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The Prestige

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The Prestige

By: Christopher Priest
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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About this listen

 In 1878, two young stage magicians clash in the dark during the course of a fraudulent séance. From this moment on, their lives become webs of deceit and revelation as they vie to outwit and expose each other. In the course of pursuing each other's ruin, they will deploy all the deception their magician's craft can command. Their rivalry will take them to the peaks of their careers, but with terrible consequences. In the end, their legacy will be passed on for generations to descendants who must, for their sanity's sake, untangle the puzzle left to them.©1995 Christopher Priest (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc. Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Science Fiction Magic Users

Critic Reviews

  • Winner of the World Fantasy Award, 1996
  • Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, Unabridged, 2007

"Extraordinary, like a dazzling magic act!" (Entertainment Weekly)
"A brilliant conjuring act by one of the master illusionists of our time." (Wired)
"A taut, twisting, prize-winning story of two magicians and their fierce fin-de-siècle rivalry that taints successive generations of their respective families....An unexpectedly compelling fusion of weird science and legerdemain." (Kirkus Reviews)
All stars
Most relevant  
Downloaded this title in a whim and found myself quickly drawn in. I listened to this book faster than many others I’ve downloaded

Unexpectedly drawn in

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This was one of my favourite movies, so was keen to listen to the audiobook. The story is so much better than the film, such a clever plot and really well read. The start is a bit slow, but then it will hook you in. Thoroughly recommend it!

So much better than the movie!

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well performed! the movie's story was better imo . the book had a couple of loose ends

I prefer the movie

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I loved the movie. And now the book is a richer, more complex version of the same. The audiobook was beautifully performed.

Wonderful story.

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Fantasy without magic, dragons, the fey, time travel, war, eroticism or the multiverse (all of which have gotten boring) but lots of illusionism! I'm enjoying a second reading. It's one of those books where the beginning takes on a different meaning when you have read the end.

Exceptional

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I enjoyed this audiobook version of Christopher Priest's novel far more than the film version. Simon Vance's narration probably has a great deal to do with that preference: Vance is a skillful, creative and accomplished voice artist, never more evident than here, in this dark and complicated story.
This novel demands a lot from the listener/reader, who must pay attention and retain and reflect over the complex threads running throughout the novel. But, the rewards of this effort are great.
There is such pathos in certain passages and I still have many questions - what exactly were the Angier-Borden families arguing over in 1970? How, why could Lord C throw Nicky into that pit and how did the alternative Nicky come to be abandoned to adoption? Where was the Prestige Angier heading, at the end of the novel?
So many questions. But, highly recommended to dedicated listeners.

So many questions!

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This was very , very, good. I haven’t seen the movie based on this novel and actually I think that was a good thing. Simon Vance is a real treasure to the audiobook world. If you haven’t heard this I heartily recommend.

One of the best.

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The books as good as the movie bit tells a slightly different story. Worth your time .

As good as the movie

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A great story with many elements that are well woven together to create a credible narrative. a real page turner.

enthralling

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