Effervescent
Oliver Meech has produced an easy-to-read collection of even-easier-to-do card material. It is quirky in a Paul Harris, Jay Sankey sort of way that screams “don’t take me too seriously.”
Reviews
Expert assessments of new tricks, books, gear, and performances.
Book Review
Juan Tamariz’s Flamenco
Flamenco is the third in the series of “Bewitched Music” following Sonata (1989) and Mnemonica (2004). Distinct from the other celebrated trilogy that deals with magic in a more abstract theoretical way, this book is tricks and sleights from cover to cover.
Book Review
A Visual History of Theatrical Levitation
From the early 19th century to the present, magicians have devised ingenious methods to defy gravity on stage. Intrigued by this graceful form of illusion, David Haversat has assembled a sumptuous visual record of its evolution.
Book Review
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.
Trick Review
Zooming Box
This is a well-made gag which uses yet another property of the cell phone (zooming into a portion of a photograph) to create a visual surprise on a box of playing cards.
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.
Trick Review
Missing Finger
You may well wonder what sort of enhancement to “watch me pull my finger off” is waiting for you inside of the neat red box from Penguin Magic. Or indeed, whether “watch me pull my finger off” has been waiting for $25 of improvement.
Trick Review
Super Picks
Josh Burch has seemingly replaced several different routines, like Scotch and Soda, or the Coin through the Coaster, or even Color Changing Knives, with a set of four special plastic guitar picks.
Trick Review
Razor Card to Wallet
A signed card teleports to the zipper pocket of your wallet! A minimalist Card to Wallet with a modern aesthetic.
Trick Review
Notion of Motion
This groundbreaking creation from Angelo Carbone allows you to make any freely-named card rise from a deck on your command. “Notion of the Motion” is a miracle-level effect that leaves people convinced they've witnessed real magic—even seasoned magicians.
Trick Review
Mortenn’s Jumbo Card Trick
It falls into that delicious category where you’ll ask yourself, “Can it really be that simple?” It can. It’s an elegant solution and after playing with it in the mirror, you will be itching to put it in your show.