It’s still on the other side!
Hi Jim, I enjoyed reading your recent article in the August issue about Die boxes (“The Madness of the Die Box”). My only question is, why was there no mention of the Abbott’s Shenanigan Die Box? It has such a unique mechanism and is so different from the other Die boxes written about. It was devised by Bud West at the Abbott plant.
—Jeff Landes
Jim Steinmeyer responds: Coincidentally, I used a wooden Bud West Shenanigan Die Box in school shows:
There were many aspects to the Die Box story that we didn’t have space to explain—including the many ingenious variations. I realized that the Shenanigan box was inspired by Abbott’s previous “three-sided” shell version, The Abbott Die Box. Bud, a masterful woodworker, rendered his own version in wood, and added the pivoting action.
The Floating Cube
I just read the September 2025 issue of Genii, and the description of a version of the Floating Cube (Blake Vogt and Hok, “Inventing Magic”). I thought you might like to see some of my work on the subject. I actually ran an arts and crafts workshop at the 2016 AbraCornDabra convention, and distributed a kit to a large room of attendees. Here are two links to short videos of the trick, as well as a link offering the PDF.
—Andrew Pinard
Disappointed
I have been a Genii subscriber for 30+ years. I have always supported this magazine and been happy with what I received for my money. So, imagine my surprise to find that the cost of the digital magazine has doubled when I came back to resubscribe this evening. I don’t understand what about Genii has changed that warrants this new cost.
—Name withheld
It’s a complicated formula with a lot of moving parts. We’re producing a printed magazine and also an online magazine and website, which links Genii to the world of magic. The price of the magazine needed to be raised, and unfortunately the price of our digital version did as well. That price isn’t arbitrary; it represents our actual costs—the price of putting it all together. We feel that it’s still a great value in the world of magic, but some of our readers have reminded us that they’re watching these prices closely. We realize that Genii’s success has always depended on our relationship with our readers, and as we move forward, we hope to continue to win you over.
Cheers, But No Prizes
When Genii arrives, I put it on the table and open it with the next morning’s coffee. I actually start at the front and read every article over a few days. I love the mix of articles, and I really enjoy reading the different points of view. Please keep up the good work.
—David Duncan
Love the new look, design, and content in Genii.
—Tim Ambrose
This magazine and its slick makeover make me feel all grown up! However, on the November 2025 cover trick, was I the first one to discover the missing “e”? What do I win?
—Joe in Chicago
📬 Have something to tell us?
We encourage your comments, suggestions, and prohibitions. Reach us with the speed of email at editors@geniimagazine.com. We are, as the original genie insisted, here to serve.