Stephen Fishbach, the methodical contestant commonly known as "The Wizard" in CBS's long-running reality TV series Survivor, is officially set to release his debut novel, Escape!, in January, 2026.
Based in part on his own experiences on Survivor, the novel specifically follows the cast and crew of a reality competition series set on a remote tropical island.
The first literary effort from the 46-year-old Fishbach, it's also earned a wide number of positive reviews from early critics. In addition to its humor and satirical elements, many first-time readers complimented the novel for its emotion and heart above all else.
“A thrilling, emotionally affecting deep dive into the perilous world of reality television production, in all its manipulative glory," Emily Nussbaum, staff writer for The New Yorker, said of Fishbach's novel. "... A gorgeously written, compassionate, but ultimately devastating portrait of the lives of the human beings working inside (and often, crushed by) the entertainment machine.”
New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Safran Foer, best known for his novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, echoed Nussbaum's sentiments, opining, “Stephen Fishbach writes with great energy and humor, as well as a deep understanding of human longing.”
Fishbach's novel will be released in hardcover on January 29, 2026. In addition to online suppliers, the hardcover version of the book will also be available at major book retailers like Barnes & Noble.
Previously, the two-time reality show contestant performed remarkably well in 2009's Survivor: Tocantins and 2015's Survivor: Cambodia.
Characterized by his thought strategic mindset and his emphasis on strong central alliances, Fishbach ultimately went on to become a runner-up in Tocantins and placing ninth in Cambodia.
Since his tenure on the hit CBS series ended, the 46-year-old has remained incredibly active in the Survivor community, regularly blogging for People magazine about the show and co-hosting the Survivor Know-It-Alls podcast with two-time Survivor contestant, Rob Cesternino.
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