talkmagic.co.uk

I know this has already been reviewed, but I really wanted to review this as well. These three books are probably the best books I own. They care chock-full of fantastic effects... not one a flop. In between, there are also Essays, Interviews, Joke Effects, and Effect Contributions from other magicians such as Harry Eng, Allen Ackerman, Eric Mead, Daryl, Jay Sankey, and many more. The effects are fun to read, and so far, I like every effect I have read. All very bizarre bits of business that really hit hard. Effects with cards, coins, pins, paper clips, toothpicks, rocks, TicTacs, chocolate, pens, leaves, and many more make up the fabulous Art Of Astonishment series! Here are csome of my favourite effects so far:

Reset: The aces and kings switch places little by little. A Harris classic! ****

Screwed Deck: A nearly impromptu version of Paul Harris' marketed effect! A deck of cards is twisted in half, so one half of each card is face up and the other face down. Like a full deck Card Warp without any cover. Great! ****

Tap Dancing Aces: The four aces impossibly vanish and reappear back in the deck of cards one by one! This is really visual and really clean! *****

Illusion: During a Three Card Monte routine, the money card vanishes and appears face up in the face down deck of cards! Impossible and very simple. *****

Hi Ho Silver: A coin and deck of cards go through a time travel experience finding the selected card (among other occurances). Very clean and cool. ****

Bleached Blackjack: A bad hand of blackjack is displayed, and the ink from the bad card is completely erased, and visually reprints as an Ace! All without gimmicked cards! ****

PH Breakthrough: A deck of cards penetrates the front of the card case, and instatly does so again in reverse! Insanely visual and a true fooler! *****

Leaf: A leaf, torn off and initialed, is instantly reattached to the tree. The correct presentation can make this very cool. ***

Flapjacks: A cool four jack production that, unfortunately, is more somthing to play with privately. Lookjs great! ***

Those are the effects I have learned and mastered so far. There are many more I have read but haven't tried yet. I can't wait to learn more! Highly recommended!


I give these books a perfect 10/10. There is something for every magician in here: Card magic, coin magic, even some geek magic and body magic! Strange pieces of magic in boosk that will be enjoyed immensly!

Michael Kras

Michael. Thank you for the review - but please in future could I ask you to add your review to an existing one if it has been reviewed before.

That way all thoughts for an item are contained in one thread which makes it easier for people to get everyones opinion.
Thank you.

No problem Sir! I will remember that for the future.