''In Magic Words Lance Parkin has crafted a biography that is insightful, scrupulously fair-minded and often very funny, a considerable achievement given its unrelentingly grim, unreasonable and annoying subject. Belongs on the bookshelf of any halfway decent criminal profiler.'' - Alan Moore ".a fantastic history of one of our finest writers, and it also provides a functional history of comics while you''re at it. Highly recommended." - Bookriot "This is an essential book for any serious comics fan. Though Alan Moore and his career take center stage, his interactions with and influence on his cohort of British comics writers provide a microcosm of how the comics medium underwent a quantum leap in maturity in the ''80s, with long-term effects that remain even in media beyond comics." - Publishers Weekly "Magic Words shines brightest when it aims its insight at Moore''s work.
Parkin''s dissection of Moore''s vast oeuvre, the opuses and the marginalia, are penetrating and fresh, with plenty of cogent contextualization regarding the history of comics as it pertains to Moore, and vice versa. And his breakdown of Moore''s creative process is fascinating in both its detail and its eerie quietude." - The A.V.Club "Magic Words is a highly readable biography, never becoming too embedded in its comic book history elements to alienate the reader who isn''t interested in its minutiae, but still providing plenty of food for thought." - Sci-Fi Bulletin (Paul Simpson) "A remarkably lavish thing, with black-tipped pages, a purple spine, inset illustrations, cartoons, and photos. This is quite literally the book that fans have been starving for over the course of decades to take its place alongside the more art-based books and interview collections that have appeared in recent years. Here you have a book that places Moore alongside other great cultural movers and shakers well beyond the sphere of comics and it''s an excellent resource for gaining a wider understanding of the man and his work.
" - Bleeding Cool (Hannah Means-Shannon) "It is completist, and yet it never once approaches being overbearing. It is a book that deserves its level of introspection and intimacy with its subject. Parkin shows consummate knowledge of his subject, and the end result of it all is that you do see how vital to modern publishing Moore is, and therefore how essential this book is to everyone vaguely interested in comics. Brilliant." - bookbag.co.uk (John Lloyd) "A brave attempt to get to grips with one of the titans of modern pop culture. readers are sure to love the chapters about the creation of those dazzling early masterpieces" - Starburst "May Moore live long and prosper and may many thousands of fans buy Lance Parkin''s excellent biography and find out more about what makes him tick.
" - SFCrowsNest (Eamonn Murphy) "Superbly researched and lucidly argued, Magic Words encourages the reader to step back from the gallery of supposedly Manichean controversies and ossified preconceptions. With a determination to focus on the light rather than the heat of things, Parkin lends many of the most apparently unchallengeable aspects of Moore''s career a new perspective. the portrait of its subject that emerges is enticingly fresh and repeatedly contrary to received wisdom. the disconnected expressions of genius and bloodymindedness are reframed as the product of one fascinating individual and his fiercely held principles and aspirations. It''s a well-played accomplishment that makes Parkin''s smart-minded analysis of Moore''s work all the more compelling. I can only suggest that you drop everything and search out a copy of ''Magic Words'' right now." - toobusythinkingaboutcomics. blogspot.
co.uk "Magic Words is a book that manages to cater to all the different levels of the Moore fandom, whilst remaining simple and easy enough to read if you have never even heard of him. It is a biography that can be critical on occasion and at least once downright heartbreaking, but it is a fantastic and fitting portrait of a man who may, or may not be one of the greatest living comics writers of our time." - aguidetogeekdom.wordpress.com (Anton Krasauskas) "Lance Parkin is witty and informed. He is a devotee of Moore''s work, but not uncritical. He''s also happy to point out his protagonist''s contradictions.
You come away with an understanding of Moore the artist, but his day-to day life remains discreetly hidden. Just, you suspect, as Moore likes it." - SFX Magazine "A fascinating and even-handed look at Moore''s life. Parkin''s gift for. pattern recognition elevates his book from a by-the-numbers account into an altogether more satisfying examination of Moore''s life and remarkable body of work, as well as the changing business of comics over the last four decades." - brokenfrontier.com (Tom Murphy) "**** A surprisingly balanced biography that through carefully deployed new and archival interviews doesn''t always find Moore on the right side of the argument. Lovingly presented with a glistening spot UV cover and black-cornered pages, it''s an essential primer for even the most casual comic-book fan.
" - SciFi Now "The real story behind Britain''s most influential writer. No, not JK Rowling, but Alan Moore, the man who created V is for Vendetta, From Hell and Halo. Lance Parkin''s biography will have you running to read them again." - The Herald (UK) ". probably the most beautifully packaged book of the year. The colors on the cover jump out at you and captivate you before you even know what you''re opening yourself up to. The black, purple and green color scheme on the outside and inside covers are just gorgeous. The edges of the pages (top, side, and bottom) are black.
Gorgeous. The images of Moore''s work and other exciting things throughout the book, while in black and white, also bring this book to life. I just absolutely love the packaging of this book. Job well done. This is one of the most insightful, in depth biographies I''ve ever read. Call it an encyclopedia or even a bible for Alan Moore fans. Alan Moore fans, this one is for you." - Hollywood the Write Way.