D
Daryl Gregory
Daryl Gregory writes across the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He is the author of the Southern Gothic novel Revelator and has contributed to anthologies like Made To Order and Eclipse
Spoonbenders
The Amazing Telemachus Family, a group of stage magicians with genuine psychic abilities, once captivated audiences. Decades later, their matriarch, Matryoshka, passes away, bringing the estranged family back together. As they prepare for her funeral, they must confront their past, their fading powers, and a mysterious figure from their glory days.
The story unfolds across two distinct timelines: one in the present day as the family reunites for a funeral, and another in the past detailing their rise to fame as stage magicians. These timelines intertwine to reveal the family's history and the origins of their powers.
Spoonbenders is a complete story within a single novel, offering a fully resolved narrative arc for the Telemachus family. Readers can enjoy it without needing to read any preceding or subsequent books.
While Daryl Gregory often explores speculative elements, Spoonbenders stands out for its blend of family drama and quirky magical realism, focusing more on character relationships and the bittersweet nature of fading abilities than the darker or more intense themes found in some of his other novels.