In September 1532, eleven years after the Spanish conquest, Mexico is in meltdown. As the conquistadors discover an earthly paradise, its peoples and their Gods are being destroyed. Despairing at his surroundings, Vasco de Quiroga forges a commune on Mexico City's outskirts. Indigenous peoples flock there, and soon a new society exists, using Thomas More's recently published book, Utopia, as its blueprint. Rich with vivid accounts of 16th-century Spain and Mexico, Thomas More's Magician is not only the fascinating story of Quiroga, but also asks if utopian dreams are possible.