reviewed by Peter Vattimo (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 14 February, 2024)
While it was written years ago, many of the methods and effects are still interesting and effective - and well taught. Well worth the price - items are solid - and there's room for personalization. All sorts of magic ... All sorts of history. One of my favorite books.
reviewed by Larry Brodahl (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 21 November, 2021)
Anything by J.G.Thompson is worth a read. In this manuscript, he has some very clever ideas (from credited sources) on ways to read the center tear, some nice presentational ideas. Just good stuff.
reviewed by Phillip Dennis (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 16 July, 2021)
I bought this as one of my first lybrary purchases four years ago when I rekindled my interest in magic. This book is a bargain and a bonanza of excellent effects. I had soon joined the local magic fellowship and for my first trick for the group was "Here's Your Card" by Herb Rungie. Perfect for a nervous debut. The reaction of the group was great. They exclaimed "That's a GOOD trick!"
If you don't own this book, buy it!
reviewed by Larry Brodahl (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 08 July, 2019)
A great book. One that I donated to the local club years ago, and just repurchased because there was material in here I wanted to see. J.G. Thompson is one of my favorite authors, since he writes clearly and plainly.
Add in the wide mix of talent that donated to this book, and you've got a winner.
reviewed by Robert Farmer
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 30 December, 2018)
The chapter on gaffed decks is worth the price of the book.
reviewed by Angela X (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 07 May, 2017)
Really enjoyed this rare collection. And a huge one - by some of the smartest magic brains.
There are many gems to be discovered. Actually this is double bonanza - the section on routines is one and the bio sketches of so many performers is the other.
The price is a steal.
reviewed by Phil Refa
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 27 July, 2013)
I wanted to add to my last review as well as raise this to a 5 star from a 4 star. The more I read this little book there are some real gems between the covers. As I mentioned in my last review the edge marking system is worth the price alone. There are several two person codes that are just damn clever. I just finished reading a small section on thumb writing and the new method of thumb writing - I don' t know how I missed it - again presentation needs to be reworked but a very clever idea - it allows you to thumb write right out in the open with them look right at the card. I have not tried it but I will. All in all there is some buried treasure that is just begging to be reworked.
reviewed by Phil Reda
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 11 May, 2012)
The section on the edge marked deck was worth the price alone. Other chapters are interesting from a plot perspective and can be updated. Overall good read.
reviewed by McAig
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 09 March, 2008)
A nice range of contents, from close-up card tricks to stage effects, roughly half and half card tricks and mentalist effects. That is the plus and the minus of the ebook, the plus being that it covers a fair amount of interesting ground, from 'work' you can use to key every card in the deck so you can identify the card a spectator has removed without even looking through the pack (along with a number of tricks you can do using this method), to a simple code that you and a partner could use in mindreading, to a good newspaper prediction. The minus may be that if your interest is more specific, then you may find only a couple of items of interest.
I found it an enjoyable read.