Magic Boy - by Michael Konik (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

WINNER of the 2024 Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize

Before he turns three-years-old, Little Misha Bloom discovers his special gift: He's able to see black and white chess pieces in color, each type radiating a tell-tale glow. With the help of two old men - his Grandfather and his Grandfather's gambling buddy - he learns to play competitively, and within a few years he's one of the best young players in America. Coming to terms with his "abnormality," Misha gradually learns how to engage with the world - adults, women, fellow chess nerds - and to accept his inexplicable gifts. With the aid of several peculiar acquaintances, he grows into one of the greatest players of all time, earning a shot at the 1993 World Championship, where the omnipresence and power of magic guides him to his destiny.

Review Quotes

"There's something magical about Michael Konik's writing. Through a perfectly rendered gesture, an uttered phrase, Konik breathes a life history into a cast of characters in Magic Boy. The novel's narrator, a somewhat tortured Misha Bloom, navigates between first and third person to recall his story as a young grandmaster chess champion. It's a tale that's funny, sad, and unshakeable." -William Meiners, Sport Literate editor

About the Author

Michael Konik is the author of thirteen previous books of fiction, journalism, and memoir, most recently The Unexpected Guest: How a Homeless Man from the Streets of Los Angeles Redefined Our Home. His essays have appeared in more than 100 periodicals, including the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and the Times of London. A widely published poet writing as MK Punky, he created the 365-poem interactive art experience "The Year of When". Konik lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a dog trainer and plays mediocre chess.