The Sorcerer of Pyongyang -- Marcel Theroux

<b>Written "with intelligence, compassion, and an occasional quiet lyricism" (Krys Lee, <i>The Guardian</i>), this mesmerizing novel is about </b><b>a North Korean boy whose life is irrevocably changed when he stumbles across a mysterious Western book--a guide to Dungeons & Dragons--from the acclaimed author of the "sublime" (<i>The New York Times</i>) <i>Far North</i>.</b> <p/>Ten-year-old Jun-su is a bright and obedient boy whose only desire is to be a credit to his family, his nation, and most importantly, his Dear Leader. However, when he discovers a copy of <i>The Dungeon Master's Guide</i>, left behind in a hotel room by a rare foreign visitor, a new and colorful world opens up to him. <p/>With the help of an English-speaking teacher, Jun-su deciphers the rules of the famous role-playing game and his imaginary adventures sweep him away from the harsh reality of a famine-stricken North Korea. Over time, the game leads Jun-su on a spellbinding and unexpected journey through the hidden layers of his country, toward precocious success, glory, love, betrayal, prison, a spell at the pinnacle of the North Korean elite, and an extraordinary kind of redemption. <p/>An "expert, engrossing" (<i>Kirkus Reviews</i>, starred review), and uplifting novel, <i>The Sorcerer of Pyongyang</i> is a love story and a tale of survival against the odds. Inspired by the testimony of North Korean refugees and drawing on the author's personal experience of North Korea, it explores the power of em