Someone kindly informed me that Kaufman is re-releasing this book for the incredible price of $40 (free postage to UK ). Does anyone know when this re-release is due. I am waiting with great anticipation !!

To my knowledge no date is set as yet.
And I'm waiting too.

I believe that Strong Magic will be ready to ship by mid-November. I placed my order in September, and airmail shipping to the U.K. direct from Kaufman is extra.

Weenieboy is correct, the release is set for mid-November. You can preorder now for $5 off.

I have the book, and I'm thinking about buying a second copy

If you don't have it, BUY IT!!!!!

I have one, and I also want to buy one more.

where can I pre-order the book?

Alex Hui

Try this:

http://www.geniimagazine.com/kaufmanandco/newreleases.html

Weenie boy isn't correct in postage, contacted them, postage to the uk by surface mail is free.

I talked to one of their reps. They said anywhere from 5 to 6 weeks.

For those of you who haven't read "Strong Magic" yet, you are in for a treat. I have read the book at least four or five times over the years.

Be advised however that some of Darwin's ideas received critical reactions from within the magic community when it was first published (for example, you may want to refer to Jamy Ian Swiss's review of the book in the July 1994 Genii). While I don't agree with all of Darwin's ideas, I found this book to be highly entertaining (quite an achievement for a book on theory), and it has helped me to become a better magician.

I'm certain I wrote that 'airmail shipping' to the U.K. is extra!

Surface mail is several weeks. Regardless... I'm looking forward to finally reading Ortiz' book.

To those of you that have read both books, I'd be interested to know how you think Strong Magic compares to Webber's Maximum Entertainment?

That's a very good question as I haven't read either but ordered strong magic and waiting for it. Ordered Maximum entertainment and it should arrive tomorrow. Appologies if I misread that you stated airmail.

Does anyone have any comparisons between strong magic and maximum entertainment ?

That reprint is a must own....for anyone in magic!

I have both Strong Magic and Maximum Entertainment.They are both in the same class IMO. Darwin's book breaks down close-up magic in components, structure, etc and he gives a lot of examples with many of the routines that we are familar with. For me.. it's a complete course on how to present & structure a close-up performance, how to handle rude audience members, what to do when you blow a trick etc. Not many magic books contains this kind of real world advise.

Ken Weber's book is great because the whole goal of the book is the make you a better entertainer. He talks about what great entertainment is and gives great advice to the working performer.

Both books are something I keep going back to over & over again.

I can't wait for Strong magic to arrive, Maximum entertainment is fantastic, I can't put it down !

So has anyone that pre-ordered from Richard Kauffman received their copy yet ? I haven't received any notification to say it was shipped when they say it would be shipped around mid-november.

Hello Partyboy,

I preordered my copy very early, and received my copy in the mail 2 days ago(11/22/04). Hope that helps.

I preordered at the beginning of the month, and I just received my copy of Strong Magic yesterday. I live in the States.

I saw this for sale on themagicwarehouse.com for $38.

I have never seen Mr. Ortiz, not live nor in video. Can someone comment as to if he's entertaining enough to have written an entire book on the subject of showmanship for close-up magicians. How entertaining is he in comparison to say David Williamson, etc.?

Mine also came yesterday and I had to reorder because of a mixup with my credit card number.