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MagicWeek.co.uk has featured a number of general Magic Books and DVDs under 'News' over the years... they can be ordered via MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk |
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The book is laced with the authors’ joint love of magic. Drawing on many real names and places from the magic community, this thriller not only pays homage to the rich world of British magic, but also creates new characters in Louis’ Brains Trust team, that are set to become new favourites. "Two great masters join forces to explosive effect" Richard Osman. Just published by Hodder; order via Amazon.co.uk. |
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He ended up in the infamous Colditz Castle, a high-security fortress from which the Germans thought escape was impossible. In the footlights of the castle's theatre, this charismatic officer used his magic skills to boost the morale of his fellow prisoners. But, behind locked doors, he applied the secrets of stage magic and escapology to the real-life challenge of getting back home. A remarkable tale of perseverance, courage and cunning in the face of adversity; written by James Green MMC. To order via Amazon.co.uk Click Here. |
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In thirteen fascinating chapters, Derren takes us on a personal journey - to the scene of a childhood humiliation, to lonely evenings on tour, to being paralysed by shyness at a dinner party, to navigating middle age and to finding love. Sharing moments of anger, frustration, loneliness and loss, Derren reveals how it's possible to find consolation and compassion. Even in our most challenging times we can find meaning and grow. "Derren Brown is a mine of wisdom, humanity and kindness - everything we need to sustain and nourish ourselves. "Enlightening, thought-provoking and illuminating. Derren Brown asks questions about the world, and his intelligent curiosity benefits us all." Elizabeth Day. Order via www.amazon.co.uk. |
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The Magic Book: The Complete Beginners Guide to Anytime, Anywhere, Sleight of Hand Magic. Harry Lorayne. From the publishers: "The Magic Book" reveals the secrets of magicians―the simple techniques that will enable anyone to perform seemingly complicated magic tricks with relative ease. Clearly written and heavily illustrated―there are over 200 illustrations in all―this book guides you through the basic principles of magic using only common household items: a deck of cards, coins, rubber bands, and even a potato. The author then provides simple step-by-step instructions for hundreds of amazing tricks which he has perfected after forty years of painful trial and error. To help new magicians develop their techniques, Harry Lorayne provides a special “afterthought” section at the end of each magic trick where he discusses possible problems that most beginners have with the trick he has just explained. In addition to the practical instruction, Lorayne provides the philosophy of magic as it has never been taught before. For more info and to order visit www.amazon.co.uk. |
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Author Emily Hawkins is a highly experienced
writer and editor who also wrote the New-York-Times bestseller Oceanology.
Providing a raft of magical knowledge is ‘The Deceptionist’, or ‘Sav’ to his
friends. A magician to the stars and member of The Magic Circle, he is
immortalised in the book demonstrating optical illusions. He can make you doubt
your own eyesight with amazing feats of close-up magic! |
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Kill
Him, Mary! Magician Zane writes: "Having written children's books about
performing magic, I wanted to get my teeth into an adult-only action thriller novel (magic does get a mention). The title is called, 'Kill Him, Mary!'
by R. J. Robinson. It is basically about two ex-Royal Marines, and it is based
in Dubai and Royal Tunbridge Wells. I had fun writing it, and I'm very pleased
with the response. For anyone who likes a gritty read and a touch of black
comedy, I think you will like it. It is available to buy on Amazon, Waterstones,
etc. The cheapest price is on Amazon at £9.99. Here's the link:
The
Warlock Effect by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman. From Jeremy Dyson and Andy
Nyman, creators of the international smash-hit play and film Ghost Stories,
comes a new novel: The Warlock Effect. Set in Soho in 1952, this thriller
introduces us to Britain's most popular magician Louis Warlock, who is engaged
by the British Secret Service to try and foil a deadly plot that threatens not
only his life, but the safety and security of Great Britain itself.
The
Derren Brown Collection 11 disc DVD set. The Derren Brown Collection
features some of the internationally acclaimed psychological illusionist's most
extraordinary and astonishing performances. The set includes the Olivier
Award-winning Svengali and the BAFTA-winning The Experiments as well as a host
of other hilarious, dramatic and spellbinding shows.
The Colditz Conjurer: The amazing true story of
Vincent 'Bush' Parker, Battle of Britain pilot and prisoner of war magician.
A school-boy magician from the Australian outback, Bush left home to become an
assistant to Long Tack Sam and The Great Levante. With World War Two looming, he
gave this up to train as a Spitfire pilot. One of Churchill's Few, he fought in
the Battle of Britain until he was shot down in a dramatic dogfight. As a
prisoner-of-war in Germany, Vince Parker earned a reputation as a persistent
escaper.
Psychology:
Why It Matters. Richard Wiseman. You are remarkable: You experience a vast
range of thoughts and feelings, including falling in love, remembering last
Tuesday, and contemplating the meaning of life. And you can carry all sorts of
astonishing behaviours, such as sauntering down the street, singing in falsetto
and riding a unicycle. Psychologists study every aspect of how you think, feel,
and behave.
Derren
Brown A Book of Secrets: Finding Solace in a Stubborn World. From the
publisher: In A Book of Secrets, internationally bestselling author Derren Brown
shows us that it is in those moments when we are faced with adversity that we
can find life's most lasting rewards.
David
Copperfield's History of Magic - now available for pre-order! By
David Copperfield, Richard Wiseman and David Britland, with photographs
by Homer Liwag. An
illustrated, illuminating insight into the world of illusion from the
world's greatest and most successful magician, capturing its audacious
and inventive practitioners, and showcasing the art form's most famous
artifacts housed at David Copperfield's secret museum.
The
Amazing Fartzini III: Finale by Shane Robinson. Shane Robinson,
owner of Zane's Magic Shop, is pleased to announce that the thrilling
and explosive finale to the 'Amazing Fartzini' trilogy about a magician
has now been published. The Amazing Fartzini III: Finale by Shane
Robinson is sold through Amazon worldwide as well as other book shops.
For more details and to buy a signed copy from Zane's Magic Shop
The
Amazing Fartzini II. From the publisher: In the sequel to 'The
Amazing Fartzini', Eric Fartz, the boy wizard, continues to amaze
wherever he goes. But, trouble is never far behind him - not if his
arch-enemy, David Smythe Jr, has anything to do with it! In this
exciting new magical adventure, will Eric survive his most death-defying
escape yet? And will he finally manage to win the battle and escape from
not only the physical but the mental shackles of his tormentor? Enter
the awesomely imaginative mind of a boy wizard, where magic, fearsome
mythological dragons, castles, knights in shining armour, witches,
fortune-tellers and gangsters are commonplace, and where reality blurs
with fantasy, questioning what is real and what is not! Readers of the
first book will love the second book, which picks up right where the
first book left off, with all the same characters, and new ones! To order via Amazon.co.uk
The
Amazing Fartzini. From the publisher: Ingrid Fartz and her
eleven-year-old son Eric fled their hometown of Sheffield to start a new
life in Ramsgate, Kent, to escape from an abusive relationship with
Eric’s Father. Eric was a quiet and painfully shy boy lacking in
confidence, who was bullied by two horrible boys at his new school. He
didn’t have any friends either and was feeling pretty low, until one
day, a chance meeting with an old magician at a magic shop stall at the
local Christmas Fair convinced him to take up magic, which changed his
life
A
Little Happier: Notes for reassurance. Derren Brown. From the
publishers: In A Little Happier, Derren Brown draws out the
essential discoveries from his international bestseller Happy to
help you lead your happiest life. A Little Happier's 17 inspiring
and reassuring lessons will help you define and find your own happiness.
Its lessons challenge us to think differently about the meaning of
happiness and how we can over overcome anxiety in a difficult world.
Amaze:
The Art of Creating Magical Experiences. Mariano Tomatis and
Ferdinando Buscema. Foreword by Derren Brown. From the publishers: Amaze
is a inspiring book that introduces a magical perspective into everyday
life. Widely acclaimed by thought leaders in the worlds of magic,
business, and experience design, Amaze is a manual about how to create
"magical experiences" in daily life for friends, family, colleagues,
clients, and even strangers. It is a book about "thinking like a
magician" to unleash the power of wonder and surprise in everyday life.
The authors move seamlessly between the realms of science, art, and
magic, seeking wonder at every turn. They excel in inspiring us all to
cultivate curiosity and find ways to create astonishment in our own
lives and the lives of others. The book is an empowering grimoire for
hacking reality and giving the gift of magical experiences to others. To
order via Amazon.co.uk
Spun Into Gold - ‘The Secret life of
a Female Magician’ by
Romany Romany is reviewed by Jay Fortune this week: "The meat, which is very
often missing from celebrity biographies, is here in spades. By ‘meat’ I
refer to the challenges of simply keeping afloat in a tough world where
payment is often low, and even non-existent, especially in the early
days of one’s performing career. And, perhaps, even more so for a female
performer, especially one who is entering the male-dominated world of
magic. This book is vital reading for those who are thinking of
following their dreams to being a professional magician or performer of
(almost) any discipline..." To read the full review,
Dynamo:
The Book of Secrets. From the publishers: Can you keep a secret?
