This chapter explores the teachings and legacies of two pivotal figures in the development of Western Sufism: George Ivanovich Gurdjieff and Idries Shah. Both men played central roles in introducing Sufi ideas to Western audiences, significantly influencing the fiction writers discussed throughout this monograph. The chapter begins with an overview of Gurdjieff’s life, the core principles of his “Fourth Way” teachings, and their intersections with Sufi philosophy—particularly through the emphasis on inner work, self-observation and the transformative potential of sacred dance and ritual. It then traces Idries Shah’s rise to prominence in the 1960s and 70s as a popular and scholarly exponent of Sufism in the West. Shah consciously positioned himself as a modern successor to Gurdjieff, while also consciously seeking to distance his own work from the more cultic connotations associated with Gurdjieff’s followers. The chapter also examines this complex relationship, highlighting both the continuities and divergences in their approaches to spiritual teaching. It also presents new insights into Shah’s often-guarded interaction with his students, shedding light on his method of teaching through storytelling, subtle psychological suggestion and cultural adaptation. Overall, the chapter positions both Gurdjieff and Shah as transformative figures in shaping contemporary Western understandings of Sufism and being of central importance to virtually all of the novelists discussed in the following chapters.