Nearly all books that claim to provide hard hitting card magic while eliminating sleight of hand generally start with poor effects and work their way up to the “21 Card Trick” as a finale. Prepare to be very pleasantly surprised.
The Card Magic of Nick Trost dispenses with most slight of hand and replaces it with clever principles and devious subtleties. This allows one to really focus on presentation and not having to worry about “getting caught out.”
Even for dyed-in-the-wool sleight of hand guys, this is a book that seriously deserves your consideration. Why? Because it’s always good to have several powerful effects in your arsenal that don’t rely on your dexterity. Those spectators that stare at your hands as though they are in a trance can only provide that level of focus for so long. If you can start with a couple of these effects even the most ardent spectator will finally realize that there is nothing to catch… and that’s when you hit them with the heavy sleights.
This first effect is “worth the price of the book.” It’s a 2 deck coincidence effect that is very nice.
This effect is nearly identical to Darryl’s “Untouched.” I chose a slightly different handling for the video. A beautiful effect.
Here is an OOTW effect presented with only a small packet of cards.
This test conditions location is a very nice effect. In the demo I should have continued to keep my back to the spectator and had him cut and shuffle the cards. That is how it is supposed to look. My bad.
This is a false deal demo that is a delight to perform around the card table with friends or even gambling acquaintances. It gets me out of having to deal, which makes it a real treat.
The final effect is a nice little quickie. What is nice about this effect is that the spectator pulls a slug of cards out of the center of the shuffled deck and deals herself the Kings and Aces. Some very nice Trost thinking here.
Purchase The Card Magic of Nick Trost through H & R Magic Books
Again, outstanding review of a truly great book of [card] magic! I appreciate that you “masked” the titles but provided page numbers for those who are interested. Great idea. Your presentations were great (even the less sober ones!) and highly baffling, even for those in the know.
I hardly ever read this book and walk away without being inspired to be creative myself. I even came up with a way to perform “A Premonition” impromptu. I’ll have to share it with you sometime.
As you pointed out, Trost’s stuff is perfect to mix in with sleight-based routines. Thanks for a great review and some great performance examples. Keep up the good work!
Hello;
I just purchased the book: The Card Magic of Nick Trost
I have also watched the videos on this site. Well done:
Request:
Could you please let me know (if you like email me: ivakalis@calpoy.edu the following info:
Each video correspond to what “effect” described in the “The card magic on Nick T. ” book , and at which page ?
It will be very useful to have that info.
Respectfully;
Dr. Ignatios Vakalis
I really enjoy these reviews, just for the chance to see some great tricks! Glad to see your second post here!
Thanks, Matt. This has been a lot of fun so far. Couldn’t have done it without you!
Thanks guys! Really appreciate the thoughts. Nick Trost’s effects seem to be under utilized by a lot of card guys these days and I don’t know why. There’s really some great stuff there waiting to be rediscovered.
[…] up performances of specific tricks to illustrate the value of the content. He’s already done The Card Magic of Nick Trost and Stars of Magic, and if he’s true to his word, more are on the […]
Andrew,
Big thanks for the write-up on Ye Olde Magick Blogge! Really appreciate the mention. Based on what I could tell, you doubled my traffic. I’ve also put a link to your blog here as well. Just don’t expect the same kind of spike in traffic as a result.
I just wanted to say how thrilled and excited I am I found your site. You have no idea! I love books and I have a lot of great ones but it is very difficult for me to read an effect and visualize if it’s something I would like to perform. You are a true life saver for me. If I told you the list of books I have and do not use bc of that reason you would strangle me. I am Beyond excited right now. Just wanted to say thank you so much. Now I can truly enjoy the books I have and continue to grow my library again which I absolutely love to do. (I actually stopped buying books for a while). Although my wife will probably hate you now lol.
Thanks, Michael! It’s been a lot of fun doing these reviews and needless to say more are on the way. Seeing people buying more books or even picking up books already sitting on the shelf is gratifying and your comments are much appreciated.
Great review! Keep up the good work.
Eventhough I have the book i do not konw how you did the coincidence trick as you are omiting, so it seems, a crucial part?
For many effects in these reviews I’ll modify the handling slightly to make it a bit more “camera resistant”. The coincidence effect is one such effect. When I do it “for real”, however, my handling is nearly identical to the version in the book.
