talkmagic.co.uk

Right so first off i had never heard of this book before so excuse my ignorance, and if anybody has reviewed it then sorry but i just had to get my tuppence worth in. I was basically have a wee nosey around tam sheperds in Glasgow when the proprietor poionted me in the direction of this gem. Now im not really the type of person who buys one trich pony sort of stuff so i try to get, not so much quantity, but certainly quality for my buck. With this in mind i would rank this as in my top 5 magical purchases of all time. As i have alluded to this is an old book but has been reishued by meir yedid just this year so is in nice glossy paper with spot on photography. But maybe im being vague......let me elaborate....the book includes

John Scarne: classic ball routine, Triple coincidence, Silver and copper trick

Dai Vernon:Triumph, Cutting the aces, Spellbound, Kangaroo coins

Bert Allerton: Pump room phantasy, Bamboozle

S.Leo Horowitz: Malini Bey Chink-a-Link, The egyption Ball Mystery

Jarrow: Hanky Panky

Francis Carlyle: Decapitation, Homing Card, Wrist Watch Steal

Dai Vernon: Impromptu Cups and Balls, Ambitious Card, Mental Card Miracle

Dai Vernon:The ring on the Wand, Slow motion 4 Aces, The travellers

DR Jacob Daley: Cards up the sleeve, The itinerant paste boards, The Cavorting Aces

Slydini: Cigarette miracle, Flight of the paper balls, flyaway coin routine

Ross Bertram: Rubdown, Double Cross, passing the half bucks, the pourous paw, coin assembly

Vernon on Leipzig: Includes a small essay by vernon then Leipzig's opener, Leipzig's acrobats, Leipzig's Pride,Leipzigs Tear up with a twist

Vernon on Malini: Includes a small essay by Vernon and then Malinis card stabbing, Malinis own colour change, Malinis Favourite

Essay: Dai vernon Royal Monte

Essay: Slydini The art of using the lap as a servante


Incredible eh???? and to think its only £85 quid.....see your reading this and saying actually that is a shed load of material for £85 bangers "honey bring me my credit card and bring me a martini" Except its not Its £25 POUNDS STERLING. And for that you dont get just these "effects" But the thoughts and ponderings of the real creme de le creme of close up artists. That could include suggestions on patter or angles or even how to best present the effect. Now generally i dont review things ten a penny on TM and that is because i can take time to digest and ponder things, or theve been reviewed already, also have a zillion posts and live on here but i have had some sterling advice from folks, so im trying to give a little back. THIS BOOK IS AWSOME BUY IT.......Now as for the difficulty..........well......these are some amazing artits but some of it is quite easy......some of it not so easy id say 3-5 depending on ability. I would never buy an expensive packet trick and i dont have the money for all this cups nonsense. What i do have is passion and love for the art of magic so i understand that this book is a literal traesure trove of knowledge and magical insight

I bought it from tam sheperds so it will be available from davenports....by the way sorry for the grammar and spelling my computer is doing this thig where if i go back to correct a word when i delete half the word disapears ( I used to know how to fix this but i forget lol)

So to summerise 25 quid......great value......can be quite difficult (might take ten years to get everything perfect).......its a book.....get it at davenports


no really get it


do it


like now.........................

I bought an older edition secondhand a few weeks ago (happily, I paid less than £25). I have to say I found some of the instructions a bit confused, but I'm sure I can work them out eventually.

Can anyone suggest the best English coins to use for Spellbound? I'm not sure whether the necessary grip is easier with larger or smaller ones. I suppose it depends on the size of your hands - I have thin bony fingers.

Barry

I'm waiting for my copy to arrive in my mailbox

I think I could hold up an arguement against anybody, if they said this wasn't one of the greatest, if not THE greatest book on magic, ever written.

I have read in several different reviews that Stars of Magic pretty much forms the basis of all modern close-up magic. Based on the list of contributors alone, that's pretty hard to argue with.

- Rob

Cheers for the tip Spud... Got mine from Tam Shepherds yesterday. It's a cracking book and as you say, excellent value for money. I love the fact that it's an old book. There's a wonderful 'atmosphere' about the whole thing (if a book can have an atmosphere?). Recommended!!

Does anybody know where this book is available from an English dealer online? I have always wanted to buy the book but never got round to it, and seeing as I havn't purchased anything magical all year (lie), I thought I should go ahead and get myself a copy!

So yeah, anyone?

International Magic.

I did a quick search there before asking and got nothing, but after further investigation I have found it! Cheers Lenoir.

This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of magic. Just about everything in this book is a masterpiece.