Inside this book you will find many, from the mind of one of the most
talented magicians in the world: Dynamo. In this fully illustrated guide
to modern magic, Dynamo shows you how you can perform magic yourself.
Learn how to make water freeze instantly, read your friends' minds, make
chewing gum float 360 degrees around your head, slice a banana without
even touching it, discover superhuman strength and many more
mind-blowing illusions. A magical masterclass, The Book of Secrets
will be the first step on an exciting journey for budding magicians,
providing hours of breathtaking fun for all the family. A
fully-illustrated beginner's guide to modern magic from the world's
coolest magician, Dynamo. To order via Amazon.co.uk
The
Greatest Magician in the World. Join aspiring boy magician Elliot in
his quest to find The Greatest Magician in the World, in this
fantastically funny magical adventure. The book includes seven removable
magic tricks to perform - making it the perfect gift for young magic
fans aged 6-11. Written by former professional magician and TV and radio
star Matt Edmondson, and illustrated by the bestselling Garry Parsons,
The Greatest Magician in the World is an incredible interactive
novelty gift book featuring a brilliantly witty and exciting quest
story, a cast of personality-packed magicians, and everything you need
to perform seven jaw-dropping magic tricks. Prepare to be amazed!
Hardcover. Macmillan Children's Books. 5th October 2017. (I know that
this is a real from the heart project from Matt, and that it would make
a wonderful Christmas present for any up and coming young magician. DT).
To order via Amazon.co.uk
The
Complete Final Series and A-Z of Dynamo [DVD]. From the makers: The
King of magic returns for the fourth and final series of the multi award
winning Dynamo: Magician Impossible. In four brand new episodes we
follow magician Dynamo as he travels to France, India and the USA,
amazing everyone he meets with his unique brand of jaw dropping magic.
Featuring appearances from Coldplay, Sam Smith, One Direction and
Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, Dynamo takes us on a magical adventure which
will astound even the biggest cynics! Plus, 'The Exclusive A-Z of
Dynamo' Dynamo is one of the World’s Greatest magicians… he’s
entertained everyone from Los Angeles to Mumbai with his extraordinary
TV series Dynamo: Magician Impossible, performing over 16 hours of magic
across 4 record breaking series. To celebrate this we’ve put together
the A-Z of Dynamo - an exclusive, encyclopedic look at his magic, his
persona and of course the reaction to his impossible magic from his
many, many fans across the globe. To order via Amazon.co.uk
London
Theatres by Michael Coveney (Author) and Peter Dazeley
(Photographer). London is the undisputed theatre capital of the world.
From world-famous musicals to West End shows, from cutting-edge plays to
Shakespeare in its original staging, from outdoor performance to
intimate fringe theatre, the range and quality are unsurpassed. Leading
theatre critic Michael Coveney invites you on a tour of forty-five
theatres that make the London stage what it is. With stories of the
architecture, the people and the productions which have defined each
one, alongside sumptuous photographs by Peter Dazeley of the public
areas, auditorium and backstage, this illustrated overview of London's
Theatres is a book like no other. A must for fans of the stage! To order
via Amazon.co.uk
Dynamo:
Magician Impossible - Series 1-3. On DVD, the first three series of the TV show
featuring Bradford-born magician Stephen Frayne aka Dynamo. "Using an
array of sleight-of-hand trickery, Dynamo takes to the streets, performing to
the public and celebrity fans including Rio Ferdinand, Ian Brown, Samuel L.
Jackson, Noel Fielding, Mathew Horne, Travis Barker, Natalie Imbruglia, Damon
Albarn, Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield and Jessica Ennis." Available from
Amazon.co.uk
Magic
1400s-1950s by Mike Caveney, Jim Steinmeyer, Ricky Jay and Noel
Daniel. 544 pages, hardbound, 7.6cm x 30.5 x 40.6 cm - smaller than the
first edition but still a real magic heavyweight. Order from Amazon.co.uk
for just £28.79,
Tommy
Cooper Jus' Like That! A Life in Jokes and Pictures by John
Fisher will be published on October 25th by Preface Publishing. For the first
time, Tommy Cooper’s biographer, writer and producer, John Fisher,
collects between two covers the cream of the comedian’s personal
archives, with photographs, memorabilia and documents that have never
been seen before. Had Cooper kept a scrapbook, this is what he would
have produced. Souvenirs from his many stage and television triumphs
jostle side by side with candid shots of him at play with his family,
many revealing a side to the man the public never really saw. Here is
the authentic side of Tommy in the forces, the early show business
struggle, the backstage world of his magic, the newspaper coverage of
the most recognisable man in Britain, the crazy japes at home with wife
Gwen, and so much more. This book, with its brilliant colour images and
hilarious text, puts the successive stages of Tommy’s life in full
context. And if you don’t want to follow his life in biographical
detail, just sit back and relax by laughing at the many jokes that crowd
the pages. They tell their own story! This is a large-format (21cm x
29cm) hardback crammed full of Cooper theatrical memorabilia and
never-before-seen private photos. Highly recommended, and great value
too. To pre-order via Amazon.co.uk
Sleights
of Mind: What the neuroscience of magic reveals about our brains.
What can magic tell us about ourselves and our daily lives? If you
subtly change the subject during an uncomfortable conversation, did you
know you're using attentional 'misdirection', a core technique of magic?
And if you've ever bought an expensive item you'd sworn never to buy,
you were probably unaware that the salesperson was, like an accomplished
magician, a master at creating the 'illusion of choice'. Leading
neuroscientists Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde meet with
magicians from all over the world to explain how the magician's art
sheds light on consciousness, memory, attention, and belief. As the
founders of the new discipline of NeuroMagic, they combine cutting-edge
scientific research with startling insights into the tricks of the magic
trade. By understanding how magic manipulates the processes in our
brains, we can better understand how we work - in fields from law and
education to marketing, health and psychology - for good and for ill. To
order via Amazon.co.uk
Dynamo:
Magician Impossible Series 2 will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on
Monday October 22nd. To pre-order via Amazon.co.uk
Hey
now... Not magic but a great late-night antidote to whatever the day
has thrown at you, The Larry Sanders Show from the mid-nineties
still stands up amazingly well (pi). I picked up the box set of the
complete series a couple
of years ago in its native US format, but it's now available over here as
a 'Region 2' (UK) DVD box set and can be ordered via Amazon.co.uk
Nothing
Is Impossible: The Real-Life Adventures of a Street Magician. "I
immersed myself in magic. I read every book I could get my hands on and
practised and practised, day after day and night after night. Magic
became my world...some might say an obsession." From the publishers:
When you're a kid life can seem tough; tougher for some than others. But
the darkest of times can also be the most enlightening. When his late
granddad showed him magic for the first time, Steven Frayne knew there
was more to life than hiding from bullies. He had a destiny. A calling.
In that moment Dynamo was born: the most exciting magician of the 21st
century. Since then, Dynamo has shocked, thrilled and amazed men, women
and children, from all walks of life, all over the world. With his
mind-blowing illusions, he has catalysed a whole new era of magic. Now,
in his very first book, Dynamo invites you to join him on a breathtaking
journey across the globe. Be prepared to levitate Lindsay Lohan in
Singapore, transform snow into diamonds in the Austrian mountains, and
walk on water across the River Thames. Along the way, he reveals how to
make the impossible possible, what it takes to pull off the greatest
stunts man has seen, and why everyone needs magic in their lives.
Hardcover, 320 pages, 23.6cm x 15.2cm. Just published. To order from
Amazon.co.uk (with 46% off RRP + free delivery)
Magic:
The Complete Course by Joshua Jay (Book & DVD) "Joshua Jay's 'Magic'
is a complete course, jam-packed with over a hundred amazing but
easy-to-learn effects. Much more than a collection of tricks, this book
teaches both the mechanics and presentation necessary to perform each
trick - since only a mastery of both (plus a lot of practice) makes a
real magician." Available from Amazon.co.uk for just £12 including
delivery
Caught
Amid Life’s Own Sly Tricks ‘Fooling Houdini’ by Alex Stone... "In
2005 Alex Stone joined the Society of American Magicians. He swore an oath,
learned a secret handshake and seldom left home without a deck of cards and
three Kennedy half dollars. He tried hard to make the group’s bimonthly meetings
a big part of his social life. 'I thought magic would actually make me less
nerdy,' he recalls." To read the full review by Janet Maslin in The New York
Times,
Illusionology
The Secret Science of Magic is a sumptuous treasure trove of a book
aimed at 8-14 year olds (I imagine) although adults will find it equally
engaging. Every page is magical in itself, with special compartments revealing
magic secrets, interwoven with instructions for tricks that the reader can
learn, and even some special props including magic playing cards, 'pop-up'
illusions and other specially produced tricks. 
