In the world of fantasy literature, few stories dig into psychological and societal complexity like Peter Gribble’s The City of the Magicians. In this episode of Books That Make You, Peter Gribble discusses his award-winning series, starting with book one, Threat, a tale rooted in themes of complacency, resistance, and the surprising power of connection.
Gribble’s upbringing in postwar France and lifelong studies in history, psychology, and education form the foundation for his layered storytelling. As he explains, Threat asks what happens when a pacifist society must face a barbaric invasion. The characters, including Lilia—a reluctant recruit in an underground resistance—are each forced to confront the ways their society has failed to prepare for real danger.
Yet this isn’t a traditional fantasy filled only with spells and battles. Gribble redefines magic as something much more intimate: moments of awareness, chance, and alignment. He likens these to the serendipitous experiences we all share—those moments when life seems to line up perfectly if we’re paying attention. For Gribble, that awareness is its own kind of magic.
The series also explores how knowledge can be as dangerous as any weapon, especially when a society isn’t unified in its response to a threat. Drawing on historical memoirs and philosophical lessons from figures like Gandhi and Socrates, Gribble crafts a fantasy that feels uncannily relevant to our real world.
Alongside his work as a fantasy writer, Peter has written for gardening magazines and spent years working in bookstores, including one known for smuggling in banned copies of The Satanic Verses. These real-life experiences help shape his understanding of storytelling’s power and responsibility.
Gribble leaves viewers and readers with a simple but powerful message: be alert. Pay attention to the connections around you. The world is full of meaning—but only if we choose to see it.
