Doc Silence: The Cost of Magic: An Indestructibles Novel

by Matthew Phillion

Doc magician, superhero, adventurer, mentor. Doc was the last man standing when his team of heroes surrendered to despair, and was the one to bring together the next generation of superheroes who would become the Indestructibles. And now, for the first time, we hear his story.

A terrible encounter at a young age with a horror as old as time forces young Doc Silence to give up everyone and everything he loves. But this decision sends Doc on a lifelong quest for meaning, and for magic. Someone has to hold back the darkness, and Doc Silence soon learns that someone has to be him.

Throughout his early adventures, Doc will encounter demons and dragons, faerie folk and immortals; he will set foot in realms far beyond our own where nothing makes sense, and into houses on the edge of eternity. This is the making of a magician, and the making of a hero, who must decide how much of himself he will give up to stand against the things that wait in the darkness.

All magic has a cost. How much is young Doc Silence willing to pay?

Find out how it all began in this prequel to the Indestructibles series.

267 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2021

About the author

Matthew Phillion is a writer, actor, and film director based in Salem, Massachusetts and author of the Indestructibles, Echo and the Sea, and Dungeon Crawlers series. An award-winning journalist by trade, he has also appeared in feature films including the sci-fi romance Harvest Moon and the independent horror flick Livestock. His screenwriting and directing debut, the romantic comedy Certainly Never, premiered in 2013 at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, where it was nominated for five awards including best screenplay and best New England film.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

always underrated by the YA label, this was really fun

Loved it. I’ve only read one from the parent series, so this was a lot of fun. Using memory to connect all the dots to the original story in volume one gave this a lot more depth than I remember in the original. Fun read.

[Mguyett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good origin story

Been waiting for a new book all year. This did not disappoint. Though I am now even more eager for a new story.

[Nathan Woll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good prequel novel. Prequels don't generally excite me much

[Tim Ludy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book can exist in the same world as the Indestructibles, Echo and the Sea, and maybe even Dungeon Crawlers?? The blend of magical lore in a real-world setting works really well here and deepens the magical lore the main series has only hinted at. I loved covering some of the stories Doc has mentioned over the years like the Dreamless Lands, meeting Lady Grey, and a ton of other supporting characters from the past. Hearing that it was a collection of stories from Doc's life, I was worried it would feel really fragmented, but the book actually flows really well. Would love more books about Doc Silence's adventures and his generation of heroes.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doc Silence is one of my favorite characters in the Indestructibles universe. He even makes appearances in other series by the author. As a reader, I found myself wondering about his backstory, this book did not disappoint. The novel has all the feels - happiness, heartache, adventure, and triumph. You don’t need to read the other books first, but you will want to pick them up by the end.