Michael Rayner and His Flaming Cheeseburger
Michael Rayner can spin anything—including a cheeseburger he sets on fire.
August 2026
Vol.89, No. 8
In Performance
California Magic Club
Visiting a cozy, intimate dinner theater experience featuring world-class magic in the Bay Area.
Perspectives
Welcome to Wonderland: Three Songwriters and a Bandleader
Magic’s influence on Hollywood’s top songwriters from the golden age of music
Perspectives
Sleightly Astonishing: Magic, But at What Cost?
A probing question! But, as always… it depends.
The Magic Castle
Magical Metallurgy
Tyler Rabbit, after a detour in visual graphics, brings his amazing coin magic to The Magic Castle.
Book Review
‘GiSulHak: The Art of Conjuring by Chi-Yong Song,’ Translated, Edited, and Annotated by Won-il Kim
An early Korean conjuring book that is surprisingly “young.”
Book Review
‘Çerca’ by Robert Mansilla
Solid material from a working pro’s formal close-up repertoire that gives is both the “how” and the “why.”
Trick Review
‘Tarot Ex Machina’ by Bob Farmer
This special deck of tarot deck, that comes with a huge instructional manual, will set you up nicely for making major miracles.
Trick Review
Pixx by Tom Stone
A mentalism packet effect that packs in clever exploration of a clever principle.
Best In Show
The Neat Review
Discovering the art journal that explores the crossovers between magic, sleight-of-hand, and art.
Mailbox
Mailbox: August 2026
Disposing of a collection and thoughts on AI
The Eye
How Many Shuffles Does It Take?
Just when you thought you got it all sorted out…