The Musical Illusionist: And Other Tales

"This guy is very talented . . . one of the funniest, smartest writers I have come across in some time." --Ross Katz, producer, Lost in Translation

In the tradition of Borges and Calvino, The Musical Illusionist is an interwoven collection of post-modern folk tales--disappearing manuscripts, neurological anamolies, teleporting bacteria, and an unforgettable composer who manipulates sound to bend perception--that masterfully blends scientific curiousity with magical-realist caprice. The collection is organized by a giant underground archive--The Library of Tangents--in which the reader takes an imaginary journey through a series of exhibitions exploring parallel understandings of space, time, language, and all of the senses.

From a mythical underground, Rose introduces a new form of parable--the Hypothetical Reality--in which the reader is never certain if Rose's fiercely intellectual and carefully researched premises are the stuff of historic fact, or are instead an exploration of possibility. The impact of the collection is not measured by its verity, but by the way in which Rose's illusions activate the imagination.

Author: Alex Rose
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Akashic Books, Ltd.
Published: 10/01/2007
Series: Hotel St. George
Pages: 160
Weight: 0.43lbs
Size: 7.44h x 5.03w x 0.42d
ISBN: 9780978910310

About the Author
Alex Rose has published stories and essays for McSweeney's, the North American Review, The Providence Journal, The Forward, Science-Creative Quarterly, and DIAGRAM. He has also directed a number of short films, videos, and animations, which have appeared on HBO, MTV, Comedy Central, ShowTime, and the BBC. The Musical Illusionist is his debut collection.