Major Arcana
Major Arcana by John Pistelli, published by Belt Publishing on April 22, 2025, is a 352-page novel that explores the intricate tapestry of American life over the span of fifty years. The narrative begins with a tragic event—a student’s public suicide on a university campus—which sets off a chain reaction that intertwines the lives of two significant characters: Simon Magnus, a comic-book writer and gender activist, and Ash del Greco, a young occultist. Through a blend of horror and fantasy, the story delves into themes of art, magic, love, and death, offering a unique perspective on popular culture.
Readers will find a tightly-knit plot that spans generations, showcasing the transformative power of creativity and the complexities of moral history in the United States. Major Arcana presents a rich exploration of its characters’ journeys, emphasizing the interplay between mind and matter. Originally serialized on the author’s Substack newsletter, this edition reimagines the expansive novel for contemporary audiences, inviting readers to engage with its imaginative narrative and thought-provoking themes.
Official synopsis Publisher
“A deliriously creative tour-de-force … a breathtakingly imaginative and enjoyable novel.” (Booklist, starred review)
It begins with a gunshot: a student’s public suicide on a university campus. The blast radius of this tragic explosion expands to encompass 50 years of our history and two of the grandest characters in recent American fiction: Simon Magnus, a comic-book writer who transfigured popular culture turned gender activist who transfigures the English language, and Ash del Greco, an online occultist who by the age of 20 has seen to the end of everything and wants desperately to prove the superiority of mind over matter. With a decades-spanning but tightly-knit plot, written in an expansive style, Major Arcana canvasses America’s inner life and moral history from coast to coast and across two generations in a delirious saga about art, magic, love, and death.
Originally serialized on the author’s Substack newsletter, Major Arcana is a novel about the transformative power of popular culture. With a nod to Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and for fans of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Pistelli reimagines the expansive novel for the 21st century.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Major Arcana” about?
Who is the author of “Major Arcana”?
When was “Major Arcana” published?
What is the ISBN for “Major Arcana”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