The
Complete Magician: Everything You Need to Put on a Show [With Magic
Props Including Linking Rings, Deck of Cards and DVD] by Joshua Jay,
available from Amazon.co.uk
Tommy
Cooper's Secret Joke Files - compiled by John Fisher. For the first
time the secret joke archives of the legendary comedian are
opened up for all to enjoy. Relive the laughter with jokes on every
subject from 'A for Absent-minded' to 'Z for Zoo'. Part of an ongoing
series of books celebrating the Cooper legacy,
Richard
Wiseman has a new book out called Paranormality. It looks at the
psychology behind lots of different types of seemingly supernatural
experiences that are of interest to magicians, including cold reading,
metal bending, séances, fake psychics and Ouija Boards. To
order via Amazon.co.uk
The
Last Greatest Magician in the World. "Expanding on his chapters on
Howard Thurston in his history of magic, Hiding the Elephant, Steinmeyer
produces an engaging full-length biography of the man Orson Welles
called the master. While Houdini's daring stunts were legendary,
Steinmeyer says Thurston was the public's favorite, captivating
audiences with his self-assured grandeur. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio,
Thurston gained fame in the early part of the 20th century with his
Rising Card Trick, in which he levitated cards named by audience
members. He successfully changed with the times, going from street
performances to wagon tours through the West. He then became a top
vaudeville star, but wisely left the vaudeville circuit to produce more
ambitious spectacles involving 40 tons of magic apparatus and colorful
costumes, a variety of animals, and more than two dozen assistants..."
Available from Amazon.co.uk
The
Illusionist will be released on DVD on Valentine's day ("Happy
Valentine's Day darling!"), to pre order via Amazon.co.uk
Derren
Brown Live Collection 3 DVD set. "A terrific magician. This is
breathtakingly ingenious entertainment" The Times. A
special DVD box set containing three of Derren Brown’s must-see live
theatre shows will be released on January 17th. Included: An Evening
of Wonders: "The psychological illusionist takes us on a journey
through mind control and subliminal suggestion and recreates the
jaw-dropping 'Oracle Act' from the turn of the 20th century. The show
features audience participation, shocking stunts and mind games, as
Derren shows why you have to see him live." Something Wicked This Way
Comes: "This DVD features the Olivier Award-winning stage show.
Derren stops his pulse, walks on glass, and armed only with a few
newspapers drives the show to a tour-de-force finale of prediction,
influence and showmanship that will leave you breathless." Enigma:
"A special tone leaves the audience hypnotised and a woman finds herself
sleep-walking through the rows. Is a supernatural force summoned within
the Spirit Cabinet or is the medium somehow doing Brown's bidding?
Derren is again at his finest in this stunning theatrical event that
brought him more rave reviews up and down the country and 'sees him
climb to artistic heights rarely, if ever, achieved by any other legends
of the magical arts'" (Time Out). Three brilliantly crafted live shows
from the world's finest mind manipulator. Go ahead, treat yourself,
Derren
Brown: Confessions of a Conjuror. "The inside of Derren Brown's head
is a strange and mysterious place. Now you can climb inside and wander
around. Find out just how Derren's mind works, see what motivates him
and discover what made him the weird and wonderful person he is today..." 352 pages, hardcover,
out on Thursday, with 50% off via Amazon.co.uk
The
4 complete Ed Sullivan Shows starring The Beatles will be released on DVD on
Monday. The shows also feature other guest acts including FISM champion Fred
Kaps who had the unenviable task of actually following The Beatles on one of the
shows. This digitally remastered two disc set runs for over four hours, complete
with all 15 songs performed by the band over their four appearances on the show,
including the hits "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "Help" and "Yesterday". This
special new package also includes an exclusive Ed Sullivan Show ticket replica
from The Beatles 1st appearance and approximately 13 minutes of additional
footage. Available from Amazon.co.uk
The
Amazing Book of Cards: Tricks, Shuffles, Games and Hustles by Joshua Jay,
over 200 pages + DVD, available now from Amazon.co.uk
Death
Defying Acts. A film about Harry Houdini's romance with a con woman.
Starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Saoirse Ronan, Guy Pearce and Timothy
Spall, available from Amazon.co.uk on DVD
Tommy
Cooper Collection, 5 DVDs, over 12 hours long, available from
Magic,
1400s-1950s by Mike Caveney (Author), Jim Steinmeyer (Author), Ricky Jay
(Contributor) and Noel Daniel (Editor) was published on October 15th by
Taschen GmbH. "The scientists of showbiz. Magic has enchanted humankind
for millennia, evoking terror, laughter, shock and amazement. Once
persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been
conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility - whether
invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by
sleight of hand. Long before science fiction, virtual realities, video
games, and the Internet, the craft of magic was the most powerful
fantasy world man had ever known. As the true pioneers of special
effects in human history, magicians have never ceased to mystify by
perpetually making the impossible possible. This book celebrates 500
years of the dazzling visual culture of the world's greatest magicians.
Featuring over 1,000 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs,
handbills, and engravings in one 640-page volume, it traces the history
of magic as a performing art from the 1470s through the post-WWII years.
Through sensational images and clear and insightful accompanying text,
"Magic" explores the evolution of the magician's craft, from its early
street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to
early cinematic special effects; from the 19th century's "Golden Age of
Magic" to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the vaudevillians
of the early 20th century." Hardcover, 670 pages, 50.6cm x 32.8cm x 7.6
cm (i.e. very, very big!) and available from Amazon.co.uk right now for
just £87.75 (saving 35%) with free delivery
David
Nixon Entertainer with the Magic Touch by Edwin A. Dawes and Stephen
Short will be published on October 30th by Jeremy Mills Publishing
Ltd. For anyone that grew up watching David Nixon on television the
memories will come flooding back as you delve into this beautifully
produced lavish volume. David Nixon's magic had a delightful charm all
of its own and this book has captured that charm. Edwin A. Dawes and
Stephen Short interviewed David's many friends and loved ones to present
a full portrait of his life. It is illustrated throughout with family
photographs, magazine pages, show bills, magic photos and numerous
television stills. I've only had a brief look, but this really is a
wonderful book. Available for pre-order from the publishers. Hardback,
276 x 210mm, 288 pages, price £35.00
5
copies of The Tommy Cooper Joke Book to be won! We have 5
hard-backed first editions of the newly published Tommy Cooper Joke Book
compiled by John Fisher to give away this week. 166 pages crammed full
of pure Cooper... hand written notes, photos, props, hundreds of lines,
gags, and more. 'My wife is a magician - yesterday she turned our car
into a tree.' To enter the draw simply email
us
with 'Tommy Cooper' as your subject heading, together with your full
name, address, and post/zip code by 12 midnight on Wednesday 14th
October 2009. 5 lucky winners will then be selected at random (their names
will appear next Saturday). This lucky draw is open to MagicWeek readers
worldwide. We were going to make it a competition, but in the end I
opted for a lucky draw instead to give everyone an equal chance in an
unequal world. (It's a fantastic book by the way, the hand written notes
really draw you in, and it makes a perfect accompaniment to John
Fisher's Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing: The Definitive
Biography of a Comedy Legend which was published in 2006.) To order
The Tommy Cooper Joke Book from Amazon.co.uk
The
Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Maths, Art, Music,
Sport, and Just About Everything Else. "'Talent. You've either got
it or you haven't.' Not true, actually. In The Talent Code,
award-winning journalist Daniel Coyle draws on cutting-edge research to
reveal that, far from being some abstract mystical power fixed at birth,
ability really can be created and nurtured. In the process, he considers
talent at work in venues as diverse as a music school in Dallas and a
tennis academy near Moscow, to demonstrate how the wiring of our brains
can be transformed by the way we approach particular tasks. He explains
what is really going on when apparently unremarkable people suddenly
make a major leap forward. He reveals why some teaching methods are so
much more effective than others. Above all, he shows how all of us can
achieve our full potential if we set about training our brains in the
right way." Available from Amazon.co.uk
59
Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot by Richard Wiseman has just
been published by MacMillan and is available from Amazon.co.uk
Back
up the entire contents of you PC or Mac, and enjoy peace of mind,
with this Western Digital Elements 1TB (1,000GB) USB 2.0 External Hard
Drive from Amazon.co.uk
Ah-ah,
I know what you're thinking, "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Derren Brown is known to his devoted fans as a brilliant showman. His television shows attract audiences in the millions and
his live show plays to sell-out audiences every night. But in his spare
time, Derren uses a very different skill. He is a prodigiously talented
artist who paints caricatures of famous faces from around the world. He
has painted everyone from Richard Dawkins to Robbie Williams, from
Anthony Hopkins to Amy Winehouse, and here for the first time they are
all collected together, with Derren's thoughts on the person concerned
and why he wanted to paint them in the first place. A must for all of
Derren's fans, available from Amazon.co.uk,
Derren
Brown An Evening of Wonders - out now on DVD. More 'magic,
suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship' from psychological
illusionist extraordinaire Derren Brown. Here Derren brings his
mind-bending powers to the stage for his live show An Evening of
Wonders. The show fuses Derren's established trickery with
impressive feats of memory, and astonishing stage theatrics. Available
form Amazon.co.uk with 39% off!
