity and meaning in a world where magic might be real or might be the greatest illusion of all.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, magical-realism
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: chasing-dreams, found-family
Setting: Lemuria
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
56 pages · Paperback · Dark Regions Press