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Hey all,

I just got the first of what will probably be several magical packages through the post today, and it is a collection of books from Paul Gordon.
I've wanted some of Paul's stuff for a while, so finally got around to buying this bundle he sells.

The only problem is, Im not sure which book to start with! The books are Nocturnal Creations, Protean Card Magic, Card Magic Companion and Professional Card Magic Miracles.

It says on the blurbs that Protean is a follow up to Nocturnal. So does anybody know which book would better to read first? I've never read any of Paul's stuff before so I don't know what the difficulty curve will be like.

Cheers.

I don't know at what level you are working but I have found the content in the one book I have to be quite high. I am not able to do much from it yet and he refers to sleights I have never learned.

He is a top class card man and I think writes for similarly qualified people.

Im not exactly a master card shark or anything, but I have reasonable skill with cards and can do most of the sleights (that I thought were useful enough to practice) from Expert Card Technique.

I've had a gander through the first few chapters of two of the books, and I see what you mean, already I've come across two moves I've never even heard of, but I like a challenge so Im not yet deterred!

There tend to be a variety of skill-levels required in the different effects in any one book. So I actually don't think which one you go to first really matters. The only thing you will find is that Paul sometimes re-visits earlier effects with newer versions in the later books - but again - that doesn't really matter too much.

Ah cool, thanks philipsw.

Im just going to start with Nocturnal then, there's some effects in there that sound really interesting.

We had a lecture from Paul recently, I can personally recommend Cool Card Stuff, I am sure there will be a review of it somewhere on here, if not I will do one soon. He has also released a DVD called Card Startlers which has some very good effects on it from his books. I do not recommend the 16th card books if you are not very proficient as some of these effects in these books are much harder.

Chris Tennant

Hey, Matthius... You oughta' ask me!

If you try Nocturnal Creations first, I can tell you that I think TWISTER, EASY ACE ESTIMATION, LIFE ON MARS are goodies for you...and...well, that's 3 to start with.

I hope you enjoy!

Oh yes, you can WATCH me do some of the tricks on my website. Free video clips.

Yours, PG

Paul Gordon wrote:Hey, Matthius... You oughta' ask me!

If you try Nocturnal Creations first, I can tell you that I think TWISTER, EASY ACE ESTIMATION, LIFE ON MARS are goodies for you...and...well, that's 3 to start with.

I hope you enjoy!

Oh yes, you can WATCH me do some of the tricks on my website. Free video clips.

Yours, PG

Ah the man himself, I forgot you were on here.

I was just looking at Easy Ace Estimation as I found this post.... thats creepy.

Thanks Paul, loving Nocturnal so far, I'll check out those videos

Noctural Creations has got some great stuff in it, and Cool Card Stuff has too, and Professional Card Magic (is there a pattern emerging??). I've got a load of Paul's stuff and there's a wide range of material in there, from self workers to more advanced. One thing I will say (which Paul himself says) is try everything, even if you don't think it'll work or you think it sounds complicated. There is some simply stunning magic in these pages.

He's a nice approachable chap, easy to talk to and always helpful.

He's also got a DVD out teaching the sleights he uses, which has helped me a great deal.

HJ

heronjester wrote:Noctural Creations has got some great stuff in it, and Cool Card Stuff has too, and Professional Card Magic (is there a pattern emerging??). I've got a load of Paul's stuff and there's a wide range of material in there, from self workers to more advanced. One thing I will say (which Paul himself says) is try everything, even if you don't think it'll work or you think it sounds complicated. There is some simply stunning magic in these pages.

He's a nice approachable chap, easy to talk to and always helpful.

He's also got a DVD out teaching the sleights he uses, which has helped me a great deal.

HJ

Thanks, HJ, for the VERY kind words. Appreciated.

Yes, I always urge folks to try everything. If you don't, you'll never know if it suits you. After all, if you don't try (at least once) everything - it'd be like buying a novel and skipping pages.

My "major" DVDs - Card Startlers (3 discs) and Card Rarities - feature some of my best things, and the "35 useful sleights" DVD is, well, useful!

Best, Paul Gordon

having had the pleasure of meeting Paul on numerous occasions now, I can honestly say his work is BRILLIANT!

Card rarities is a must-have in my opinion, and Card Startlers is next on my list

Re Card Rarities, you guys might(?) like AkiraFist's FUNNY video review from YouTube. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayE-G7Z4nm0