Magic:
The Complete Course, book and DVD by Joshua Jay. Pre-order now via
Amazon.co.uk and save 34%,
Derren
Brown - The Specials 4 DVD box set featuring The Heist, The
System, The Séance and Russian Roulette. This set will be
released on November 3rd, pre-order now to receive 40% off plus free UK
delivery via Amazon.co.uk
Channing
Pollock in Judex - on DVD from August 25th. "The magical, rarely
seen Judex, directed by the great Georges Franju, was largely
unappreciated at the time of its release in 1963. This lyrical and
dreamlike picture, a putative 'remake' of Louis Feuillade's own 1916
Judex, is as evocative of the silent master's own works as it is the
later films of Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dalí. A French reviewer wrote
in 1963: 'The whole of Judex reminds us that film is a privileged medium
for the expression of poetic magic'. Starring the magician Channing
Pollock, the divine Edith Scob, and the mesmerising Francine Bergé,
Judex concerns a wicked banker, his helpless daughter, and a mysterious
avenger. It plays like a fairy tale - one in which Franju creates a
dazzling clash between good and evil, eschewing interest in the
psychological aspects of his characters for unexplained twists and turns
in the action. The beautifully controlled imagery, superbly rendered by
Marcel Fradetal's black-against-white photography, animates a natural
world and the spirits of animals all at war with a host of diabolical
forces" Available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk,
Marc
Lemezma's Mind Tricks: Mastering the Art of Mental Magic,
available from Amazon.co.uk,
"Pandora:
Derren backs down in battle of the mind games"
Herbert's
Freaks. "A master of oddball characters. Gregory Gibson knows a
thing or two about sideshows. The author and book dealer's grand-uncle
was Houdini's ghostwriter. His father, a traveling salesman, often
gathered magicians in his living room..."
Masters
of Comedy: Tommy Cooper - out now on DVD. Available from Amazon.co.uk
The
3-2-1 interactive DVD Game features rare clips from a number of magic
acts including The Great Soprendo, Johnny Hart, Terry Herbert, and the
Simmons Brothers. Order from Amazon.co.uk
The
Magic Circle Performing Magic Through the Ages by Michael
Bailey was published by Tempus Publishing on Thursday. Former president
Michael Bailey invites readers through the doors of England's most famous
magic society for the first time in its 100 year history in this
magic-packed 290 page hardbound book. From the early beginnings of magic
to the formation of The Magic Circle to David Blaine and Derren Brown
The Magic Circle - Performing Magic Through the Ages delves deep into
the heart of magic. To read the review in MagicWeek
Mark
Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, 472 pages, in stock, dispatched
from and sold by Amazon.co.uk
The
Illusionist by Jennifer Johnston. "When Stella first meets Martyn,
he's just a stranger on a train. She knows nothing at all about him. But
very quickly she is won over by his charm and breathtaking illusions, and
when he asks her to marry him, she agrees. However, as they begin their
life together, Stella starts to feel uneasy. What exactly is the
show-stopping illusion he claims to be working on, locked away in that
room? Who are those men that visit the house at strange hours? And why are
her questions never answered? As Stella realises that she barely knows the
man she married, her thoughts turn to escape..." Available from
Amazon.co.uk with 25% off
The
Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero (now
in paperback). "Using exclusive access to newly uncovered archives, Kalush
and Sloman reveal the clandestine agreements in which the British and
Americans recruited Houdini to be an active secret agent. In exchange for
his cooperation, the governments of these two countries facilitated his
rise to the top of the world stage." The authors give thrilling accounts
of his assignments, such as his participation in early aerial surveillance
and his use of his own magic magazine to communicate espionage-related
information. "Amazing... meticulously researched, imaginatively written
and passionately presented" David Blaine. Available from Amazon.co.uk
Magicians
is released on DVD on Monday, September 10th. Written by Peep Show
creators Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain and directed by former Magic Circle
Young Magician of the Year Andrew O'Connor, Magicians should be
considered essential viewing for anyone who has ever attended a British
magic convention - or plans to (I loved this movie!). To Pre-order from
Amazon.co.uk and to benefit from a 25% discount
Hocus
Pocus: A Tale of Magnificent Magicians and Their Amazing Feats - Paul
Kieve. "Paul is obsessed with magic. Ever since he was given a magic
set at the age of ten, he has been buying magic books, props and posters
and honing his skills as a magician. He keeps all his magical
paraphernalia in his house in Hackney, right around the corner from the
magnificent Hackney Empire, a venue played at by all the great
illusionists of the golden era of magic, some hundred years ago. One day,
Paul is on the phone to his friend, sitting in his 'Poster Room', and
chatting about how well his magic show from the night before went, when he
gets a strange sensation ...Suddenly, the huge figure of Alexander steps
out of the poster and starts telling Paul off for getting too big for his
boots! Alexander and the other brilliant magicians in the posters are
going to show Paul what magic is really about!" Introduction by Daniel
Radcliffe, Hardcover, 304 pages, Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
(15th October 2007). Pre-order from
Pre-order
Magicians on DVD (release date September 10th) from
Amazon.co.uk with 25% off -
Criss
Angel Mindfreak. 304 pages, hardcover, published by William Morrow,
July 12th 2007. Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Smokin'
Aces is released on Monday - pre-order from Amazon.co.uk with 30% off,
Art
& Artifice and Other Essays of Illusion Jim Steinmeyer - now in
paperback and available from Amazon.co.uk
Street
Magic Secrets with David Penn. From the
Amazon's website: "Some secrets are definitely not for keeping... Get
ready to amaze your friends with the astonishing Street Magic Secrets DVD.
This is urban magic at its best. The DVD features a 30 minute film showing
British Champion of Illusion, David Penn, performing some incredible
tricks on unsuspecting members of the public. David then takes you back
into the studio to show you the secrets and skills needed to perform every
one of the tricks featured in the film. The tricks selected for the DVD
were chosen on a time versus reward basis - you don't need to practise for
months to achieve incredible success with these illusions. Whether it is
making a £20 note fold up whilst sitting in the palm of your hand in 'The
Telekinetic Note' reading someone's mind in 'The Body Clock', with 17
incredible tricks plus variations to learn, Street Magic Secrets will give
you all the skills needed to perform some of the greatest close up
illusions of all time." Available from Amazon.co.uk from 9th April 2007
Harry
Price: The Psychic Detective. A new book about the Edwardian psychic
researcher Harry Price has just been published. To the people of his day
Price, a member of The Inner Magic Circle, had a status that no
ghosthunter of today can hope to share. His extraordinary life story
includes links to the Piltdown Man forger Charles Dawson, rows with Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle and the Society for Psychical Research, and friendships
with Harry Houdini and Adolf Hitler. Harry Price: The Psychic Detective
is published by Sutton. Richard Morris' fascinating book investigates the
truth about Harry Price and reveals whether he was a charlatan or a gifted
pseudo-scientist. Available from Amazon.co.uk
The
Illusionist - pre-order now on DVD! Via Amazon.co.uk
The
Prestige - Are you watching closely? To pre-order
the DVD with 25% off from Amazon.co.uk
Dynamo's
Concrete Playground will be released on DVD on November 20th by Warner
Vision International. Dynamo takes to the road visiting London, Birmingham
and his hometown Bradford on this 90 minute disc. "Much more than just a
smoke and mirrors showman, Dynamo's in-your-face brand of street magic is
more akin to the David Blaine school of daylight trickery. Fusing
impromptu magic tricks, jaw-dropping stunts, and urban street culture into
one engrossing documentary, Concrete Playground is guaranteed to leave a
trail of stunned viewers in its wake." Visit
The
Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Ratso Sloman. Just
published. Synopsis: "Using exclusive access to newly uncovered archives,
Kalush and Sloman reveal the clandestine agreements in which the British
and Americans recruited Houdini to be an active secret agent. In exchange
for his cooperation, the governments of these two countries facilitated
his rise to the top of the world stage. The authors give thrilling
accounts of his assignments, such as his participation in early aerial
surveillance and his use of his own magic magazine to communicate
espionage-related information. After the war, Houdini embarked upon what
became his most dangerous mission when he took on the Spiritualist
movement. Convinced that Spiritualist mediums were frauds, he became
obsessed with exposing them. But the Spiritualists were a powerful
adversary. An organized network of fanatics, led by Sherlock Holmes
creator Arthur Conan Doyle, worked relentlessly to orchestrate a campaign
that would silence Houdini forever. Grounded in solid research, but as
exciting and dramatic as a good thriller, The Secret Life of Houdini
traces the magician's long and circuitous route from struggling
vaudevillian to worldwide legend. Hardcover, 624 pages. Order from
Amazon.co.uk
A
Haunting We Will Go - released on DVD. Dante the Magician makes a rare
cinematic appearance in this classic Laurel and Hardy adventure from 1942.
