A treasury of practical miracles, rare magic lore, and historical oddities
Beginning in 1999 and into the early 2000s, I managed The Learned Pig Project website, the Internet's first and most important online repository of classic magic books and documents, visited by thousands of magicians around the globe. Parallel to the website, I published an email eZine—TLP Magic eZine—which featured tons of interesting, practical, and highly creative material.
In 2003, I selected the best articles, routines, and essays from those back issues and compiled them into a single volume. Now, you can own this incredible collection in The Best of TLP Magic eZine.
What’s inside the book?
This 185-page compilation brings together tested performance material, deep-dive theory, and unforgettable magic history from some of the most creative minds in the art.
1. Practical Material (Stage, Parlor & Close-Up)
Whether you work close-up, parlor, or full stage, this volume is packed with worker-grade routines and practical performance pieces:
Gabi’s "Oil-Water Two Step": A clean, artistic version of Oil & Water from Barcelona’s card master, requiring no extra cards and using only the Elmsley count.
Moe’s "Look at a Card": The legendary, never-miss estimation technique for an impromptu card location using Moe's clever "index" principle.
The Lowly Change Bag Routine: A hilarious, commercial routine with silks and a string of rubber sausages that turns a classic prop into a showstopper.
Wiz Quiz Streamlined: An engaging, comedy audience-participation game show routine pitting men against women.
"Good Enough" Book Test: A reliable, multi-phase paperback book test that delivers huge reactions using simple, accessible props.
Extempore Passe-Passe Coins: A pure sleight-of-hand coin transposition using an ordinary, un-gimmicked tray.
2. Rare Vintage Theory & Showmanship
Alicia's "Simplify for Success": A brilliant essay on why stripping away complexity exponentially increases the audience's perception of real magic.
Gene Poinc’s Storytelling Masterclass: Complete, atmospheric scripts and presentations (The Dreadful Teeny Weeny Guilloteeny, A Gentleman of Mercy, She Who Drifts With Purpose) demonstrating how to turn simple props into unforgettable theatrical experiences.
Bill Coomer on Booking Shows: Real-world, actionable business strategies from a performer with over 5,000 shows under his belt.
Sam Dalal on The Miser’s Dream: Decades of field-tested insights on pacing, audience control, and comedy gags for coin catching routines.
3. Historical Oddities & Magical Legends
True Men of Mystery: Unraveling the stories behind mysterious figures like Charlier, Moe, Charles T. Jordan, and Tommy Downs.
Magical Urban Legends: Deep dives into historical lore, from the Indian Rope Trick to the legend of the Chicken Pulling a Timber-Log (with commentary by Darwin Ortiz).
Unorthodox Magic: The secrets of the ancient Tibetan Pop-Corn Trick, traditional Chinese illusions like The Boy in the Jar, and historical theatrical oddities like Houdini's rare playlet Buried Alive.
Featured Contributors
This collection features contributions, routines, and historical insights from Gene Poinc, Gabi, Thomas Baxter, "Silent" Mora, Dr. Menta, Bill Coomer, Sam Dalal, Payne, Astor, Darwin Ortiz, Harry Houdini, Sid Mayer, and Marko.
A must-have reference for collectors, performers, storytellers, and students of magic history.
Add The Best of TLP Magic eZine to your library today!
1st edition 2026, PDF 185 pages.
word count: 72637 which is equivalent to 290 standard pages of text
