Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living... near a carnival, somewhere in the rural United States. After burying an unknown figure, Stan gets on a bus and takes a ride to somewhere far, far away, finding himself in a 1939 carnival with a Ferris wheel, geek show, and other "attractions." There, he meets various colorful personalities such as Clem, Madame Zeena, and Pete.
Visiting... Buffalo, New York. After Stan hones skills in cold reading learned from Zeena and Pete, he sets off for Buffalo with all its elite, Art Deco trappings, striving to capture the rich and influential in the spell of his magic tricks.
Profession... magician. Initially aimless and jobless, Stan gets swept in with the carnival business that he stumbles upon. Of particular interest are Zeena and Pete's magic tricks, which consist of reading minds and clairvoyance, achieved through careful observation and codes hidden in phrases. Stan's abilities arguably put him at a level close to Sherlock Holmes himself—he can guess everything about your life just by looking at tiny details. Two years after his time at the carnival, an experienced Stan practices his trade in the more refined environment of Buffalo.
Interests... cold reading and psychic tricks. Stan's new abilities are proven when his careful observations about a sheriff prevent the carnival from being shut down.
Relationship Status... single. In his journey to escape his previous life, Stan meets various women such as Zeena, future assistant Molly, and the dangerously attractive psychologist Dr. Ritter.
Challenge... burying his past and succeeding in his psychic magic tricks. While many are awed by Stan's act, some have their suspicions, while others have private, mysterious purposes to exploit Stan's clairvoyant "abilities." As Stan says, "Sometimes you don't see the line until you cross it." He will have to navigate a web spun by figures such as Dr. Ritter and the wealthy Judge Kimball, who will push Stan closer and closer to this "line."
Personality... mysterious and ambitious. Much about Stan's past is kept hidden; it seems that he is running away from the death of someone close to him. He resorts to his magic tricks to restore a sense of continuity in his life. In Buffalo, Stan grows increasingly stubborn and aggressive in his profession, creating threats to himself and those close to him.