Dale Shrimpton emails: "It gives a taste of what his show may have been
like for those of us too young to have ever seen his show in the flesh.
Laurel and Hardy get mixed up with some gangsters, and the body of one of
their victims, which has been hidden in a coffin. This coffin is one of
Dante's props, used in his show, as a target for the cannon illusion, but
things turn tricky when the gangsters turn up to see what's happened to
the coffin, and the corpse... During the film we get to see Dante perform
some small magical effects to children on a train, and his version of
Asrah, together with some of Dante's larger apparatus, and set dressings."
Also look out for an appearance from Harry Blackstone Snr. To order from
Amazon.co.uk
Tommy
Cooper - "The Missing Pieces" & "The Very Best of" double disc DVD set
- 160 minutes of pure Cooper, newly available from
Think
Like a Maths Genius: The Art of Calculating in Your Head by Arthur
Benjamin and Michael Shermer. From the Publishers: "From two renowned
mathematical geniuses, a professor and a columnist for 'Scientific
American', comes an accessible guide to mentally calculating maths at
lightning speed and amazing ease. All the secrets of easy mental
arithmetic are revealed, and the secrets to incredible memorisation and
other feats of mind, making it easy to perform maths tricks for the real
world: from calculating restaurant tips to working out gambling odds."
We've been sent a pre-publication copy of this book and can reveal that
within its pages you'll find some seriously clever content, ripe for use
within a mind magic type performance (formal or off-the-cuff). In fact
you'll find a dedicated chapter entitled "Presto-digit-ation" for
magicians towards the end of the book. But every page will make you think.
For mentalists who have "seen it all before" this book will seem as fresh
as the first ever magic set you had as a child. Highly recommended. 304 pages,
published by Souvenir Press Ltd (19th October 2006), with a forward by
James Randi. To pre-order from Amazon.co.uk with 34% off
Alan
York emails: Further to your news item about the forthcoming film “The
Prestige”, readers might like to know that this film is based on a novel
“The Prestige” by Christopher Priest published in 1995. According to the
author, “The Prestige” is what UK magicians would call “The Effect”. The
novel includes lots of theory about magic and magicians which is unlikely
to be included in the film. The plot line revolves around Nicola Tesla and
early experiments in electricity. The Sunday Times described it as “a
magnificently eerie novel.” Available from Amazon.co.uk with 20% off
Pete
Firman's Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends is due for
publication on Thursday September 7th. From the publishers: "If you're
interested in magic because on your ninth birthday Mummy and Daddy booked
the ruddy faced Uncle Fiddlesticks who made sweets appear from pockets
he'd forced you to verify were empty, and you now want to know how it was
done, then this isn't the book for you. 'Tricks To Freak Out Your Friends'
doesn't contain trivial and forgettable tricks. The material in this book
is 'grab you by the balls and twist 'em' stuff. It's sick and it's rude,
and it'll blow their minds. This natty full-colour magic-manual takes you
through each trick in detail, and colour photos demonstrate just how to
perform them. It's guaranteed to make your friends choke on their pints.
With a foreword by mind-meddler Derren Brown." Paperback, 128 pages, order
from Amazon.co.uk and save 34%
Ultimate
Street Magic by Gary Sumpter Gary Sumpter's new beginners book of
'street magic' has just been published by New Holland Publishers Ltd.
"Over recent years, magicians have had to work harder to keep their public
happy. The traditional role of the stage magician in sweeping tailcoats
and top hats, has been usurped by a new generation, who're taking magic to
the streets. In 'Ultimate Street Magic', Gary Sumpter reveals the tricks
of the trade with the use of easy-to-understand text and clear
step-by-step photographs. Working through tricks involving common objects,
such as playing cards, coins, rubber bands and lighters, that will delight
and amaze most audiences, he moves on to explain a range of even more
impressive tricks to confuse the steel-willed and scare the strong of
stomach, such as an easy-to-master street levitation. Wherever you go -
pubs, clubs, markets and restaurants - you will be able to entertain the
public with your new-found magical knowledge, and polish your act with a
range of smart card flourishes." Available from Amazon.co.uk
Derren
Brown Tricks of the Mind. From the publishers: "Derren Brown's amazing
television and stage performances have entranced and amazed millions. His
baffling tricks and stunning illusions have set new standards of what's
possible, as well as causing controversy. Now, for the first time, he
reveals the secrets behind his craft. He delves into the structure and
psychology of magic. He tells you how to read clues in people's behaviour
and spot liars. He discusses the whys and wherefores of hypnosis (which he
says doesn't exist) and shows how to use the powers of suggestion and
massively improve the power of your memory. He also investigates the
paranormal industry, exposes a few charlatans and looks at why some of us
feel the need to believe in it in the first place...Woven into this are
autobiographical stories about Derren's own experiences and beliefs, told
with characteristic humour and engaging honesty. This extraordinary book
lifts the lid on the deepest darkest secrets of magic and explores the
limits of what can be achieved by the human mind. A must for Derren's
legions of fans, it will amaze you, entertain you and expand your mind at
the same time..." Hardback, 256 pages. Pre-order with 34% off from
Tommy
Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing. The Definitive Biography of a
Comedy Legend by John Fisher will be published on October 16th by
HarperCollins Entertainment. Frank and revealing, this fully authorised
biography by Tommy's friend and colleague, acclaimed TV producer, John
Fisher, is the first ever intimate portrait of Britain's best-loved, but
little known, entertainer. More than just a comedian, Tommy Cooper was a
born entertainer. Working in a golden age of British comedy, Cooper stood
- literally - head and shoulders above the crowd, and had a magical talent
for humour that defied description. When Cooper enlisted in the army in
1939, and began to perfect his comic timing on his army colleagues in the
Egyptian desert, the man with the fez was born. Cooper was at the heart of
the thriving British variety scene, adored by his legions of fans and much
revered by his fellow professionals. The gentle giant of entertainment
accompanied his bewildered, botched magic act with a sublime sense of
bravado and a face that was made for comedy. He was one of the first funny
men to have the entire nation in stitches. But, there was a man behind the
laughter that few people saw. John Fisher was Cooper's friend and
colleague and witnessed first-hand the child that lingered within the
adult and moments of self-doubt and inadequacy that contrasted with the
genial exterior. Until his tragic death, which occurred in the middle of
his act on live television in 1984, Tommy Cooper lived in constant fear of
the day he would be found out by his audience. He could never believe the
accolades that came so thick and fast from every direction, and died to
the sounds of laughter that he never really believed. Supplementing his
own intimate knowledge with material accessed for the first time from the
archives of Tommy's agent and manager, Miff Ferrie, and with the full
co-operation of the Cooper family, John Fisher brings alive the man behind
the comedic mask in this definitive biography of a comedy legend. To
pre-order (with a discount) from Amazon.co.uk
The
Magic of Alan Wakeling: The Works of a Master Magician by Jim Steinmeyer
pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Derren
Brown Trick of the Mind Series 2 - just released on DVD. The
award-winning Derren Brown returns with more Tricks of the Mind, combining
psychology with showmanship and a pinch of magic, with ambitious visual
stunts and celebrity guests. 2 hours 22 minutes, 16:9 Anamorphic (get your
Plasmas out), and Dolby Digital Stereo, available from Amazon.co.uk in
association with MagicWeek
Peter
Lamont will be speaking at the
Edinburgh International Book Festival to mark the publication of his
latest book The First Psychic: The Peculiar Mystery of a Notorious
Victorian Wizard. The book was featured in the Daily Mail this week.
Dr Lamont's talk, on the controversial life and unexplained miracles of
the world's first and greatest psychic, will take place on the 18th August
at 8.30pm. Synopsis: He was simply the greatest psychic of all time. He
was also the first - before him, the word 'psychic' did not even exist.
