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I think that this is the all-but-expressed motivation behind Lev Grossman's "The Magicians" series. The VC pitch would be "First half is Skins set at Hogwarts,

I think that this is the all-but-expressed motivation behind Lev Grossman's "The Magicians" series. The VC pitch would be "First half is Skins set at Hogwarts, Second half is Trainspotting, except the rave scene is Narnia"

Jtsummers 10y ago
I generally avoid reading contemporary (< 10 years old) novels, especially series, for fear they'll turn out to be part of the 90% of everything that's crap. How is this one? Because that premise sounds interesting enough to me to want to read, especially since I'm about to spend a week recuperating from surgery and don't care to spend it online.
- lbotos 10y ago
  It's decent but I'd firmly put it in the category of "pop-lit" vs "modern lit". It's very present day and I don't think the writing was anything spectacular but it is a fun "quick" read for sure. I'd say give the first a shot, and if you aren't interested, you won't miss much skipping the rest.
- egypturnash 10y ago
  If you loved Narnia as a kid, and just couldn't go back when you tried to re-read it as an adult because of all the Christian allegory you missed the first time, it's pretty damn good. It also helps to have had a dream, attained it, and had it fall apart in front of you. I had both of those experiences and I devoured the Magicians books with glee.
- rockostrich 10y ago
  It's enjoyable. I have some problems with the decisions of characters and the world building, but overall I think they can be mostly overlooked. I hate to say it's a more mature Harry Potter, but it really feels that way.
- selimthegrim 10y ago
  I read it almost as a parable of people who didn't make it into <insert selective thing of their dreams here> and what they choose to do with the rest of their lives
- mcguire 10y ago
  I haven't read it, mostly because of one review I saw that described it as "Harry Potter but with self-obsessed, drunken, partying, college students", which seems to match the plain descriptions of it that I've seen.

Jtsummers 10y ago

I generally avoid reading contemporary (< 10 years old) novels, especially series, for fear they'll turn out to be part of the 90% of everything that's crap. How is this one? Because that premise sounds interesting enough to me to want to read, especially since I'm about to spend a week recuperating from surgery and don't care to spend it online.

lbotos 10y ago
It's decent but I'd firmly put it in the category of "pop-lit" vs "modern lit". It's very present day and I don't think the writing was anything spectacular but it is a fun "quick" read for sure. I'd say give the first a shot, and if you aren't interested, you won't miss much skipping the rest.
egypturnash 10y ago
If you loved Narnia as a kid, and just couldn't go back when you tried to re-read it as an adult because of all the Christian allegory you missed the first time, it's pretty damn good. It also helps to have had a dream, attained it, and had it fall apart in front of you. I had both of those experiences and I devoured the Magicians books with glee.
rockostrich 10y ago
It's enjoyable. I have some problems with the decisions of characters and the world building, but overall I think they can be mostly overlooked. I hate to say it's a more mature Harry Potter, but it really feels that way.
selimthegrim 10y ago
I read it almost as a parable of people who didn't make it into <insert selective thing of their dreams here> and what they choose to do with the rest of their lives
mcguire 10y ago
I haven't read it, mostly because of one review I saw that described it as "Harry Potter but with self-obsessed, drunken, partying, college students", which seems to match the plain descriptions of it that I've seen.