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setsuna83 Regular user 200 Posts 
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Hi all, saw this book released by Vanishing Inc: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/parallax-book/
I wonder if there are any reviews of this book out there? Is this more of a theory book and his thoughts on performing magic? Thanks~ |
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3085 Posts
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My copy is still on the way so I have yet to crack into it, but this is a collection of essays and think-pieces Max wrote in a column for Magic Magazine over a multi-year stretch in the 1990s. From everything I hear, it's an extremely entertaining, provocative, challenging work of magic theory by one of our great modern thinkers. I can't wait for my copy!
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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a.single.V New user Hanoi Vietnam 90 Posts
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Here is a review from Erudite Magic. Another great review as he always does
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG6600R-x0w |
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setsuna83 Regular user 200 Posts
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Quote:
On Jul 30, 2023, a.single.V wrote: Thanks for sharing this review! |
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Mr Mysterio New user 44 Posts
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With a subscription to Genii magazine you get access to a the old issues of magic magazine, so can peruse these articles at your leisure online. It's nice to have them all in one place in a book but there is another option too.
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3085 Posts
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I'm only about halfway through Parallax but compelled to share my thoughts so far:
If you love Max Maven, this is an essential piece of literature. If you don't love Max Maven, this is still an essential piece of literature. His acerbic voice, one unafraid to stir the pot or present challenging ideas and theories about magic and its relationship to art, is ringingly clear. Yes, you can simply subscribe to the digital back issues of Magic Magazine and get all of this material therein; but there's value in having this handsomely made volume on your shelf as a text to return to and be stimulated by again and again. I like the fact that these are essentially dozens of mini essays and columns and broken up as such, largely because it makes Max's dense, erudite, often wry writing more easily digestible. One small 3-page passage alone is often enough to get the gears turning for much of the day. Thoughts on the etymology of certain magic phrases, rumination on why so much magic is so mediocre, practical performance advice, and a moving story about Francis Carlyle represent just some of what you can expect in these pages. Max was certainly ahead of his time in much of his thinking, resulting in a book of text that I often had to remind myself was written roughly 30 years ago. Sometimes, that aspect naturally shows - a few of his takes on social politics would certainly have been seen as progressive in the 1990s but have taken many more complex cultural leaps since then - but those moments are outweighed by the sheer volume of edgy, forward thinking. It's helpful to keep the context of time period in mind as you read; it will justify certain pieces of writing, and surprise you for others. I can see this being a book I return to time and time again, making new discoveries with each pass. I'm so happy this is on my shelf.
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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Richclive New user 8 Posts
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All theory, but one of the more inspiring, and certainly best written, books on my shelf. It arrived with Bannon's Hush Hush and I finished Parallax first. Compelling stuff.
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3085 Posts
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Quote:
On Aug 17, 2023, Richclive wrote: Those final few essays in particular are total knockouts. But the book as a whole is just overflowing with gems of wisdom and provocation.
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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Delimbeau Special user May the magic be with you 597 Posts
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Superb book!
He could have been a great novelist, too… |
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MikeLarkin New user 86 Posts
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Surprised how little people are commenting on this. Is it worth picking up and if so, why? Is it just bloviating or is there useful information?
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Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1409 Posts
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On Aug 26, 2023, MikeLarkin wrote: Based on how you frame your question, I do not think you will recognize what's useful in it. |
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Leo H Inner circle 1359 Posts
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On Aug 26, 2023, MikeLarkin wrote: Using your frame of reference, it's bloviating, but on a high level. Max doesn't dish out nuts and bolts advice like the proper use of a nail writer. There are texts that describe those techniques. Instead the reader is repaid with ruminations on magic history, world history, discussions of art and magic, societal customs, entertainment, psychology, the performance of magic, philosophy, and so on. Yes--worth picking up to feed the mind with snippets of various subjects, and thoughts/ideas that are scattered throughout thousands of books. The well rounded, educated magician is a better magician all around. Dai Vernon reminded us to get a proper education and learn how to correctly use a knife and fork. |
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MikeLarkin New user 86 Posts
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Quote:
On Aug 27, 2023, Leo H wrote: Sounds good. I actually own a fair amount of Maven's output and find it in general to be of high quality. It is always well written at least. I also enjoyed the few columns I had read from back when the series was produced. That being said, he also produced a fair share of clunkers over years and his one man show just didn't do it for me at all despite going out of my way to see it. |
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Chris Aguilar Special user 564 Posts
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I think Maven was a brilliant creator of magic.
I never enjoyed his parallax column. |
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Leo H Inner circle 1359 Posts
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The Bob Driebeek/Okito story is almost worth the price of the book.
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Leo H Inner circle 1359 Posts
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The chapter on the origins of magic power words like "hocus pocus," "presto," and "alakazam" is absolutely fascinating. Combined with the wonderful anecdotes Max liked to throw in, we're getting closer to worth the price of the book.
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MoonRazor Special user 858 Posts
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On Aug 26, 2023, Tim Cavendish wrote: Well put.... anyone who uses "bloviating" is questionable. |
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Chris Aguilar Special user 564 Posts
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On Oct 16, 2023, MoonRazor wrote: As is anyone who gets triggered simply because someone is not 100% complementary to one their 'magical heroes'. |
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Leo H Inner circle 1359 Posts
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Quote:
On Oct 16, 2023, Chris Aguilar wrote: As is anyone who gets triggered simply because someone is not 100% complementary to one their 'magical heroes'. It doesn't take much to trigger you--at all. Just a difference of opinion is enough to do the trick. If you didn't enjoy, or understand the Parallax columns, well, that's your loss. |
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Chris Aguilar Special user 564 Posts
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On Oct 20, 2023, Leo H wrote: Ah, the ever brilliant "I know you are, but what am I!" strategem. Projection much? Followed by the faux "concern" of "Aw poor you for not -understanding- the genius of things I prefer!" Haha, nice try. |
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Posted: Jul 27, 2023 05:36 pm 
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