Karl Fulves – Self Working Table Magic
97 Foolproof Tricks with Everyday Objects
ISBN 0-486-24116-5
The Effect
97 mystifying tricks done with ordinary objects that can be borrowed from the audience. Make coins appear or disappear; matchsticks jump into the air; classic cups and balls; pierce balloons without bursting them; plus tricks with dice, rubber bands, eggs, safety pins, pens and pencils and more. 185 illustrations
Cost
£5 or less from Amazon (I paid £2.70)
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)
This has been designed as a 1, although practice makes perfect.
Review
The approach is simple, no unusual dexterity, gimmicks or complex slight of hand, this book was written when Paul Daniels was the main magician on TV, so it is not going to make you the next David Blaine, Derren Brown or Paul Zennon. What it does offer however is a good solid introduction into impromptu magic with household objects and not a pack of cards in sight. This is aimed at the beginner to magic and the illustrations are of a good standard. I brought this book for my children to be just like daddy, hehehe
some of the tricks that use matches I just replace them with toothpicks and I don’t have to worry about them getting harmed or burning the house down. They love showing relatives that they can put needle through a balloon without bursting it!
The chapter on matchsticks / toothpicks offers enough material for a whole 15 minutes routine called “Magic Show in a Matchbox” containing both puzzles and tricks.
There are tricks with:
Money , matchsticks, dice, cups balls, psychic, elastic bands, hankies, close up illusions, safety pins and pens.
If you have children wanting to get into magic and want something a bit different to card magic and can’t affor a complete set of tricks, you won’t go far wrong with this book, Karl Fulves has other fantastic titles in this range ready for when they get hooked, and they don’t cost £20 a time.
Overall
8 – 10 (keeps my 2 children busy for hours)
