Daniel
asked
Lev Grossman:
As a writer, how would you say you develop your characters? Is it a process of discovering them, creating them, or both?
Lev Grossman
Definitely a mix. Like Josh, for example. Josh was initially there for comic relief only. But when a character sticks around long enough you start asking questions: why does he need humor so much? Why does he encourage people not to take him seriously? If he's a magician, mustn't there be something tougher and more interesting going on underneath that jokey facade? Of course the answer is yes. So you start thinking about what it is.
Julia's another good example. She was supposed to be a one-off -- she wasn't supposed to come back after the first scene of The Magicians. But there turned out to be so much more to her story.
Julia's another good example. She was supposed to be a one-off -- she wasn't supposed to come back after the first scene of The Magicians. But there turned out to be so much more to her story.
More Answered Questions
Melinda Borie
asked
Lev Grossman:
I typically describe The Magicians as a fantasy epic for nihilists-- Harry Potter or Narnia without the meaningfulness, direction, hope or the (fulfilled) sense of a grand adventure. It’s not a great answer to “what’s it about?” What would you say, if you were trying to explain it to someone who has never heard of it?
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