The feats he performed were so extraordinary that Victorian scientists had
to invent the term in order to explain them. The man who became the
world's first psychic was Daniel Dunglas Home. Now almost entirely
forgotten, Home was a household name in Victorian Britain, a man of
inexplicable ability who divided opinion wherever he went. Hated by
Dickens and defended by Thackeray, denounced by Faraday yet mysterious to
Darwin, insulted by Tolstoy but patronised by the Emperor of France and
the Csar of Russia. The astonishing feats he performed, and the bizarre
personal life that attracted so much controversy, are little known today
outside the esoteric world of psychical research. He rarely appears in the
biographies of the many great Victorians who knew him as few could openly
admit to such a controversial acquaintance. This book will finally
introduce one of the most remarkable and enigmatic figures in history, and
the strange and seemingly inexplicable events that occurred in his
presence. To order The First Psychic from Amazon.co.uk
The
Magician and the Cardsharp - The Search for America's Greatest
Sleight-of-Hand Artist by Karl Johnson. "A famous magician's journey
to find the greatest cardsharp ever evokes the forgotten world of magic
where Americans found escape during the Great Depression. It has the
nostalgic quality of an old-fashioned fable, but Karl Johnson's The
Magician and the Cardsharp is a true story that lovingly recreates the
sparkle of a vanished world. Here, set against the backdrop of America
struggling through the Depression, is the world of magic, a realm of
stars, sleight of hand, and sin where dreams could be realized - or stolen
away. Following the Crash of '29, Dai Vernon, known by magicians as 'the
man who fooled Houdini,' is tramping down Midwestern backroads, barely
making ends meet. While swapping secrets with a Mexican gambler, he hears
of a guy he doesn't quite believe is real - a legendary mystery man who
deals perfectly from the center of the deck and who locals call the
greatest cardsharp of all time. Determined to find the reclusive genius,
Vernon sets out on a journey through America's shady, slick, and sinful
side; from mob-run Kansas City through railroad towns that looked sleepy
only in the daytime. Does he find the sharp? Well, Karl Johnson did -
after years of research into Vernon's colorful quest, research that led
him to places he never knew existed. Johnson takes us to the cardsharp's
doorstep and shows us how he bestowed on Vernon the greatest secret in
magic. The Magician and the Cardsharp is a unique and endlessly
entertaining piece of history that reveals the artistry and obsession of a
special breed of American showmen." Due for publication on August 10th.
Hardcover, 368 pages. To pre-order now, with a 9% discount from
Amazon.co.uk,
Steve
Cohen's newly published Win the Crowd: Unlock the Secrets of
Influence, Charisma, and Showmanship is now available from
Amazon.co.uk with 10% off. "Magicians need more than a hat trick to win
over an audience. This guide from the 'Millionaires' Magician' includes
powerful lessons on confidence, charisma, and persuasion - designed to
influence and control the crowd. Steve Cohen, master magician and star of
the long-running Chamber Magic show in New York City, will reveal the
secrets of all great showmen and magicians - how to persuade, influence,
and charm, and ultimately accomplish the things you've always wanted to
do. As Cohen writes, 'You'll discover how to take over a room, read
people, and build anticipation to a feverish pitch so people are burning
to hear what you have to say.' When you strip away the sleight of hand
tricks, magicians are essentially masters of attracting and holding
attention and impressing audiences, exactly the psychological secrets you
need to be successful in life and business." To order
The
Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson, aka Chung
Ling Soo, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer" by Jim Steinmeyer can now
be pre-ordered from
Derren
Brown: Trick of the Mind, The Complete First Series on DVD, Plus:
•
Unseen Footage,
•
An interview with Derren,
•
Exclusive behind the scenes video diary,
•
Commentary on all six episodes from Derren Brown, his brother Dominic, and
key production crew members. "Trick of the Mind reveals the truly
staggering craft of one of the world's leading entertainers. Derren Brown
demonstrates his unique powers of showmanship, psychological illusion and
misdirection to astound and amaze everyone he meets, from people wandering
the UK's streets, to celebrity fans. The eagerly awaited follow-up to
'Inside Your Mind', 'Trick of the Mind' sees Derren return on a grander
and more adventurous scale! The UK's No.1 showman fuses a concoction of
power of suggestion, subliminal messaging and interpretation of body
language to predict and control human behavior." To benefit from a 25%
discount pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Scarne
on Card Tricks - John Scarne. "This marvellous treasury of card magic
presents the exact details of 150 professional card tricks - none of them
requiring sleight-of-hand dexterity - assembled by the world's number-one
card wizard, John Scarne. An authority on gambling and card tricks, Scarne
won renown for teaching professional gamblers how to sharpen their skills
and avoid being fleeced. For this collection of mystifying and effective
maneuvers, he reworked some classic card tricks to eliminate the need for
sleight-of-hand. Presented with simple instructions and clear
illustrations, plus suggestions for accompanying patter, are Houdini's
'Card on the Ceiling,' Blackstone's 'Card Trick Without Cards,' Carlyle's
'Piano Card Trick,' Milton Berle's 'Quickie Card Deal,' and Scarne's very
own 'Drunken Poker Deal' and 'Knockout Card Trick.'" Paperback, 320 pages,
Dover Publications. Available from Amazon.co.uk
Magician's
Magic - Paul Curry. "Known among veteran magicians for his invention
of many new tricks and his imaginative twists of old ones, Paul Curry
incorporated thoroughly engrossing material with a style that was truly
elegant. This book by a 'magician's magician' discloses the secrets behind
a collection of close-up marvels - including the author's 'Out of the
World,' reputed to be the best card trick of the past century." Paperback,
269 pages, Dover Publications. Available from Amazon.co.uk
MagicWeek
recommended Christmas reading: Magic: Stage Illusions, Special
Effects and Trick Photography Compiled and Edited by Albert A. Hopkins
The
War Magician: The Man Who Conjured Victory in the Desert by David
Fisher has just been published in hardback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is
currently available from Amazon.co.uk, with 30% off for Christmas,
"Have
you ever dreamed of learning the deepest secrets of stage magic and
hypnotism? This revelatory autobiography offers a fascinating insight into
the life secrets of a magician and hypnotist of international reputation.
Ormond McGill, the Dean of American Hypnotists, has hypnotised audiences
all over the world with his exciting stage shows. Using original sketches,
photographs, and press material, Ormond explains techniques such as: Mind
reading, Atomic Magic, Hypnotherapy of Zen, Acupressure Hypnotic
Induction, Computer Hypnotherapy, Abundance Hypnosis, Mind control and
Yogi Pramayama Practices. For hypnotists, magicians and everyone eager to
learn more about the secrets of the stage show, this book provides wise
counsel from the master performer. Join Ormond on his odyssey and share in
a lifetime of rich and varied experiences. This is a performance not to be
missed!" Now that's telling you... available from Amazon.co.uk
Did
You Spot the Gorilla?: How to Recognise the Hidden Opportunities in
Your Life by bestselling author (and magician) Richard Wiseman has
just been published by Arrow Books. "In a recent series of ground-breaking
psychological experiments, volunteers were shown a 30-second film of some
people playing basketball and told to count the number of passes made with
the ball. After just a few seconds, a man dressed as a gorilla slowly
walked into frame, beat his chest at the camera, and sauntered off.
Unbelievably, almost none of the people watching the film noticed the
gorilla. Exactly the same psychological mechanisms that cause people to
miss the gorilla also make them miss unexpected but vitally important
opportunities in their professional and personal lives. This book outlines
the scientific evidence and thinking behind this remarkable new
phenomenon, and shows you how you can spot gorillas in your life - and
what to do when you see one." Funnily enough I spotted a Gorilla just a
few days ago, but that's another story... I've just had a quick dip into
this book and it is full of goodies, especially of interest to 'mind
magic' type performers. Available from
The
Creative Magician's Handbook: A Guide to Tricks, Illusions and
Performance by Marvin Kaye is currently available from Amazon.co.uk. An
excellent book, 320 pages, £10.00, what a bargain!
How
to Pick Pockets for Fun and Profit A Magician's Guide to Pickpocket
Magic by Eddie Joseph is now available from Amazon.co.uk
Recently
re-published by Dover Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms is
still a good read, offering excellent advice and thought-provoking
content. Essential reading for every magician, available from
Jon
Allen's Simple Magic Tricks: Easy-To-Learn Magic Tricks with
Everyday Objects, due for publication on September 1st, can now be
pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk
Marvin's
100 Tricks and Tips with the Svengali Magic Cards is available from
Modern
Day Houdini. "For 30 years people have been calling Bill Shirk crazy.
