Wizards in the Silent World
Dr. Simon Carmel’s fourth book of notable biographies of deaf magicians is a fascinating look at an amazing subculture of our art.
Book Review
Reviews, previews, and features on books about magic, performance, or theory.
Book Review
Gibecière Vol. 20, No. 1
Magicians don’t need to still be alive to surprise you. Do you want to read hand-written notes from when Mozart (yes, that one) was studying magic tricks? Thanks to Reinhard Müller and Rainer Buland, now you can.
Book Review
Studies in Deception
Enclosed in the 242 pages of Aurelio Paviato’s Studies in Deception is the conjuror’s equivalent of Bach etudes: a dozen complete, professionally stage-tested routines that each focuses on a specific set of sleights and techniques for better structuring one’s magic.
Book Review
Stairway
A moment by moment description of this FISM-winning act by Markobi. Readers really benefit from the detailed descriptions of the routine approach and construction.
Book Review
Sam Huang Live Lecture
This is a two-hour lecture by Taiwan’s Sam Huang, noted for his AGT success, Instagram fame, and “Crazy Sam’s Handcuffs.”
Book Review
Repertoire II
This is the sequel to Asi Wind's 2019 suceess Repertoire. Not an easy to do manual, but full of bold, distinctive magic.
Book Review
Gibecière, Vol. 19, No. 2
Another packed issue featuring stories on JN Maskelyne, his Box Trick; and the sixth instalment about itinerant conjuror Pinetti
Book Review
The Particle System
This innovative new system from Joshua Jay revolutionizes memorized deck magic. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced stack worker or have never attempted to use a memorized deck before. There's something for everyone.
Book Review
Unexpected Agenda
A beautifully produced book, written with passion and knowledge. A book that will make you think.
Book Review
Conjuring the Spirit World
The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, has woven together artifacts and ephemera of magicians, seance mediums, spirit photographers, visual artists, and ghost-show operators that explore our multi-faceted fascination with the dead.
Book Review
Mentalism Incorporated, Volume Two
If Volume One was the undergraduate study of performing mentalism for the corporate crowd, this is the post-doc exploration.
Book Review
Mentalism Incorporated, Volume One
Corporate mentalist Chuck Hickok released two books, in 2002 and then 2005, designed to guide prospective pros in a market. Now in re-release, the two volumes mostly have a lot to offer.