What do you think?
Rate this book
Night Magic
An amateur magician is approached by a mysterious old man who offers him a taste of true sorcery and is torn between the human life he has been following and the dark world of mystical arts that threatens to overtake him and the woman he loves.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
47 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Tryon
26 books303 followersIt was Noel Coward’s partner, Gertrude Lawrence, who encouraged Tom to try acting. He made his Broadway debut in 1952 in the chorus of the musical Wish You Were Here. He also worked in television at the time, but as a production assistant. In 1955, he moved to California to try his hand at the movies, and the next year made his film debut in The Scarlet Hour (1956). Tom was cast in the title role of the Disney TV series Texas John Slaughter (1958) that made him something of a household name. He appeared in several horror and science fiction films: I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) and Moon Pilot (1962) and in westerns: Three Violent People (1956) and Winchester '73 (1967). He was part of the all-star cast in The Longest Day (1962), a film of the World War II generation, credited with saving 20th Century Fox Studios, after the disaster of Cleopatra. He considered his best role to be in In Harm's Way (1965), which is also regarded as one of the better films about World War II.
While filming the title role in The Cardinal (1962), Tom suffered from Otto Preminger's Teutonic directing style and became physically ill. Nevertheless, Tom was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1963. He appeared with Marilyn Monroe in her final film, Something's Got to Give (1962), but the studio fired Monroe after three weeks, and the film was never finished. That experience, along with the Cardinal ordeal, left Tom wary of studio games and weary at waiting around for the phone to ring.
After viewing the film Rosemary's Baby (1968), Tom was inspired to write his own horror novel, and in 1971 Alfred Knopf published The Other. It became an instant bestseller and was turned into a movie in 1972, which Tom wrote and produced. Thereafter, despite occasional film and TV offers, Tom gave up acting to write fiction full-time. This he did eight to ten hours a day, with pencil, on legal-sized yellow tablets. Years later, he graduated to an IBM Selectric.
The Other was followed by Lady (1975), which concerns the friendship between an eight-year-old boy and a mysterious widow in 1930s New England. His book Crowned Heads became an inspiration for the Billy Wilder film Fedora (1978), and a miniseries with Bette Davis was made from his novel Harvest Home (1978). All That Glitters (1986), a quintette of stories about thinly disguised Hollywood greats and near-greats followed. Night of the Moonbow (1989), tells of a boy driven to violence by the constant harassment he endures at a summer camp. Night Magic, about an urban street magician with wondrous powers, written shortly before his death in 1991, was posthumously published in 1995. The dust jackets and end papers of Tom's books, about which he took unusual care, are excellent examples of his gifts as an artist and graphic designer, further testimony to the breadth of his talents.
While filming the title role in The Cardinal (1962), Tom suffered from Otto Preminger's Teutonic directing style and became physically ill. Nevertheless, Tom was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1963. He appeared with Marilyn Monroe in her final film, Something's Got to Give (1962), but the studio fired Monroe after three weeks, and the film was never finished. That experience, along with the Cardinal ordeal, left Tom wary of studio games and weary at waiting around for the phone to ring.
After viewing the film Rosemary's Baby (1968), Tom was inspired to write his own horror novel, and in 1971 Alfred Knopf published The Other. It became an instant bestseller and was turned into a movie in 1972, which Tom wrote and produced. Thereafter, despite occasional film and TV offers, Tom gave up acting to write fiction full-time. This he did eight to ten hours a day, with pencil, on legal-sized yellow tablets. Years later, he graduated to an IBM Selectric.
The Other was followed by Lady (1975), which concerns the friendship between an eight-year-old boy and a mysterious widow in 1930s New England. His book Crowned Heads became an inspiration for the Billy Wilder film Fedora (1978), and a miniseries with Bette Davis was made from his novel Harvest Home (1978). All That Glitters (1986), a quintette of stories about thinly disguised Hollywood greats and near-greats followed. Night of the Moonbow (1989), tells of a boy driven to violence by the constant harassment he endures at a summer camp. Night Magic, about an urban street magician with wondrous powers, written shortly before his death in 1991, was posthumously published in 1995. The dust jackets and end papers of Tom's books, about which he took unusual care, are excellent examples of his gifts as an artist and graphic designer, further testimony to the breadth of his talents.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 4, 2013
I found this book while browsing through a secondhand bookstore...Tom Tryon is one of my top five favorite authors of all time, and I thought I had read everything this man had written, but, happily, I missed one! Apparently he died while revising this story, and I was thrilled to find classic Tom Tryon storytelling. I realized how much I had missed his descriptive phrases; picking this up reintroduced me to an old friend. I miss him terribly and wish he were still here, giving us great stories, but Night Magic was like a special gift from an old friend.
