Issue 29 - Nov. 09
Magic
The Complete Course
Joshua Jay
Available from: all general bookshops
Price: £14.99
278pp, approx. 8.5”
x 11”, plus a 132 min.
Calling your book, whatever it may be trying to instruct, The
Complete Course is possibly asking for trouble. As far as magic books go,
peoples’ conception of complete may
well differ, and one should at least contain the basic techniques of all the
generally accepted genres of magic. That this book does not can be forgiven, as
it is an introductory manual geared for the general public, it contains
contributions from such contemporary names as Jim Steinmeyer, Jay Sankey,
Gregory Wilson, Alain Nu and Daniel Garcia, and ultimately because the writer
and teacher is wunderkind Joshua Jay.
The book, (not really intended for kids, as a whole section is devoted to
magic in the workplace), is divided into ten chapters, with a large selection of
tricks all copiously illustrated with photographs; there are also extra
self-contained inset boxes on magicians and a number of other articles of
interest. In a blinding sales undertaking, included is a 2 hour-plus DVD on
which Joshua performs and explains an amazing 35 items from the book. Scout
around online for sub-£10 prices and this begins to look like a good deal.
The book’s overriding ethos, and the legacy it earnestly wants to
create, is on the relevance of magic through modern presentation with no cheesy
props or conceits. Whilst this is admirable, I don’t think this book is as
seminal as it likes to think it is in espousing this sentiment, and Jay rather
tests himself on this by including the hoary old stunt of slicing a banana
before it’s peeled, the Linking Rings, the wince-inducing “take the cards
out of the case first” line in the Invisible Deck routine, and even producing
a coin from behind a child’s ear.
Not a great deal of technique is taught for a Complete Course. For example, though the finger palm is shown, there
is no mention of the classic palm at all; and though a few simple forces are
taught, no real groundwork card sleights or moves are taught anywhere. I’m not
really complaining; I should be concerned with what’s exposed to the public,
right? Like the Banachek fork bend, the PATEO force, Lennart Green’s
act-opening drink production. Well, I’m not; I tend to agree with Joshua when
he says it is teaching not exposure.
There is some great material between the covers – Coffee Conjuring, Max Maven’s Wagers
of Sin, and the cunning interactive Virtual
Magic to name three – and Jay writes passionately and knowledgeably. The
whole package is, of course, excellently produced. I guess this sort of
publication can polarise magicians. Some will not want to touch its WHSmith-tainted
pages with a dirty great stick, whereas others will be excited by the prospect
of quantitatively and qualitatively decent magic at a thrifty price. You can
also marvel at Joshua’s stunningly tragic drawing of a hand on page 31 too. DL
What’s Hot: the
visual companionship of a feature-length
What’s Not: not enough foundational sundry
moves, techniques and sleights for an inclusive introductory course
Star Rating: ****
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