Four by Magic

What is the color of your magic? Everyone has magic, most without being aware of it. We attribute our actions to a talent or a personality trait, whereas in reality, our behavior results from which one of four types of magic we have. To say, for example, that someone is a shrewd and unethical business executive shows a superficial understanding of reality. A more complete description would be to say that the person has black magic.

Four by Magic—set mainly in 2009, but spanning 13 centuries—describes the interactions among four people, each of whom has a different type of magic. Jefferson Woo is a ruthless politician who has larger aims than merely killing Sarah Palin and helping John McCain become president. Journalist Cate Nathan wants her dead mother back. Pete is immortal and dreams of dying. Math instructor Jim Kendall hopes to prove Goldbach’s conjecture, but instead has to prevent a nuclear war with Iran.