I understand, but maybe it gives not a fair impression of the trick like this as on your video it is stronger. I presume you use a m****d deck.
I understand your point and it’s definitely a fine line to walk.
On the one hand, I want to demonstrate the effect in a way that the spectator would remember. As a magician yourself, you will notice a lot more than a layperson. However, if you would ask a layperson to describe the trick as performed in the book they would describe what you’re actually seeing in the video. The “dirty work” you’re talking about wouldn’t be remembered by the spectator so I chose a different method to remove it from the video as well (and you are correct in your presumption).
On the other hand I want to be true to the handling in the book as well so as not to misrepresent the nature of the effect.
Balancing both of those competing interests can be difficult but I’m comfortable with the line I’m walking. I would only use the prop you describe to obtain a glimpse, for example. I wouldn’t use it to fundamentally alter the nature of an effect or how it works.
I just purchased Nick Trost’s book based on your review and videos. Thank you so much, this site is very much appreciated.
Hopefully, I’ll be getting some more reviews up soon. Things have been busy around here. Thanks!
I’ve just bought the ebook from llepub. I’ve noticed that the way you perform the 2 deck coincidence, or more precisely the way you gain access to the necessary information is different from the original. It’s not difficult to guess how you did it, but I wonder whether it’s really worth it? Though I must admit the effect is that a bit cleaner.
Well presented in any case.
Claude,
You’re absolutely correct to question whether it’s worth it or not. In point of fact, that’s the first time I ever did it that way, and quite possibly the last. It’s much easier to use a regular deck and just do any of a dozen glimpses with which we are all familiar. That’s how I have always performed it in the past.
The alternate method shown in the demo provides a more “camera-resistant” effect so I thought for this specific performance it was a good option. But if I’m actually doing this routine in the real world I always do it just like in the book.
Steve,
Thanks for your answer, especially when someone had already remarked on this point – I noticed it too late.
I was thinking of using a different presentation which alters the nature of the trick, but not its modus operandi, and makes it as clean as your version:
I would present the trick as a prediction or premonition. Once the spectator has reversed their card in the deck, there’s no need to recase it: they should pick it up and hold it face down, really for dealing.
The performer uncase the other deck and they start dealing in unison, every card being turned face up, and showing that they do not match. When the spectator’s card is reached – face up – it’s dealt aside and the performer deals their own face down on top of it. The dealing continues demonstrating that no cards match.
Finally the card face-down is revealed to be the match of the spectator’s.
I have not yet tried this way, but somehow it appeals more to me than the original; I’ll see whether it impresses the audience too.
Hi Steve,
Very nice work with this review. I recently purchased the book and there’s certainly good stuff in it, although I’ve only read a few effects. By the way, where’s that effect you call “Hands-off Prediction”? I can’t find it in the ‘Predictions’ section and someone said that you changed the titles of the effects but gave page numbers. Where are they? I can’t see any page numbres in the video clip.
Thanks again for a very nice review, it always helps to watch the effects preformed.
– Mike –
The page numbers are named in the main review, not in the trick demos themselves. Let me know if you can’t find it and I’ll point you in the right direction. It’s gratifying to see people picking up some of these books from the reviews. Thanks.
I’m also having trouble figuring out the page number for “Hands Off Prediction”. Can you send me the info? Much appreciated.
Andy, the actual trick name is “Spectator’s Card Trick.” Don’t have access to my book right now so I don’t actually know the page number. Take care.
Thanks, Steve. Appreciate the response and the review overall. Your presentation differs from the version of “Spectator’s Card Trick” in the book in one pretty important way. Without directly tipping the method, can you point me in the right direction on how you were able to pull it off? Alternatively, can you PM me?
Andy, shoot me a direct email at steven.keyl@magicbookreport.com and we can talk about it.
Thanks, Steve, I got it.
But you cheated 🙂 that’s not the same effect. Looks better than the original, mind you, but you need what you need. Anyhow, this is a very deceptive little thing to perform if you happen to have that thing with you 🙂
Cheers,
– Mike –
For real people I do it just like the book without the “something extra.” I only did it that way in the demo to make it a tad more “camera resistant.” 🙂
Great site by someone who always has interesting, constructive ideas.
