Every now and then people ask what my favorite book is and I can never say, but for now, at least until I find another one, I can say that David Mitchie's The Magician of Lhasa is it. I first came across fellow Australian, David Mitchie's writing with his book The Dalai Lama's Cat, but this book is more dramatic than that and has more of a story in terms of plot. The Magician of Lhasa is the kind of metaphysical fiction that I really enjoy. The metaphysics enlighten the character's situation and provide points of wisdom for contemplation that further the plot, and this is what metaphysical fiction should do. Some works that use the metaphysical fiction handle fail to have much of a plot; they're more a delving into some metaphysical construct than a strong story with the kind of dramatic elements that a good story requires; such books are dull, but not this one. Anyone writing metaphysical fiction should read this and take note. Mitchie is a master of the genre. The Magician of … [Read more...]