Tell all the truth, but tell it slant -- Success in circuit lies
And although this art is so wonderful, still it is held in no honor . . . The reasons are various, it seems to me; first, the art is concerned with useless matters; second, it is practiced by men of low degree.
G. Cardano on card tricks, De Subilitate, 1554
Cover Stories
Yours truly made the cover of the February 2012 issue of MAGIC Magazine. I am very excited and pleased at how the whole thing turned out. A change in pace for MAGIC, there is no “story.” Instead, there are four previously unpublished tricks (3 card + 1 mental coin tricks) written in the narrative form I used in Dear Mister Fantasy:
Chronic—a very unusual and iconoclastic “clock” trick. This one breaks all the rules.
Buf’d—a transposition with a re-transposition. Did it reverse, backfire or ricochet? Easy to do.
Origami Poker Revisited—you gotta’ know how to fold ‘em. A surprise Royal Flush with a twist. Completely—no, totally—self-working.
Ion Man—no negativity here, but a practical streamlined handling for Max Maven’s “Positive Negative” plot. Imaginarily choose any coin and flip it. We knew it all along.
Twelve magic-packed pages and a sidebar by my buddy Raj Madhok. Go “All In.”
It's Triabolical!
Three cutting-edge packet tricks. All “fractal”—ending clean. All deploy the “Bullet Party Display” from my Bullet Party DVD, book, and eponymous trick (2011).
Two of the three tricks use the same five-card “rainbow” set that is included in my trick “Spin Doctor,” from the Fractal Card Magic series of single-trick DVDs. The third trick (a really cool Montier special) uses regular cards you already have laying around.
There are no gaffed cards, so cobble together the proper cards and proceed to fool, shock, and entertain everyone you know—magicians and civilians.
Directly and indirectly, “Magic” is a collaborative art. Indirect collaborators provide inspiration, background, and foundation. Magic, in part, is always a product of the creator’s influences. Direct collaboration is where the fun is.
About a year ago, while taping the Bullet Party DVD, young Liam got an advance look at the Bullet Party Display count. We have been e-mailing back and forth ever since.
The product of that collaboration is this small collection of “fractal” packet tricks and Bullet Party Display apps. Too much fun not to share. The writing is mine so allocate any blame accordingly.
Otherwise, try the Triabolical.
See And Be MagicSeen
Yours truly was on the cover of MagicSeen Magazine, the UK's flashiest and trendiest magic journal. Pictures, in-depth interview, the whole nine yards--well, at least an 8-page spread.
Welcome to the party!
The new "Bullet Party" DVD and companion volume. I had so much fun doing "Bullets After Dark" with Owen and the Big Blind Media crew that I looked forward to another project. The DVD was supposed to showcase two fractal packet tricks, “Mega ‘Wave,” and “Bullet Party” (and perhaps the revised “Poker Pairadox”). One thing led to another and, several tricks later, we had a two-volume production.
The book, "Bullet Party," started out as the e-book instructions for a simple packet trick; like my earlier "fractal series," a companion to the video instruction on DVD. As it is, between last year’s Mega ’Wave and this year’s Bullet Party, everything on the Bullet Party DVD can be read as well as watched.
So, video or print?Left side of your brain or the right?Indulge both sides.
2011: Looks like a busy year. I will be attending the following Conventions:
August 18-23 MAGIC Live, Las Vegas, Nevada
Ride The 'Wave.
This year, I worked the fabulous Blackpool convention for the first time. I thought I'd put together a packet trick of my re-mix and re-work of Stephen Tucker's "Omega" concept. One thing led to another and the result was Mega 'Wave, a 75 page booklet detailing seven "fractal" card tricks.
The title trick slices and dices the "Omega" concept and spits out an easy and practical, fully-examinable four-card Brainwave-type effect. A big hit at Blackpool 2010.
The Movie Is A Hit.
Exciting news: Bullets After Dark, my DVD project with the stylish auteur of magic videos, Big Blind Media, has exceeded all expectations and has been warmly received world-wide.
Loosely based upon Dear Mr. Fantasy, the DVD contains material from that book that has not been in the video space before, some variations, and some material drawn from my new lecture booklet, Six. Impossible. Things.
Six. Impossible. Things. is not only my new lecture booklet, but it's more-or-less a companion volume to the DVD. All of the new material in B*A*D is in this booklet. Available only here, by itself or in a special offer available in connection with the release of the DVD. Go ahead and treat both sides of your brain.
Dear Mr. Fantasy continues to be commercial and artistic success. The reviews (and comments I have received) have been uniformly positive. I am grateful for the interest in and support for the book. My thanks to everyone.
It's Back.
Due to overwhelming demand (and in view of the arbitrage on e-bay), a second printing in hardcover is available now (there were really no economies in a paperback reprint). The first printing sold out some time ago; this second printing should be around for a while.
Fractal Card Magic
My current project is a series of packet tricks called Fractal Card Magic. For some time now, I have been working on packet tricks that end clean--all of the cards are examinable. In cooperation with Fun, Inc., three of these tricks are in the works. The format for each trick will be a DVD video with the necessary cards in a plastic "card trick wallet." For those who still prefer written instructions, we will include a lavishly illustrated e-book on each DVD as well.
The reception to my examinable packet trick series has been very gratifying. The cards have been printed by U.S. Playing Card Company (and look great) and video of the first three DVDs is in the can. The Royal Scam is still selling like crazy.
The second trick in the Fractal Card Magic Series, Duplicity, launched in June (2008). This mental card transposition (think "Twisted Sisters") that ends clean and examinable, has been very well well-received.
The third (and last) trick in the DVD series, Spin Doctor is available now (November 2008). Why twist when you can spin? The Doctor is in.
