talkmagic.co.uk

So, this post I guess is aimed at the more read amoung you.

I've recently come into a little bit of disposable income and thought that I might purchase a few new books. Normally when I can't afford to fork out how ever much for a nice magic book I can think of loads that I'd love to own, but it seems that now I can, I'm a little spoilt for choice. So, if anyone has any interesting suggestions for me please let me hear your ideas.

I will say though that before people start to tell me I should go out and buy Royal Road, I've been working as a magician for a good few years so assume that I'm way past books like that. Books such as Expert Card and Erdnase can also be left out as all three of these books I have read many times and own some nice copies of.

I guess the last thing to mention is the type of magic I'm looking for. Well mainly cards although I do perform close-up types of effects too, also nothing too flashy and in your face as my performace style is more classical and elegant.

I hope to hear some nice suggestions and will look forward to having some nice new interesting material to read through.

I personally think card college moves nicely on from the royal road.

Earl Nelson's Variations has some really nice card material.

Strong magic by Darwin Ortiz is great if you're serious about performing magic. it's also aimed at the close up entertainer. I'm reading it for the third time in two weeks, so i give it a hearty recommendation.

Ste Porterfield wrote:I personally think card college moves nicely on from the royal road.

Sorry, I guess I should have been more specific. These kind of books aren't what I'm after. I know we never really stop learning but books like this I have already read through years ago when I first started out in magic, as I said; "I've been working as a magician for a good few years so assume that I'm way past books like that." Thanks for trying though but I'm after books along the lines of Guy Hollingworth's 'Drawing Room Deceptions' rather than things on core technique if this makes sense.

As for the other sugestions I actually own 'Strong Magic' by Darwin Ortiz along with 'Designing miracles', both are great books. I might have to take a look at Earl Nelson's 'Variations'.

Keep the suggestions coming though.

The Card Magic of Nick Trost
The Art of Astonishment - Paul Harris
Williamson's Wonders - David Williamson

I'm not a card man but I read a lot. A couple of books that are slightly off the beaten track and emphasising subtlety rather than sleights (although there's some sleighty stuff):
"The Secrets of Brother John Hamman". A few gimmicky bits, but plenty of great ungaffed stuff too. Lots of thinking from the audience perspective. Maybe he had a different perspective on life because he was a monk?
"The Card Magic of Nick Trost". Again, the audience perspective rules. Lots of great effects with a kind of simplicity and elegance about them.
Also, all of 'Apocalypse', or if you've already got that, 'Ibidem'. So much material in them, it's unbelievable. Also, if you get all four volumes of Apocalypse and all three of Ibidem, you can use them to make a small but serviceable table to read at. Or, indeed, a house.

(edit: gah. Freddie beat me to 'Trost'...!)

Card Fictions by Pit Hartling:
http://www.magicbox.uk.com/card-fiction ... tling.html

7 effects are explained which can be performed with an ordinary or borrowed deck of cards, 'Finger Flicker' is the easiest, but other tricks require faro shuffles, culls, top changes, bottom deals etc. They are not easy tricks to perform, but they have been well thought out and they are all quality effects. Don't expect to get through the book in one day!

A book in english by Woody Aragon

The book of magic b*ll*cks for a funny book to read for a change

Both got good reviews on the wizard product review

hds02115 wrote:

Ste Porterfield wrote:I personally think card college moves nicely on from the royal road.

Sorry, I guess I should have been more specific.

No, you were amply specific - it was past midnight and I didn't read it properly!

I would recommend 'Impossibilia' and 'Smoke and Mirrors' by John Bannon. The emphasis is on cards but there are coin and other close up effects in there. A lot of professional magicians in Las Vegas and other magic hot spots in America have used his routines so it shows how entertaining and highly regarded they are.

You would need to be of an intermediate level of skill to handle some of the routines but there are no real knuckle breakers.

I have performed almost every trick in these books at one time or other.

A book which had a big influence regarding the way i approach performing magic is the Magic of Michael Ammar. In addition to some great effects there are also essays on psycology, misdirection, timing and rythm which are very thought provoking. Its sometimes hard to find these days but copys come up on ebay from time to time.

jim