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DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Card Dupery
Copyright 2007 by J.K. Hartman & Steven Minch Hermetic Press, Inc. Illustrated by J.K. Schmidt (600+ hand drawn illustrations) and 398 pages. This is a physically heavy tome weighing in at 2 ¼ lbs. The cover is an eye relaxing lavender with ink drawings provided by August Roterberg. I like it a lot. It is a melding of the old school and new art design. And this is what this book is all about. Like all books (C.C. volume 1-5 included) published by the Hermetic Press, the paper stock is thick and the binding is tight and will last a lifetime. The book is dedicated to the memory of Joseph K. Schmidt who passed away 10 Jan 07. He was 87 years young and one of magic literature’s most prolific illustrators and one of my favorite. He will be sadly missed. There are 70 effects (many are seeing print for the first time) and 20 or so original sleights and moves included in the text. The author states all effects have been thoroughly audience tested under real-world performing conditions. Advanced knowledge of knuckle busting sleights is unnecessary; where required, they are explained in context. I love “self contained” books such as this, no need to reference books or make more purchases to learn more sleights. Kudos to you, Mr. Hartman! The first chapter, aptly named “Slytes”, consists of a dozen or so moves that will become useful at one time or another in your pursuit of cardology. The “Bototo Switch” (pp. 27) is a devilish sleight that became an instant fav when I first read it. The book is arranged into 9 chapters: 1) Styles. (13 items). 2) A Mix of Tricks. (23 items). 3) Triumphantics. (4 items). 4) Gambling Gambolings. (13 items). 5) Grand Old Ope-Pre. (5 items). 6) Trojan Force. (5 items). 7) Waves of Brain. (4 Items) 8) A Mix of Matches. (3 items) 9) Congeries of Conjuring. (13 items). Index of Sleights. Why did I buy this book? I normally will do a lot of research before I lay down my hard earned cash and invest in a book. First, J.K. Hartman has been around for a long time, his first publication “Secret Subtraction” saw the light of day in 1970. That’s the year I graduated high school, and kindled a hankering for card magic. In that decade he had 6 more publications and I had acquired some of those early treasures. I liked his writing style and what he contributed to the Art of Cardology. Unfortunately, I lost most of my magic library (and all my Hartman literature) in the ’04 hurricane season in Florida. So it was a “no brainer” to add this, his newest compilation, to my ever growing library. I can rest assure that this purchase is not in vain as I have a unique intuition when I purchase magic literature, I have never been unhappy with any of my acquisitions. I will savor this book, reaping an effect here or there when the desire arises. I do this with all my books. I do not read it in its entirety; I sample it in a timely fashion. So, how can I rate or review a book without reading it in its entirety you say? I read the first chapter and was delighted…and I can’t wait to delve into this. That’s how. Do I recommend this to a beginner? Yes and no. It depends upon how far a beginner you are and where your head is at. I always behave like a beginner when I first read a book of this scope. There are authors such as Harry Lorayne, Steven Minch, Roberto Giobbi , and Richard Kaufman that have a rapport with me, and J.K. Hartman fits in that category. They are great at explaining methods in a clear & concise way. Any beginner that comprehends what he or she reads will have no problem with the material in this book. The bottom line is if you purchase this book and find nothing useful, then find another pastime. What I have read so far is worth the price and perhaps more. Two Thumbs up!! Cardamagically, Dom. :)
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
John Neely Loyal user Iowa 280 Posts |
Thanks for the review. I received the book for my birthday last year and really enjoyed the material I read. I read through a lot of it over spring break last year when my wife and I took a trip to Chicago to visit many of the great museums there. We were staying with friends in Lombard and I read it on the train from Downers Grove to Union Station every day and even now reading the book brings back good memories of that trip. I don't do any tricks from the book at the moment, but I was trying out things here and there on my wife and our friends in Lombard and was getting good responses. JK Hartman's books often give me ideas to think about that lead to routines of my own. He says in Card Craft, that the routines depend upon what is said during the trick to motivate certain actions and/or moves. I often create my own patter and reasons for doing things which make sense or feel natural to me. You can get away with many things which would otherwise seem unnatural as long as you have built in reasons for doing things in the routine. This is probably something I learned from studying Card Craft back in high school.
Anyway, Dom, if you like JK Hartman's other books then this book will definitely not disappoint! Enjoy! |
Leo Reynolds Jr Special user 864 Posts |
Thanks for the review. Guess I better check out Mr Hartman Magic.Card Dupery
sounds like a good place to start. Thanks Leo Jr |
Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-03-06 19:01, Leo Reynolds Jr wrote: Leo, Hartman's books are wonderful. The effect descriptions and the overall prose style are not dynamic like Harry Lorayne's. But, when you actually work through the stuff, you realise you have some killer magic to add to your repertoire. Best, Vlad |
Adam Wood Loyal user Ontario, Canada 225 Posts |
Hartman's effects are great and this is no exception! Like Domkabala I was enraptured by just the opening chapter and was hungry to read more as there are so many usuable effects and moves taught here in this book. Grab a copy if you can!
“The hard must become habit. The habit must become easy. The easy must become beautiful.” -Doug Henning
"Don't make magic impossible, make impossible magic!" - Adam PEACE, LOVE & MAGIC!!! |
motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Great review on an excellent book.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
Richard Kaufman Inner circle 2532 Posts |
If you like Card Dupery, you'll also enjoy Hartman's previous two books: Trickery Treats and Aftercraft.
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