August 22, 2017
Wow. Just... wow. There isn't much more to say than that (but I'm going to try and say it anyway).
This book was amazing. A little unexpected, to be sure, but amazing nonetheless.
There's this young street magician and mime (Michael) in New York. He's got some skills, and he makes a decent living, but he wants more.
Enter a very old, and very experienced, magician (Max). Planning his retirement, he doesn't want to leave a void, so he needs a protégé. He comes across Michael, and decides the kid's got potential.
The story blurs the lines between magic and illusion. Does "real" magic exist, or is it all just illusion, when it comes right down to it?
The author clearly thinks it does, but Max isn't so sure. A lot of weird, creepy, and even freaky stuff happens, but even by the end of the book, the reader isn't so sure either... but they're certainly left with lots of think about.
If you enjoy magic, and you're even remotely interested in the occult, I can recommend this book.
It lost its fifth star because I spotted some minor editing issues, but that doesn't mean I don't still believe this is an amazing book. And to think I'd never heard of Thomas Tryon before. Now that I have, his books are going on my to-read shelf right now.
This book was amazing. A little unexpected, to be sure, but amazing nonetheless.
There's this young street magician and mime (Michael) in New York. He's got some skills, and he makes a decent living, but he wants more.
Enter a very old, and very experienced, magician (Max). Planning his retirement, he doesn't want to leave a void, so he needs a protégé. He comes across Michael, and decides the kid's got potential.
The story blurs the lines between magic and illusion. Does "real" magic exist, or is it all just illusion, when it comes right down to it?
The author clearly thinks it does, but Max isn't so sure. A lot of weird, creepy, and even freaky stuff happens, but even by the end of the book, the reader isn't so sure either... but they're certainly left with lots of think about.
If you enjoy magic, and you're even remotely interested in the occult, I can recommend this book.
It lost its fifth star because I spotted some minor editing issues, but that doesn't mean I don't still believe this is an amazing book. And to think I'd never heard of Thomas Tryon before. Now that I have, his books are going on my to-read shelf right now.
June 21, 2016
This book was Thomas Tryon's swan song to his readers. I wonder what the story would have been like if he hadn't passed away during the editing process.
The question to pose while reading this story is how strong is your curiosity and where will it lead you.
The question to pose while reading this story is how strong is your curiosity and where will it lead you.
September 24, 2015
A Canaanite from the ancient city of Memphis is training the prince in the magical arts. Another magician, jealous of the Canaanite’s place at the prince’s side, causes the prince to fall ill and die. The Canaanite is banished, but returns and is found at the prince’s side while the prince’s body is being prepared for burial. For this act of sacrilege, the Canaanite is executed, blinded in one eye and hanged. But before he dies, he claims to have been born during the reign of Menes, who had reigned some four hundred years before.
Next we are given several short accounts of lives through the centuries: a thief during the time of Solomon, a magician in the court of Nero, Merlin’s destroyer, a count in Medieval France, a debunker of spiritualists in Victorian England. Always, despair follows in his wake. Our next stop is present day New York.
Michael Hawke is a would-be actor, and an aspiring magician. He spends most days in Central Park, practicing his art as a magician and a mime. One day his path crosses with that of a strange, old man. In those few minutes, he is given a horrifying lesson in the man’s power.
Rather than being put off by the experience, Michael becomes obsessed with finding the man, even to the point of soliciting the help of his girlfriend, Emily, in the quest. He wants to know what the man knows, to feel, and control, the power that he felt that day.
