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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Book Review: Creating the Impossible by Chris Wardle and James Ward.
There are perhaps only a handful of books dealing with how to create your own magic. The only one that immediately springs to mind is Fitzkee’s “The Trick Brain” (1944). Thinking harder I can come up with Barry Mitchell’s “The Magic of Thinking Creatively” (2003). So a new book encouraging you to create your own effects and discussing how to go about it is welcomed. Smaller than the aforementioned books, this new entry comes in at just over a hundred pages in an easy to read style, but may be a better investment in the long run that the latest dealer miracle or someone else’s book of tricks. The book is a collaboration and whilst I am more familiar with some of Chris’s work (I published his very first books) I have heard of James Ward and seen a couple of his contributions in the past. We are informed in this book itself that both are creativity award winners and between them have created several hundred magical effects. Some of that material has been used on T.V. by other performers. I think this pretty much confirms they know what they are writing about. The authors discuss their individual approaches to creating new material and give a number of examples referred to as ‘case studies’. In fact, the result of one of those case studies I will be making up (I know, it defeats the object of the book). No reviewer can definitively tell you that you will become a creative powerhouse after reading a book like this but I believe Geoffrey Durham in his foreword sums it up quite well when he says, “Read this book carefully and I believe their ingenuity will start to rub off on you.” We could all do with being a bit more creative. The book is being distributed by Murphys Magic so your favorite dealer can obtain it for you, price is $30. |
Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Thanks for your review!
1) Could you disclose your relationship to the authors, if any, and whether you purchased the book or received a free copy for review? 2) Could you please elaborate on this part: "The authors discuss their individual approaches to creating newmaterial and give a number of examples referred to as ‘case studies’. In fact, the result of one of those case studies I will be making up (I know, it defeats the object of the book)." Thanks! |
Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Sure, Tim. I mentioned in the review I know Chris and published his earliest books. I'd say I've been aware of Chris for about 20 years or so. Were we ever best buddies? No, never sessioned with Chris, we lived in different parts of the country. It was more a cursory hello from time to time at some of the bigger conventions (like Blackpool). As a dealer in the U.K. had chats with various inventive, creative people at these events (and plenty not so). In fact he never approached me about his first book, he approached another dealer who then asked if I would be interested because they wanted to concentrate more on children's magic and that is how I got to know Chris Wardle and of course through his U.K. magic magazine contributions.
I don't believe I've ever met the co-author (but it's possible I have and not known it).Pretty sure he used to share ideas on a Scottish based magic web forum years back but might be wrong. A Google search and you might know more about him than I do, my information on his creativity came from the book. Don't get the British magazines so not really up to date on the U.K. magic scene, I've been in the U.S since 2004. Yes, Chris did ask me if I would have a look at his new book, probably because I was familiar with SOME of his earlier work and I'm guessing he respected my opinion. I'm sure other people will have review copies and other reviews will be appearing shortly. So no, I did not buy my copy because I didn't know about it until Chris contacted me. By the way, if anyone else wants to send me anything for review, have at it. Those who remember my PH Marketing newsletters might recall not all my comments were positive. |
Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
I was editing my response to give more on your second question Tim, but my lengthy response exceeded the 30 minute window so my information got lost. Don't feel like typing all that up again, but basically the case studies are how they got to the end result. The specific one I mentioned was an effect you can photocopy from the book to make up. The book is really split, first one author, then the other discussing how they go about what they do.
By the way, at 62 I rarely buy anything these days, If I don't know what effects I'm doing now I might as well give up. I firmly believe every magician should have a book on creativity in their magical library. Do I think you need more than one? No, but this will be the third I've read. You'll recall I mentioned two at the beginning of my review. I no longer have the Fitzkee but just saw it was made available again as a paperback some years back. I must admit the Mitchell book though good made me feel a little inadequate because of my lack of woodworking/construction skills (Barry makes such great props). Maybe you can still find it. My post was merely to make people aware of a new book that is not the usual stuff and maybe beneficial. It's pretty straightforward and hype free. But there are more well known names than mine giving quotes for the book in the advert here, which might give you even more information: https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=63056 |
Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Thanks Paul!
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magic.42 New user USA 72 Posts |
It sounds like a good book. Your review made me want it and with Walt Lees recommendation, from a differrent site, I went ahead and ordered it from Flea bay. One of the sellers had free shipping. Thanks for the review !
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