He has been buried alive ten times, hung 1,600 feet in the air from a
helicopter by an ice skate (while in a straitjacket), run with the bulls
in Pamplona (also in a straitjacket), and jumped off numerous bridges and
cliffs (again in straitjackets). Now, for the first time, Bill Shirk
reveals how he performed some of his most celebrated escapes, each more
spectacular and heart-pounding than the last. Read how he survived being
buried alive for three days with a python and a timber rattlesnake; learn
how he escaped from a jail while chained and handcuffed; see what happened
when ten tons of wet cement broke his coffin; and experience the feeling
when the burning rope he was hanging upside down from dropped him into a
shark-infested pool. Of course, just because Shirk tells you how to get
out of a straitjacket in four seconds doesn't mean you'll be able to do
it. Likewise, once you know how to put your head in a bag with a
rattlesnake, you'd still be certifiable to try it." Available from
Amazon.co.uk
The
Best of Tommy Cooper is a newly released DVD from the BBC featuring
the best of Tommy Cooper! This selection contains some
extracts from Cooper at his very best including his infamous appearances
on Parkinson and The Bob Monkhouse Show which left the hosts
in stitches. To order from Amazon.co.uk
The
Blackstone Book of Magic & Illusion. Back in print, one of Americas
most famous magicians examines the history, science and art of illusion,
and tells the story of his family's life in magic. Includes in-depth
descriptions of the 10 basic magical effects, stories of the greatest
performers, analysis of the psychology of magic, with over 250
photographs. To order from Amazon.co.uk
Phantoms
of the Card Table, by David Britland and Gazzo, MagicWeek's Book of
the Year 2003, has just been published in a soft back edition and is
available from
Andrew
Lock, manager of Paul Daniels, has recently published a book called
"Magical Marketing". Whilst not aimed at magicians specifically, it
includes many marketing techniques that magicians can use to promote
themselves and their services and it's available from
Die-hard
Copperfield fans will be pleased to learn that
The
Rise of the Indian Rope Trick by Peter Lamont is reviewed in The
Observer by Michael Holland. 
The
Classic Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard has just been
republished and includes a foreword by Michael Bailey. Available from
Amazon.co.uk with a 30% discount
Truth
in Comedy - The Manual of Improvisation by Charna Halpern, Del Close and
Kim Johnson with a foreword by Mike Myers is now available from Amazon. "Furnishes a comprehensive
guide to improvisational techniques as used in stand-up comedy."
Order from
Hiding
the Elephant by Jim Steinmeyer is now available from
Nicholas
Lezard enjoys Ricky Jay's elaborate portrayal of the celebrity-driven
society of yesteryear in Jay's Journal of Anomalies in
John
Hart's And for My Last Trick is available from
A
Trick of the Mind by Judy Wait has just been published by Oxford
University Press. "Erin has always been fascinated by magic, ever since
she was a little girl, and now she hopes that if she teaches Matt some
tricks he will notice her. But Matt dreams about Kirsty, and hopes that
learning some magic will impress her and even persuade her to ditch Billy
and go out with him. Then everything goes terribly wrong and Matt runs
away to London, to try and make his living on the streets of Covent
Garden..." This one should be on every teenage magician's Christmas list.
Available from
Derren
Brown Inside Your Mind is released on both
Mind
Magic by Marc LeMezma is reviewed in MagicWeek this week. To read the
review
How
do you review a book that's all about real
mindreading? I don't know but I've had a go this week,
Paul
Zenon's 100 Ways to Win a Tenner has just been published by Carlton
Books and is now available from a number of MagicWeek advertisers. It's
packed full of scams and swindles that will leave you £10 up every time!
Using everyday objects these bets require only one thing... nerve! This is
a complete insider's guide that will enable you to come out ahead just
about anywhere - whenever the opportunity for a little bet presents
itself! Paul appeared on the Terry and Gaby show on Five last week,
performing material from the new book and having fun. To order from
MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk
Penn
& Teller - Phobophilia on PAL VHS is now available from Amazon.co.uk
"The comic magical duo demonstrate their own brand of horror magic with
tricks and special effects." To order
200,000,000
sold and counting... The Harry Potter phenomenon continues with the
launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book
in the series, today. "Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry
through his half-moon glasses. 'It is time,' he said, 'for me to tell you
what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am
going to tell you everything...'" Magic!
Peter
Lamont: Confessions of a Psychic plays at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival "A former psychic reveals how he used to fake paranormal
phenomena, until he discovered the real thing. 'Lamont is an expert,
extremely entertaining.' Derren Brown, Mind Control." Booking details:
Yesterday
was Friday 13th - but that didn't bother Dr. Richard Wiseman, a
psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, and associate of The
Inner The Magic Circle,
Step
by Step to Stand-up Comedy. "Essential for the aspiring comic or the
working comedian interested in updating his or her comedy routine, Step by
Step to Stand-up Comedy is the most comprehensive and useful book ever
written on the art of the stand-up comedian." To order from MagicWeek in
association with Amazon.co.uk
Phantoms
of the Card Table by David Britland and Gazzo is reviewed in MagicWeek
this week. "As the book unfolds it becomes apparent that this is very much
a real life adventure, or collection of adventures, brought about by
Gazzo's quest to find 'his master.'" We loved this real-life "tale of
the Jedi." To read the review
Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5 - Adult Edition) by J.K.
Rowling can now be pre-ordered from
Just
published That's
Magic by Richard Jones is now available from MagicWeek in association
with Amazon.co.uk
Clive
Barker's Lord of Illusions
(18) is
now available on DVD from
Spellbinder
- The Life of Harry Houdini is now available from
Create
magic wherever you go with Amazing Irv's Handbook of Everyday Magic.
"A sophisticated, hip, how-to guide to making magic with everyday objects
in everyday situations. From how to levitate yourself to impress your
kids, and how to successfully read your boss's mind, to how to charm and
disarm a potential mugger, you'll be able to amaze your family,
co-workers, friends, and fellow commuters in no time flat. More than 40
tricks - complete with step-by-step instructions and detailed
illustrations that focus close in on the sleight-of-hand - are divided
into sections on creating magic at home, at work, on the go, and on the
town. Each trick is introduced by irreverent, semi-practical anecdotes
that teach you just the right time and place for performing them. With
Amazing Irv's Handbook of Everyday Magic, you'll never again need to
rely on a joke to be entertaining." Available from MagicWeek in
association with Amazon.co.uk
The
Real Work: Essential Sleight of Hand for Street Operators by
Paul Price is now available from MagicWeek in association with
Amazon.co.uk
Harry
Anderson reveals the tricks behind cons, swindles, and wagers that are
the mainstay of carnivals, casinos, racetracks, and con men in his 161
page book from last year, now available from Amazon.co.uk,
Dominic
Wood's Magic Book has just been published by Bodley Head Children's
Books. Featuring star-rated, step-by-step instructions and countless
photographs of Dominc, this book is ideal for young magic enthusiasts (7-11). The book includes tricks such as "Mind Reader" "Secret Vision" and
"Floating Fruit", top tips for a polished performance, and a run down of
the greatest magicians in history. To order from Amazon.co.uk
Jean
Hugard's classic Encyclopedia of Card Tricks has just been updated
with a new foreword by Magic Circle president Michael Bailey - you can
order it in time for Christmas (and right now there's 20% off!)
Nick
Einhorn's The Art of Magic and Sleight of Hand has just been published
by Lorenz Books and is arguably the finest magic book for general release
since Mark Wilson's excellent Complete Course in Magic back in '75,
and, before that, Henry Hay's The Amateur Magician's Handbook in
1950! This is the sort of book that can stimulate an interest in magic
that will last a lifetime. The production values are high, and the book is big...
with
120 tricks, 250 pages, and 1,000 colour photographs. Each section has an introduction, so for
example, the Mind Magic section talks about such performers as David
Berglas and Graham P Jolley before delving into the magic. Excellent in
every way this book gets my highest recommendation - it's targeted at both
teenagers and adults alike. You can order it from Amazon.co.uk right now
More Dice -
This
time in the shape of a new book from Ricky Jay. "In Dice, Ricky Jay
takes us from one of the earliest forms, astragali - the heel bones of
hoofed quadrupeds, to the myriad types of cheating with dice in the modern
era. We discover that Augustus, Caligula and Nero were all inveterate
players, that Queen Elizabeth issued an order against the manufacture of
false dice in 1598 and that dice made from celluloid in 1869 remained
stable for decades and then suddenly began to decompose. This delightful
volume will educate and amuse us." To order
David Blaine's
Mysterious Stranger (published by Villard - see last week)
suddenly disappeared from the Amazon.co.uk catalogue midweek to be
replaced by a different version to be published by Channel 4 on November
8th... very mysterious.
