The Manual Of Darkness

Victor Losa has spent his life studying magic - he lives, breathes and dreams it. His mentor, Mario Galvan, taught him not only the practical aspects of the art, but also its history and in particular the lives of famous Victorian magicians such as Hoffman, Maskelyne, and Cooke, and the tricks that made them famous: the line of fire, the disappearing woman. But perhaps the most enigmatic historical figure of all is Peter Grouse, a pickpocket who decided to challenge the best magicians of the day. Now, Victor Losa is standing outside a green door, ready to receive an ovation from his colleagues after having been proclaimed the world's best magician. Suddenly a light appears in his eye and he can't see the door anymore. But this is no magic trick - he is diagnosed with a rare degenerative condition of the optical nerve. In short, he is rapidly going blind. As he loses his sight, Victor finds that there are new ways to conjure the world through stories of the past, present and future. And finally he learns the secret behind the story of Peter Grouse.