What follows is a game of cat and mouse, since all along the man had wanted Michael to find him. Max, for that is what the man calls himself, is also a magician, and takes Michael as his protégé. He tells Michael that he wishes to “leave it all,” and wants Michael’s help with his final performance in payment for teaching him his art and giving him his power. Michael agrees to the pact, and though there are plenty of suggestions that Max is most certainly hiding things from him, Michael persists in his studies.
Finally, the day comes. The stage is set, the house is packed. At first, all goes well. But Michael will find that there’s a price to be paid for all the power being passed on to him.
I picked this book because I’ve long been of fan of Mr. Tryon’s other works, especially The Other, and Harvest Home. Unfortunately, it doesn’t compare.
The book veers between being intense and riveting, to plodding and dull. It probably would have worked better as a short story. Several characters are never fleshed out, yet there is much that could have been easily left out. At the same time, there is much that is never satisfactorily explained.
The author died while revising the book, which may explain much. I can’t help but wish that I could have read the book this story was meant to be.
Next we are given several short accounts of lives through the centuries: a thief during the time of Solomon, a magician in the court of Nero, Merlin’s destroyer, a count in Medieval France, a debunker of spiritualists in Victorian England. Always, despair follows in his wake. Our next stop is present day New York.
Michael Hawke is a would-be actor, and an aspiring magician. He spends most days in Central Park, practicing his art as a magician and a mime. One day his path crosses with that of a strange, old man. In those few minutes, he is given a horrifying lesson in the man’s power.
Rather than being put off by the experience, Michael becomes obsessed with finding the man, even to the point of soliciting the help of his girlfriend, Emily, in the quest. He wants to know what the man knows, to feel, and control, the power that he felt that day.
What follows is a game of cat and mouse, since all along the man had wanted Michael to find him. Max, for that is what the man calls himself, is also a magician, and takes Michael as his protégé. He tells Michael that he wishes to “leave it all,” and wants Michael’s help with his final performance in payment for teaching him his art and giving him his power. Michael agrees to the pact, and though there are plenty of suggestions that Max is most certainly hiding things from him, Michael persists in his studies.
Finally, the day comes. The stage is set, the house is packed. At first, all goes well. But Michael will find that there’s a price to be paid for all the power being passed on to him.
I picked this book because I’ve long been of fan of Mr. Tryon’s other works, especially The Other, and Harvest Home. Unfortunately, it doesn’t compare.
The book veers between being intense and riveting, to plodding and dull. It probably would have worked better as a short story. Several characters are never fleshed out, yet there is much that could have been easily left out. At the same time, there is much that is never satisfactorily explained.
The author died while revising the book, which may explain much. I can’t help but wish that I could have read the book this story was meant to be.
July 4, 2020
Not a masterpiece. So much of his work is just achingly good but I believe he was still working on this at the time of his death. There are touches of genius and a beautiful closing. I really wonder what it could have been, had the author finished. Still very good.
Wishing you many magical moments :)
Wishing you many magical moments :)
May 17, 2011
It was so slow, but I am consideting reading it again in case there was something to it I missed.
I definitely bought this because of its cover and I like the idea of it being a retelling of
'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'.
However, I still do not get the comparison, its a reach if you ask me.
I definitely bought this because of its cover and I like the idea of it being a retelling of
'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'.
However, I still do not get the comparison, its a reach if you ask me.
July 27, 2012
Pretty dull Tryon novel that tries to regain his earlier success in the quasi-supernatural.
April 1, 2023
I have enjoyed Tho!as Tyson's books before and this was not disappointing. I had developed several endings even on the last page. The Epilogue proved them all wrong. The book is most entertaining.
Read
April 26, 2023Found this on my bookshelf after who know how many years...I'm sorry I waited to so long to read.
Had me captivated from page 1.
Be careful what you wish for, you may be sorry you got it....
Had me captivated from page 1.
Be careful what you wish for, you may be sorry you got it....
April 6, 2025
True to Tryon's signature style, Night Magic is richly detailed, building its world with an almost cinematic quality. The novel is less overtly horrific than some of his previous works, leaning more into psychological terror and existential dread rather than traditional scares. The pacing may sometimes feel slow, particularly for readers expecting a more action-driven thriller, but the payoff is in the novel’s slow, creeping tension.
