Magic Tricks

Normally, I'd try to separate price from quality when writing a review, but $80 for a book is just too much. I could justify it if this book were chock full of mindblowing workable routines, but for me, it's not. What it IS full of is some fantastic creative thinking... but unfortunately, "creativity" doesn't always translate into good routines.

For example, Deckquivoque is some of the finest writing I've ever seen on equivoque. I really appreciate Quinn's logic and honesty when it comes to explaining the difference between good equivoque and bad equivoque. That said, I don't think I'd ever be in a situation where I'd ever want to equivoque one card out of 52. Even though Quinn demonstrates it can be done in such a way that's not completely obvious, I'm not sure it's really necessary. Just because you CAN do something and probably get away with it, doesn't necessarily mean you should try.

Likewise, Thought Chunnel represents some fantastic creative thinking. But I think I look at this the same way I'd look at a Rube Goldberg machine. I admire the inventiveness of the construction, but it feels far too complicated for the task it's trying to accomplish. And I also suspect that anyone who's ever done the "Elephant in Denmark" thing (which is a LOT of people) will feel, either consciously or subconsciously, like they're being led in the exact same way.

This is typical of much of the book... excellent thinking, but questionable usefulness. At half the price, this would be a great purchase for its thought-provoking essays. But for this much money, I'd have hoped to find effects with more immediate practicality.