<p><em>The Magical Stranger </em>is a moving story of love and sacrifice, fathers and sons, heroism and duty, soldiers and the families they leave behind.</p><p>On November 28, 1979, squadron commander and Navy pilot Peter Rodrick died when his plane crashed in the Indian Ocean, leaving behind a devastated wife, two daughters, and a 13-year-old son.<br /><br />In this powerful, beautifully written book, journalist Stephen Rodrick explores the life and death of the man who indelibly shaped his life, even as he remained a mystery. Through adolescence and into adulthood, Stephen Rodrick struggled to fully grasp the reality of his father’s death and its permanence.</p><p>To better understand his father, Rodrick turned to members of his father’s former squadron, the "World-Famous Black Ravens." As he learns about his father, he uncovers the layers of these sailors’ lives: their loves, friendships, dreams, disappointments—and the consequences of their choices on those they leave behind.</p><p>A penetrating, thoughtful blend of memoir and reportage, <em>The Magical Stranger </em>is a moving reflection on the meaning of military service and the power of a father’s legacy.</p>