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Jerome Weeks of The Dallas Morning News reviews three magic books and considers the new wave of magic publishing for the masses.
His article begins with a neat reference to the "magic" of Penn & Teller's Bullet Catch in light of what a modern audience expects from performers.
In the past 100 years, Mr. Weeks observes, many magicians have failed to plan adequately and have died attempting to perform what some would call a "neat trick." According to Mr. Weeks, when Penn & Teller brought it to Dallas in 1997, they labeled it a "fun new trick."
But the "fun new trick" presented a very real risk to both performers.
Today's modern audience may or may not believe the real risk presented by the effect but they are willing to believe there is little chance to horrific failure. Perhaps it is that "little chance" that keeps them coming back. Houdini said, "no one wants to see a man die, but they want to be there when it happens."
The Penn & Teller story is best understood, suggests the author, when the reader has an understanding of magic's history.
Mr. Weeks selects four books from the bookstore's Best-Sellers list: Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear
We agree with Mr. Weeks' concern the new wave of books about magic's proud history will also take away some of the mystery and expose secrets:
It's not true, as is commonly believed, that conjurers never tell their secrets. A…
Continue reading Magic as Popular Non-Fiction Considered: Can Knowing Too Much Be Good For Magic?
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