Overall, Night Magic is a compelling but underrated work that showcases Tryon's ability to craft eerie, sophisticated narratives. While it may not be his most celebrated book, it's fascinating for those who enjoy spooky, slow-burn psychological horror with a touch of the supernatural. Although the ending was a bit anticlimactic, I would recommend the read.
Overall, Night Magic is a compelling but underrated work that showcases Tryon's ability to craft eerie, sophisticated narratives. While it may not be his most celebrated book, it's fascinating for those who enjoy spooky, slow-burn psychological horror with a touch of the supernatural. Although the ending was a bit anticlimactic, I would recommend the read.
March 16, 2025
“She had given up confiding her fears, her outrage, to Dazz, because he persisted in only one line: Michael had made a great career move.”
An interesting little late-career Thomas Tryon novel that took the “sorcerer’s apprentice” trope and brought it into late-80s New York. The most interesting bits were the magic bits, of course, the great descriptions of the lack of coherent understanding, the implied miracle working. Unfortunately, I feel like he didn’t quite land the story in the end. It just sort of fizzled out…
An interesting little late-career Thomas Tryon novel that took the “sorcerer’s apprentice” trope and brought it into late-80s New York. The most interesting bits were the magic bits, of course, the great descriptions of the lack of coherent understanding, the implied miracle working. Unfortunately, I feel like he didn’t quite land the story in the end. It just sort of fizzled out…
June 11, 2019
pick this book up at a library sale because it looked interesting, the book was it wasn't a can't put down book but it did keep your interest. book was slow to read at some points but differently picked up for the last few chapters
March 21, 2025
I love magic so I found this enjoyable, even despite the female character, who is a nag. Move on, lady!
August 13, 2019
Thomas Tryon is one of my favourite authors. Harvest Home is one of my favourite books. This is not quite up there with that sublime tale and writing, but it was a very good read, notheless, and the classic storytelling and descriptions I associate with Tryon are there.
Themes of ambition, and what is costs you run through this. I am not particularly fond of illusions, but love tales of magic/occult. This book blurs the two, almost asking if they are the same and then at times making a distinction between stage magic tricks and "night magic".
I only drop this a star because it was (for me) a slow start. However, the last half picked up and the last third was certainly worth it. Dinner was late, and we missed going to the movies because I just had to finish it!
Themes of ambition, and what is costs you run through this. I am not particularly fond of illusions, but love tales of magic/occult. This book blurs the two, almost asking if they are the same and then at times making a distinction between stage magic tricks and "night magic".
I only drop this a star because it was (for me) a slow start. However, the last half picked up and the last third was certainly worth it. Dinner was late, and we missed going to the movies because I just had to finish it!
January 19, 2016
I liked the part that took place in Ancient Egypt the best. Once we moved to the present day it seemed to drag out.
An ancient Canaanite whose magical abilities come to the attention of an Egyptian Prince who dabbles in magic, has one eye removed in retaliation for stealing "the Eye of Horus" and is hung after the Prince becomes ill and the Canaanite takes the Eye of Horus from the Prince's body. The Canaanite then seemingly returns to life, learning from other magicians including Christ and Merlin. In modern day New York City he is known as Max and runs the Little Cairo Museum of Wonders with his assistant Lena who hears voices and allows others to take over her body and "write". She then tries to interpret the writings.
Max meets Michael a young street magician who wants to learn "Night Magic", Max uses his skills to entice Michael into his orbit and than offers to take him on as an apprentice. Max also used his magical abilities to steal the Eye of Horus from the Museum. Michael's girlfriend Emily doesn't like Max and resents the fact that Max has Michael move in with him and Lena and ends her sexual relationship with Michael. Emily tries to expose Max to Michael by working with them, but her efforts are futile. Michael is willing to give everything up to learn "Night Magic".
In the end Max somehow transfers his abilities to Michael in a dazzling magical display, in an effort to save Michael, Emily follows Max into the cabinet. When the show is over Emily is dead and all that remains of Max is his glass eye.
The plot itself was interesting but I found it hard to care about any of the characters.
