The Arcane Wisdom of Randians

As can be seen somewhere in the right column of this page — at least for now — I am currently reading Donna Tartts’s “The Secret History.” Strangely enough, the second book I have been reading recently that uses a thinly disguised version of Bennington College for a setting.

What struck me about this one, though, was a feeling that somehow, somewhere, there is a thematic similarity with The Magus — a book that I read at a tender young age, but that I hold in considerably lower regard that I do Ms. Tartt’s efforts (at least now — was there a time when I thought The Magus was profound? Blam it on my youth…) Anyways, off to Google to find this: Tell Us What Novels Remind You of The Magus — and, yes, someone else had the same thought.

The extravagant association is one made by a young Randian: The Magus reminds him of Atlas Shrugged? Eh — well: let me not count the ways that that is just plain non-sense: it does have a certain comical effect, though.

Is there any book in the known universe that would not remind those people of the odious oeuvre of their high priestess? I think not.