talkmagic.co.uk

This is going to be contravertial, but it's a subjective review.

The Book

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic

Cost

Softback is £14.99 retail or a tenner on t'Internet

Difficulty

1 - 3.25

(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Review

This book certainly contains a wide spectrum of magical techniques from cards through coins, ropes, silks, cups, balls and sponges to doves, disappearing ladies, mummies and mentalism.

It very old school.

Each section is quite large and detailed, which is good if you're interested, but seems a big chunk of waste if you're not.

Overall

This book is a solid foundation in the art of old school magic with a number of principals that apply always, but can be found elsewhere.

8/10 if you're in to that sort of thing

4/10 if you're not

waaa? you cant be saying its only 4/10? I used the torn restored napkin in a table hoping gig tonight and got great reactions. Yes it is old school but its the fundermentals of magic. Mordern coin magic is no longer mordern and the royal road to card magic is dated but these are magic classics. That give you soilid foundations in magic. The card magic section is a gold mine. And a great rope section.

I think he was saying that the rating is 8 if, like you, someone's into and appreciates the solid basics and foundations of magic but if they aren't then it's just a 4. I can appreciate that lower score for some as many aspiring magicians seem to think old works are irrelevant and everything must be new. They forget that there is very little which is really new in magic, just variations and such variations probably sold at exorbitant prices as well!

Come to think of it, perhaps we should chage the rating to 4 or even lower then others won't want to read it and we can keep all of Mark's treasures to ourselves !

Point taken Mandrake. I understand this quick fix type thing where Brad Christian must teach everything on dvd. But i still say this book is a well worth any newbie to read. I think most of the board will agree espicaly a certian Lady on here.

But not getting this strong foundation in magic is harming magic i belive. there you go my 2 cents worth

Good review by the way even if do disagree with it.

Mandrake wrote:I think he was saying that the rating is 8 if, like you, someone's into and appreciates the solid basics and foundations of magic but if they aren't then it's just a 4. I can appreciate that lower score for some as many aspiring magicians seem to think old works are irrelevant and everything must be new. They forget that there is very little which is really new in magic, just variations and such variations probably sold at exorbitant prices as well!

Come to think of it, perhaps we should chage the rating to 4 or even lower then others won't want to read it and we can keep all of Mark's treasures to ourselves !

I don't know whether or not to find your tone patronising, sarcastic or offensive, so I'll plump for sarcastic. I will stand my ground and rebuff your points.

This book is not a good purchase for those who do not wish to practice such arts as cups and balls, sponge magic or rabbit's appearing from hats. I do appreciate the foundations of magic, but I do not wish to practice most of the routines.

I'm not saying the card and coin information is not very good, but as an overall purchase, it's not a good one if you're not interested in the napkins and ropes.

Since "new magic", as you term it, are only variations on the past, then a book based on less "old school", as I term it, routines may be a better purchase than this one.

I think for those not wishing to practice the art of the appearing dove, there are many other books to spend your money on.

Markdini wrote:waaa? you cant be saying its only 4/10? I used the torn restored napkin in a table hoping gig tonight and got great reactions. Yes it is old school but its the fundermentals of magic. Mordern coin magic is no longer mordern and the royal road to card magic is dated but these are magic classics. That give you soilid foundations in magic. The card magic section is a gold mine. And a great rope section.

Yes, that's what I said ... if you're into ropes, napkins and sponge balls, it's brilliant. The chapter on cards in undeniably very good, but it's surrounded by other things which some will find irrelevant. Overall, it then becomes a lesser item.

I've love to understand how you define the difference between classic and dated. Every card trick I've done from RRTCM has got reactions. Cards do not date, but doves do.

I am an avid defender of the poly foam spheres , i belive they give you good grounding in coin magic.

Ok yes i can see the point theres nothing new in the book of course not its old. I will not argue on that.

If the routines arent for you then i can see why you dont like the book but have a go at the the routines me and lady of mystery wrote, Mine on the Torn and restored napkin and hers on the double thought transmiter, they are good little tricks.

But we are in agrement that the slights are the soild foundations of magic. I can see your point that you perfer more of a cutting edge book,

Classic vs Dated?

A classic is something that i consider timeless. Such as Dai vernons triumph thats why there has been so many versions but most people still to my knowldge perform the classic version.

Dated is when you read something like borrow a gentlemans pocket silk..

Doves and rabits and 300,000 sponges out of a pocket is Dated, I concour with that.

Certian card tricks do become dated or more to the point every one is doing them like the old deal 300 piles of cards type.

things like Sinful yes i got performed once or twice but its going become when of them old tricks that loses its charm quickly and will become dated very quickly.

If you like torn and restored napkins, read 8/10, if not, read 4/10

smarvell wrote:I don't know whether or not to find your tone patronising, sarcastic or offensive

Lighten up a little, it was none of those, I was in full agreement with what you said and it was an attempt to clarify a point for someone else. I find your comments uneccesary and trust it's just a misunderstanding - I suggest we move on.

Yes, I think it probably was a misunderstanding.

I think he was saying that the rating is 8 if, like you, someone's into and appreciates the solid basics and foundations of magic but if they aren't then it's just a 4. I can appreciate that lower score for some as many aspiring magicians seem to think old works are irrelevant and everything must be new. They forget that there is very little which is really new in magic, just variations and such variations probably sold at exorbitant prices as well!

I read this as you implying that me, like many new magicians, don't appreicate the solid basics and foundations of magic and that we dismiss old style tricks out of hand as irrelevant, rather than just dated.

My bad

PS I love you Mandrake

Can i have some love too?

And say new school owes a lot to old school ?

I love you too man.

It is without doubt true that the contemporary magic owes an enormous amount to the old school, but that's not reason to emulate it, unless you're into that sort of thing.

Did anyone stop to read the TITLE of the book...

"...COMPLETE course in magic..."

The book is a very good broad spectrum of magic, and the lessons learned in some areas which you may NOT be interested in could actually serve you well in areas you ARE interested in.

The methods, principles and mechanics of many magic tricks and effects are interchangeable—and any aspiring creative magician should have this book in their collection.

Perhaps THEN you can decide which genres to concentrate on, and then go for more focussed publications.

I think it's always good to have a basic knowledge of areas of magic that you might not be interested in. I really helps widen your horizons and you might even find an area that you really enjoy and can incorporate into your routines.