Additional information
by Stanley Elkin (Author), Rick Moody (Introduction by)
Brimming with Elkin's comic brilliance and singular wordplay, The Magic Kingdom tells the story of Eddy Bale, who, determined to learn from the ghastly experience of his son's long, drawn-out death, decides to give seven terminally ill children a dream vacation before they die.
Abandoned by his wife and devastated by the death of his twelve-year old son, Eddy Bale becomes obsessed with the plight of terminally ill children and develops a plan to provide a last hurrah dream vacation for seven children who will never grow-up.
Eddy and his four dysfunctional chaperones journey to the entertainment capital of America-Disney World. Once they arrive, a series of absurdities characteristic of an Elkin novel-including a freak snowstorm and a run-in with a vengeful Mickey Mouse-transform Eddy's idealistic wish into a fantastic nightmare.
Author Biography
Stanley Elkin (1930-1995) was an award-winning author of novels, short stories, and essays. Born in the Bronx, Elkin received his BA and PhD from the University of Illinois and in 1960 became a professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis where he taught until his death. His critically acclaimed works include the National Book Critics Circle Award-winners George Mills (1982) and Mrs. Ted Bliss (1995), as well as the National Book Award finalists The Dick Gibson Show (1972), Searches and Seizures (1974), and The MacGuffin (1991). His book of novellas, Van Gogh's Room at Arles, was a finalist for the PEN Faulkner Award. Many of his novels are available or forthcoming in new editions from Dalkey Archive Press.
Rick Moody is the author of six novels, including The Ice Storm; three collections of short stories, including Demonology; and three works of non-fiction. He writes regularly about music for Salmagundi magazine and teaches at Tufts University, in the greater Boston/Cambridge area.