An ancient Canaanite whose magical abilities come to the attention of an Egyptian Prince who dabbles in magic, has one eye removed in retaliation for stealing "the Eye of Horus" and is hung after the Prince becomes ill and the Canaanite takes the Eye of Horus from the Prince's body. The Canaanite then seemingly returns to life, learning from other magicians including Christ and Merlin. In modern day New York City he is known as Max and runs the Little Cairo Museum of Wonders with his assistant Lena who hears voices and allows others to take over her body and "write". She then tries to interpret the writings.
Max meets Michael a young street magician who wants to learn "Night Magic", Max uses his skills to entice Michael into his orbit and than offers to take him on as an apprentice. Max also used his magical abilities to steal the Eye of Horus from the Museum. Michael's girlfriend Emily doesn't like Max and resents the fact that Max has Michael move in with him and Lena and ends her sexual relationship with Michael. Emily tries to expose Max to Michael by working with them, but her efforts are futile. Michael is willing to give everything up to learn "Night Magic".
In the end Max somehow transfers his abilities to Michael in a dazzling magical display, in an effort to save Michael, Emily follows Max into the cabinet. When the show is over Emily is dead and all that remains of Max is his glass eye.
The plot itself was interesting but I found it hard to care about any of the characters.
March 24, 2013
In this rivetingly tale, Night Magic by Tom Tryon our main protagonist, Michael Hawke, wants nothing more than to seize fame and power after a chance meeting with an unique old gentleman at one of his street performance in the greatest city in the world, New York City. Throughout this story the reader was pleasantly surprise with magic of both natural and unnatural sources. Young Michael, a street magician with a basic understanding of night magic, but after meeting the old gentleman referred to as the Queer Duck for most of the novel he want nothing more than learn what the Queer Duck has to ofter. However will our young hero be willing to commit to the ultimate sacrifice of losing everything about himself for this fame and power?
This being a Sorcerer's Apprentice retelling this novel was quite rather pleasant to read. The chapter made be rather long for my taste in novels, but the story was quite detailed and enriched with well-developed characters and plot to propel the story forward. Additional concept brought to the novel by Tom Tryon was the historical information from different cultures take on sorcery and magic in general during the prolong and throughout the novel. Overall, the novel is a great piece for those reader who want some fantastical elements in an adult novel without turning to the young adult genre. I personally give this novel a three star rating for being a great stand-alone book in a world recently rocked by countless series.
This being a Sorcerer's Apprentice retelling this novel was quite rather pleasant to read. The chapter made be rather long for my taste in novels, but the story was quite detailed and enriched with well-developed characters and plot to propel the story forward. Additional concept brought to the novel by Tom Tryon was the historical information from different cultures take on sorcery and magic in general during the prolong and throughout the novel. Overall, the novel is a great piece for those reader who want some fantastical elements in an adult novel without turning to the young adult genre. I personally give this novel a three star rating for being a great stand-alone book in a world recently rocked by countless series.
April 5, 2012
another great book by this wonderful author; who i had not heard he walked on... and way back in 1991. wow. always sad to hear when a fave author is no longer here; you know, well this is it, enjoy...and you wonder...does that pen keep on...well we writers love to write so i, for one, sure hope so.
October 2, 2008
Pretty predictable. There's some nice imagery, but you'll spend the whole book waiting for the plot to surprise and stray from the obvious. It won't.
November 14, 2010
A good read. Again Tom Tryons prose elegant and smooth. Reminded me of the boyhood days of make believe. We all wanted to be this or that, this story shows what happens when daydreams come true.
June 29, 2012
Couldn't even make it past the painfully wordy (and history book like) prologue.
April 9, 2016
"Night Magic" - written by Thomas Tryon and published in 1995 by Simon & Schuster. A rather strange magician story.
Read
January 16, 2020nach 200 Seiten abgebrochen - über schwarze Magie darf man nicht so langweilig schreiben
April 8, 2021
Read in 1995. A slick Manhattan spin on the story of the sorcerer's apprentice. This was Tryon's last novel as he passed away after finishing it.
July 11, 2021
Not really to my taste, dark and broody. Interesting enough twist on the Sorcerer's Apprentice, but also predictable.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews