talkmagic.co.uk

I've just come a cross a post over at the Big Green Monster that Darwin Ortiz is releasing a new book:

"There have been rumors for a while now that I was working on a new card book in the mode of Cardshark, Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table, and Scams & Fantasies with Cards. The rumors are true. Up until now I have avoided the inquiries I’ve gotten about this because I didn’t want to create interest before the project was in its final stage.

That final stage has arrived. The book is called Lessons in Card Mastery. It contains thirty card effects. It will retail for $55. It will be very similar to my previous card books, although slightly larger.

In addition to the regular edition, there will also be a Deluxe Collectors' Edition. It is limited to 100 numbered, signed copies, bound in bonded leather, in a custom slipcase, with a bound-in ribbon bookmark. The price for this limited edition will be $110. Those who order earliest will receive the lowest numbered copies and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

I should have copies available for shipping in about five weeks. Between now and then, I will accept pre-orders. If you pre-order, I’ll have a mailer addressed to you and ready to go so that your book will ship the moment I receive copies from the printer.

As a thank-you to anyone who pre-orders, I will pay domestic shipping on the regular edition. (Unfortunately, I can’t make the same offer for overseas orders or limited-edition orders.) I will also autograph each copy (unless you request otherwise).

I you want to pre-order, email me at the address in my signature.

Sincerely,
Darwin Ortiz"

"Among other things, it contains what I sincerely believe is the strongest Texas Hold’em routine to appear to date (completely impromptu). It also contains several effects that, while not gambling routines, could be considered skill demonstrations. The bulk of the effects are, of course, card magic"

"The book is 281 pages in the same oversize format as my other card books. It contains about 280 illustrations by Tony Dunn and is published by Ortiz Publications.

"I won’t list the table of contents only because I really don’t think it will provide any insights, except perhaps into my taste in movies. As with my previous books, many of the trick titles are obscure movie titles."

The book is currently available for pre-order. Mail darwinortiz@aol.com" target="_blank for details.

Well, I'm stoked that it's coming out. Word is, it's Darwin's finest (and largest!) book yet.

Looking forward to it also.

Sounds excellent, can't wait for this one.

Darwin is now shipping out ordered copies of the book. Prolly won't reach Blighty until '03.

Give me a month with the material, and I'll post a (no doubt glowing) review.

SpareJoker wrote:Prolly won't reach Blighty until '03.

Either traveling backwards in time or you've all got a very long wait!

Mandrake wrote:

SpareJoker wrote:Prolly won't reach Blighty until '03.

Either traveling backwards in time or you've all got a very long wait!

We are magicians Mandrake, anything is possible!

I'll be keen to get this one I reckon, but I'll give the signed copy a miss. Double the price!

Did anybody order directly from Darwin?

If so has your copy arrived yet?

I pre-ordered mine as soon as i heard the announcement. I contacted Darwin to chase it up, and he informed that the books would be sent to him (from printer) on 12 December and that it would take about a week to reach him (19th December), he said he would individually post them all as fast as he could, but that it would clash with the Christmas rush.
I haven't received mine yet. But if he didn't post them until after 19th December, the postage from America to UK (excluding the week from just before Christmas to after new year) is 5 days or so (if you also exclude weekends). So i expect to receive in a week or so.

mrz0mbie wrote:Did anybody order directly from Darwin?

If so has your copy arrived yet?

I'm in the same boat as FTHO (or at least I hope our books are). I figure that it'll arrive sometime next week. To distract myself until then I'm working on putting the finishing touches to my performance of 'Smart Money' (Scams & Fantasies, a three signeds card to three pockets routine).

With one or two rare exceptions, the only books/ DVD's I've bought over the past 15 years have all been from Darwin Ortiz. It's quality material that is worth the money (many times over) and seriously rewards the student who puts in the requisite amount of practice and rehearsal.

Darwin has some brilliant routine in print and his work on the theory side is top notch...sometimes it seems as if he doesn't follow his own advice?

He has a routine that is based off of The Smiling Mule by Walton. The original is simple and impromptu with very natural handling and Darwin introduced the need for a memorised deck, some heavy sleights and in my opinion, absolutely butchered the effect.

Look forward to the reviews of this one though.

Mine arrived today, so yours should be here soon...

Sweet. I've also just ordered a new brick of Bikes

Cardshark is one of my favourite cardmagic books.

I´ve just ordered mine and I have a lot of expectatives on it.

I´ve heard a lot of times that maybe Darwin don´t follow his own advices when performing, but I think It´s a matter of his perfoming character. He acts as a Con Man and that modulates his behavior.

Saludos!

It's now in my grubby hands!