by Mr.Mystery » Jan 29th, '08, 22:05
The Book
World's Best Magic Tricks- Charles Barry Townsend
Cost
About $15
Difficulty
(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)
The book probably ranges from about 1-3. However included in the book are instructions for the construction of various pieces of appparatus that need someone with knowledge of word working.
Review
The book covers a wide range of topics including:
1. Silk Magic (2 tricks)
2.Table Magic (9 tricks)
3. Card Magic (10 tricks)
4. Parlor Magic (5 ticks)
5. Mental Magic (9 tricks)
6. Paper Magic (4 tricks)
7. Rope Magic (10 tricks)
8. Coin Magic (One trick)
The Chapter on Parlor Magic is worth the price of the book. It teachs you how to buid a production box that, unlike standar mirror boxes, you can open doors on the front, back, and top! In this chapter he also teaches you a nice effect where a sponge ball and a cup are placed into a box, the box is closed (a spectator may do this) the magician steps away, says the magic words and a spectator van open the box and show that the sponge ball is know inside the glass, plus everything is examinable! There are a number of other effects in the book including:
-The impossible linking ropes
-The impossible rope trick (a variation of the proffesors nightmare)
-Penetrating silk scarf
This book is a great source of information for beginer who wants to know some basic effects in almost every field of magic. It is also good for more advanced magicians (especially stage magicians) as the production box is ingenious.
Overall
For a beginer 10/10
For an amateur 7/10 (it loses points for not having many advanced effects)