Review by Andy Martin for Joe Karson – Beyond Zombie by Michael Rose
5 out of 5
Much more than the Zombie!
So all of us at one time or another have either performed the Zombie floating ball effect, or dreamed of performing it. I remember even having a cheap plastic one when I was a kid. Performed well its one of the most fascinating magical effects ever devised. Its inventor, Joe Karson, is even more fascinating!
I have found reading this book very interesting; a real page turner! Joe was not a saint by any means, but he was clearly a borderline genius, a very talented inventor, and an incredible entertainer. Michael Rose has done a wonderful job of filling in all the blanks about this colorful character. A highly recommended read.
Review by George Guerra for Revolutionary Card Technique by Ed Marlo
5 out of 5
A True Classic!!
This book requires no introduction nor review. Plain and simple, it’s a classic belonging in any card magic enthusiast’s library. I have mine next to Giobbi’s Card College series. Ed Marlo has contributed immensely to card magic and I am glad this series is now under one convenient hard cover book. I am particularly glad it was released as it nicely replaces the loose soft bound series I sold on ebay.
Review by George Guerra for Collected Almanac, The by Richard Kaufman
5 out of 5
A True Classic
In the Magic Cafe, someone asked the question, "If you could only keep 5 books or series of books, which would you keep?" Among the books in my answer was Richard’s Collected Almanac. The others were Lorayne’s Apocalypse volumes, Giobbi’s Card College series, Ibidem set, and all six volumes of Marlo’s Magazine. Collected Almanac is full of great magic from top names in the field. Richard Kaufman is no stranger to those who admire well illustrated and well published books on magic, so this is definitely a MUST in any library. BTW, the most popular answer was Paul Harris’ Art of Astonishment set.
Review by Andy Martin for Stunners Plus! by Larry Becker
5 out of 5
Wow! This is where the true miracles begin!
Larry Becker is an incredible Mentalist. But once you read this book you’ll realize he is a lot more than that! One of his biggest hits, Russian Roulette, is explained in detail in this book, and frankly even when you know how this is done you will realise how absolutely brilliant Larry Becker is. I have long been an admirer of $link(http://www.martinsmagic.com/?html=gallery&keywords=becker,his magic), and this book prooves why.
Talk about incredible value. There is so much in here, and you can buy it directly from Larry for an incredible price at his new $link(http://www.stunnersplus.com,StunnersPlus.com) website.
This is such a thick tomb, it will keep you going and going and going. Thank-you Larry for re-releasing this incredible volume, and adding more to boot. If you buy no other book this year, buy this one!
Review by Ted Leon for World's Beyond by Paul Curry
5 out of 5
World’s Beyond-complete review
I must tell you that my focus is mentalism…. in particular, two-person mentalism. My better half and I perform as the team, “Liz and Leondo” in Las Vegas. As I was ordering this book, I remember asking myself, “why are you buying another book on card tricks?”. Heaven knows I have enough of them in my library!
Here’s the reason: Like you, I remember very significant things in my life…Where I was when President Kennedy was shot or when I heard Elvis was dead. I can picture my surroundings as the news of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy’s assinations were announced. Our younger brothers and sisters will, no doubt, have the same thoughts about the Challenger explosion or the bombing of the World Trade Center.
Well, I may be odd, but I can remember the exact setting and feeling of “astonishment” (to coin a phrase) I had when I first had “Out Of This World” shown to me. It haunted me for years. It is for that very reason that I bought Curry’s “World’s Beyond”.
The book is broken down into sections titled:
“PASSPORT” in which he teaches some card moves. No doubt will be greatly appreciated by the card folks among us, in particular the Curry “Turn Over Change”. I have no personel use for them but I enjoyed them. Nothing earth shattering.
“PACKING” is the section in which I realized that Paul Curry had a very serious bent for mentalim. It has some coin work using fire to reveal some amazing revelations. Also included was some card work used in a poker setting reminesant of John Scarne. He also describes a two card trick (Sure Thing) that will make some people talk to themselves. His “Color Changing Deck” routine is so free of “moves”, and in the truely startling catagorie that I’m considering doing it myself… don’t tell Liz I particular liked “Don’t Lie To Me” as it is a prognostication slant. “Houdini’s Legacy” is a cool sceance type effect with cards that, under the right circumstances, could scare sombody. “Out of the Past” is Curry’s variation of Devant’s “The Triangle” card effect found in “Our Magic”. I love Curry’s working but lean towards Devant’s version for stage.
Ther are many more card effects in this chapter including some “Haunted Card” type effects under glass. The main thing I like about Curry’s card magic is it’s rare that a spectator would hear, “take a card”.
“POSTCARDS” is a section of no card work but some excellant mental effects. The first is “Probability Zero” that uses buisness cards that can be added to the short list of truelygreat stunners with buisness cards in my opinion. “Alias Sherlock Holmes” is a rational use for center tear work.”Matchmaker” is an ESP effect using 5 Zenner cards that I am going to add to our repertoire. It can also be used over the phone! There is much more to this chapter but I think you have the idea.
“SUITCASES” is the chapter that contains the original version of “OOTW” and the thoughts on it over the decades since he invented it. This chapter also contains his thoughts on the “Open Prediction” effect which has had the attention of some of the greatest minds in magic.
“TRAVEL TIPS” concerns itself with Paul’s thoughts on the “Cigarette Switch” and more on the “Center Tear”. He offers some good tips on “Psuedo-psychometry”. his “Miscalled Palm” is one I’ve already used to excellent results. Is it possible for an amazing trick to be “too easy?”
I will stop here because, so far, this is all of the book I’ve actually read. There is more. Even rope tricks. More, cards. More mentalism. More real magic.
Is this book worth the money? It’s worth, well…. more!
Review by Andy Martin for A Case For Magic by Tony Griffith
5 out of 5
Half my kids act came from here!
This simple lecture by Tony Griffith is responsible for half of my standard kids act. The whole premise of the lecture was you turn up with a simple brief case and perform the whole act from there.
Review by Andy Martin for Genius of Robert Harbin by Eric C. Lewis
5 out of 5
Robert Harbin was a Genius!
This is a great book for all of us who can’t afford Harbin’s original. Gives a real useful insight into one of the few great minds in the magic industry. Highly recommended!
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