Abstract

The study Magic, Magicians and Detective Fiction: Essays on Intersecting Modes of Mystery offers a variety of perspectives on classic detective novels (particularly ones written by early- to mid-twentieth century American authors) that feature performance magic (and occasionally practical magic). The essays range from historical studies of mystery authors who contributed to the American performance magic community to engaging genre studies of Japanese magical realist fiction. Chapters and an appendix by Neil Tobin and Zi-Ling Yan offer crucial data on underexplored American pulp fiction authors, such as Bruce Elliott and Walter Gibson, who wrote iconic mystery stories while also conducting foundational work to promote the conjuring community.

Keywords

performance magic, harry houdini, Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, John Dickson Carr, William Lindsay Gresham, Neil Tobin, Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Victorian Occult Revival, Arthur Conan Doyle, Bruce Walter Gardner Lively Stacy Elliott, Boris Akunin, Arsène Lupin, Edogawa Ranpo, Murakami Haruki, William Adrian Nordhausen, Skullo-cation magic trick, Diego Domingo, American pulp fiction, International Brotherhood of Magicians, Phoenix conjuring magazine

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