Modern
Enchantments by Simon During is now available from MagicWeek in
association with Amazon.co.uk. Here's the synopsis taken from the Amazon website: "Magic,
Simon During suggests, has helped shape modern culture. Devoted to this
deceptively simple proposition, During's work, written over the course of
a decade, gets to the aesthetic questions at the very heart of the study
of culture. How can the most ordinary arts - and by 'magic,' During means
not the supernatural, but the special effects and conjuring of magic
shows - affect people? This text takes us deeply into the history and
workings of modern secular magic, from the legerdemain of Isaac Fawkes in
1720, to the return of real magic in nineteenth-century spiritualism, to
the role of magic in the emergence of the cinema. Through the course of
this history, During shows how magic performances have drawn together
heterogeneous audiences, contributed to the moulding of cultural
hierarchies, and extended cultural technologies and media at key moments,
sometimes introducing spectators into rationality and helping to
disseminate scepticism and publicise scientific innovation. In a more
revealing argument still, Modern Enchantments shows that magic
entertainments have increased the sway of fictions in our culture and
helped define modern society's image of itself." Over 350 pages. To order
The
Psychology of the Psychic - Sounds like an interesting read: "Two
psychologists examine the patterns of thought that allow individuals to
believe in psychic abilities and the tricks that psychics can use to
convince them." To order from MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk 
52 Ways to Magic America
by James Flint looks like an essential read. "A wry story of illusion and
deception from the fading coastal resorts of England. Marty has been practising
magic since he was eight. He loves the attention, not least at school where his
deft card tricks offer him a way round the embarrassment of actually talking to
girls. But how can any serious magician who dreams of following his heroes
Siegfried & Roy to the glittering lights of Las Vegas, still be employing his
little sister as his assistant? A post-show drinks party at the Young Magician
of the Year at the Crucible in Sheffield, (the last event in the calendar before
the World Snooker Championships) offers Marty's faltering career a way forward.
The award winning duo of Darren Watt and Terri Electric are going their separate
ways and it doesn't take long for Marti to coax Terri into becoming his partner
on stage and in bed. Terri is everything Marty could dream of, a talented
gymnast, an able assistant and a spitting image of Princess Diana. From cabaret
bookings in Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing the pair finally hit the big time
with a summer's booking in the Caribbean. A summer is all it is though. Even
before their sun-kissed skin has had chance to fade both Marty and Terri know
that the autumn circuit back in the UK is going to be tough. By the time they
reach the annual Magician's Convention in Blackpool on a bleak weekend in
February it is clear that their act needs freshening up. But it is amazing what
can happen when you are down on your luck at the top of the Blackpool Tower on a
wet Sunday afternoon..." The Caribbean, the Blackpool convention, Eastbourne...
it all sounds a little too close for comfort for me. Just published and
available now with a 20% discount via MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk
- to order
Uri
Geller's Life Signs : Transform Your Life Through Your Personality has just
been published. I'm not too sure about its intended use but the contents may be of
interest to anyone who's dabbled in mind magic. For more information or to order a
copy from MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk
Marvin
Kaye inspired many a budding magician years ago with his beginners book The
Complete Magician. The Creative Magician's Handbook: A Guide to Tricks,
Illusions, and Performance is designed to turn the unpolished performer into an
entertaining magician. Featuring fail-safe magic, sleight of hand magic, card
tricks and mental magic, as well as the basic principles of showmanship.
"In
his long-awaited first book, David Blaine offers a unique exploration of the mysteries and
history of the ancient art of magic. Mysterious Stranger brings Blaine's magic
directly to his audience. In the book, you'll find: Mind-bending tricks the
readers can learn to do themselves. Interactive magic effects. Mind-reading and
psychic techniques. David Blaine's unique perspective on the art of magic. A
copiously illustrated history of the art. Exclusive autobiographical background
and an insight into David's private world." Order from MagicWeek in
association with Amazon.co.uk now
Carter Beats The Devil
by Glen David Gold has just gone into paperback and will be in
bookshops across the country from today. We've heard that close-up master Chris
Power (who normally only performs at private functions) will be presenting some
magic in the following London book stores today (Saturday 25th) to launch the paperback
version: Ottakers, Shopping Mall, Bromley, from 11.30am for one hour, then Warterstones in Piccadilly
from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, and finally in Borders, Oxford Street, from 4pm to 5pm. If you can get
along to any of these stores do - if not then it is also available from
MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk
More books: 18
months ago we reviewed The
Turk, Chess Automaton by Gerald M. Levitt. Now here's The Mechanical
Turk: The true story of the chess-playing machine that fooled the world.
Newly published and available now from MagicWeek in association with
Amazon.co.uk
The
Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide - This is a lavishly illustrated
behind-the-scenes guide to the movie, featuring colour photos of the cast,
locations, sets, monsters and costumes, and an overview of the making of the
film trilogy over the last five years. Designed as a celebration of the films.
Written by writer, broadcaster and member of The Magic Circle, Brian Sibley. Order via MagicWeek in
association with Amazon.co.uk
Mac
King has just released Tricks With Your Head : Hilarious Magic Tricks and
Stunts to Disgust and Delight by Mac King and Mark Levy... this one is going
to be very popular, available now from MagicWeek in association with
Amazon.co.uk
Carter
Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold is also available from Amazon.co.uk by
return. "The mysterious death of President Harding in 1923 is only the curtain
raiser to this extraordinary novel of magic and science. Charles Carter is
Carter the Great, a name given to him by the supreme showman, Harry Houdini.
Carter was born into privilege but became a magician out of need. Only at the
moment of the performance, when an audience is brought together by a single
experience, can Carter defeat his crippling fear of loneliness. But with every
step into the twentieth Century, the stakes are growing higher. Science and the
cinema are fast out-stripping even the master magician and instead of that
single magic moment, there is only a headlong rush into an uncertain future." To
read some 5 star reviews, or to purchase,
Brian
Moore - The Magician's Wife. Emmeline Lambert is married to an
illusionist sent by Napoleon III to persuade the Arabs, poised for holy
war, that France's might and magic are the greater. Emmeline begins to
feel like an illusionist herself, when she dazzles the Emperor and then
sheds her inhibitions along with her patriotism 
Paul
Daniels - Under No Illusion. The real secrets of Paul Daniels
are unmasked as the magician speaks frankly in his autobiography
Ormond
McGill - The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism. "The most
extensive book ever to be published on stage hypnotism. Truly a goldmine
of knowledge." Paul McKenna.
Ricky
Jay - Jay's Journal of Anomalies.
Conjurers, Cheats, Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters, Imposters,
Pretenders, Side-Show Showmen, Armless Calligraphers, Mechanical Marvels,
and Popular Entertainments.
Uri
Geller - Unorthodox Encounters. "Soul-baring, disturbing,
mind-expanding, sometimes funny and often bursting with chutzpah, the
collected thoughts, writings and experiences of the world's most famous
paranormalist are compulsive reading." 
Harry
Houdini - Houdini's Book of Magic. Fascinating Puzzles, Tricks and Mysterious
Stunts. 295 pages. 
David Blaine -
Showman is out now. Containing the Frozen in Time footage plus about 20
minutes of previously unseen magic. You can order either the
Just
published, Massimo Polidoro's book Final Séance: The Strange Friendship
of Houdini and Conan Doyle is reviewed by David Britland this week.
Polidoro is head of the Italian affiliate of CSICOP and a magician. To order a copy from MagicWeek in
association with Amazon.co.uk
More Music from the Motion Picture Gladiator has just been released on CD and, as with the original disc, it is
absolutely stunning. Who will be the first magician/illusionist to use it?
To order 
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is now available on a 14 audio
book cassette set from Amazon that is proving to be very popular with children
and adults alike.
The whole Harry Potter phenomenon has been very beneficial to magic in
general. 
Magic
meets science fiction in Equilibrium a
1994 episode of Star Trek - Deep Space
Nine now available on video that features magician Jeff McBride.
Available on video from Amazon.co.uk 
I
first mentioned the soundtrack to Gladiator back in MagicWeek number 10 as it was such a stunning piece of
music, and ripe for an illusionist's wants. In the States it has just won a Golden
Globe for Best Original Score and in the UK has just been
nominated for a BAFTA, (July 25th). With an Oscar win
looming (March 25th) it will be interesting to see if this soundtrack
collects all three top awards. To order 
David
Blaine Mystifier is now available on DVD from Amazon.co.uk in
association with MagicWeek, to order 
The
best selling book in the MagicWeek Book shop for the last two weeks has
been Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin. It doesn't take a mind-reader
to know that this is as a direct result of the impact that the screening
of Derren Brown: Mind Control had last month. For more information
from Amazon.co.uk, or to place an order, 
Dominic
Wood, know to just about every child in the Country for his successful
magic and game shows on both BBC and ITV, has just released his first book of magic. Simply
Magic is aimed at six to ten year olds I would guess, and is full of practical
tricks that children can perform with everyday items.
Generously illustrated with performance photos throughout this would make
a great first magic book for any child. 
There's
a review
of just published The Turk, Chess Automaton, by Gerald M.
Levitt, this week. If you've got an inquisitive mind you'll take great
delight in this book, from the cunning methods of the inner workings, to
the fascinating stories that surround "The Turk." (Reviewed in
MagicWeek).
To place an order, 
If
you ever find yourself lost for inspiration when trying to devise new
magic, be it tricks or plot, then perhaps a look through Unexplained
Phenomena - A Rough Guide Special will do the trick (oops). From
teleportation to levitation, and 'shared visions' to the 'materialization
and flight of objects' this book has it all!