The Magician's Beautiful Assistant... and Other Stories

Fiction. The thirteen stories in this collection are set in Toronto, Iqaluit and Western Canada, places where Rachel Wyatt has lived and worked since emigrating from England in 1957. Familiar settings, whether in city, town or country, are clearly realized and integrated into the experiences they frame. The characters here are ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations, leading them to discover important truths about themselves and those close to them. Misunderstandings, mishearings, and mistaken identities occur in sometimes surreal, often farcical, situations, reflecting Wyatt's extensive experience as playwright and skilled creator of comedy. Dialogue and narrative are shot through with wit, irony, and a quiet humor. These stories are fun and easy to read, but raise important questions that leave the reader with much to contemplate.