Thanks, Robert! Coming from you that means quite a lot.
Hello.
I appreciate your demo videos because of some subtleties and some interesting different handlings.
I like the false deal routine and I wonder what method you used just before you put the supposedly key card in the center of the deck for the first time. I know that you turn 2 cards with the key card face up, but I have a question about the 2nd card : have you turned secretly this card face up, or is it a double back card?
Another question : you deal the cards, the one next to the other one. It is more natural than in the book where it is written to deal the cards in one pile, but by dealing the cards in one pile, you conceal better the fact that you deal a different number of cards the 2 last times. What is your opinion about that?
Christian.
Christian,
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the false deal demo. The method of putting the key card in center deck the first time is to use a KM move to reverse the top card so that you now effectively have a double that you’re turning down, if that makes sense. That is a handling change that I made from the book and I liked it better. I don’t do that anymore, however. What I do now is my favorite false cut, followed by an outjog of the presumed key card, followed by a square-up. It works better and cleaner but the KM move from the demo works well. In neither case is a double backer needed or used.
As to your second question, I’ve never had anyone mention it. The important element is that the card is supposedly being plucked from the center of the deck. Whether I deal the same number of cards or a different number of cards before the ‘center deal’ is, from their frame of reference, an unimportant fact (if it is ever noticed at all). I’ve occasionally fooled magicians with this while talking up my gambling table prowess, and they never noticed.
If you think it is something that your spectators would question, then by all means deal into a single pile. I’ve always felt that doing a more legitimate deal around the table was a better way of showcasing the different types of deals, though.
Thanks again for the feedback!
Hi Steve ,
im having a problem with out of this world lite using the first method in the book , it goes ok until get to the last card to go onto the black marker pile , when I take the 2 cards of the top for the spectator to choose the pair is a red and black card – not 2 black as it suppose to be , ive gone through the instruction several times , my friend has as well and we both find the same problem , could you try the first method as on your video you do the second method asking the spec to take the cards 6 -9 out of the pack , tks dave
Dave,
You’re right that the first pair is red/black. In his instructions right after this he says, “Whichever he names, turn the pair face up and deal the black card face down, overlapping the black marker. Place the red card face down beneath the packet. This first pair is shown as an example, and it further convinces the spectator that the rest of the cards consist of red black pairs.”
In other words, it’s just a convincer and it doesn’t really matter if they get the first one right or not. Let me know if you have any more issues with this one. It’s a great trick.
Steve
Hi Steven,
This is a great site. I’ve often pondered over various magic books and wondered if they were worth spending $70+ when I had no idea what was inside. Your reviews have been very helpful, and so far I have purchased the Trost book based on what I saw in your review. I already had the Caleb Wiles, and you inspired me to go back and take another look.
Hopefully you can do some more, because you’ve done a great job so far!
Thanks
Thanks, Mike! Really appreciate it. Haven’t had time the last year or so to devote to the site but when time allows I plan to put some hours into recording new reviews for people. Don’t know when my time will open up but I’m looking forward to it as well! Doing these reviews has always been a lot of fun for me. Thanks again and take care.
This is a great read. I read this some years ago from a friend. Looking to purchase this for myself now. Can’t seem to find a copy in print.
hey great web site, and love the demos. I know I am late to the party but anyway I can get my hands on this book, Card Magic of Nick Trost – Book. I heard this is a terrific book, and would love to find it..
I have the book in e-form. I forget where I bought it, but probably Lybrary.com.
I just looked at my ebook, and it’s published by L&L publishing. So that’s probably where I bought it.
What a great website cant believe I never heard or stumbled here before.
I love the performances of some of the tricks from the books and love the honest reviews much better then the reviews from online magic shops that arent always honest or the reviews on Magic Cafe where I have to hear every ones opinion
Thanks
Now back to dust off my Nick Trost book
This book has been on my “to get list” for a few months. I found your website via a thread on Nick Trost on the Cafe. Viewing your review I finally bought the eBook from L&L. Love the book. Thanks for the review! However, I have the same questions regarding “Hands off Prediction” in the video and “Spectator’s Card Trick” in the book. Your video performance of Hand off prediction is a stumper. Can you shoot me the method via my email? Thanks!
Hello Steve, i look your 2 coincidence effect. Is some different from the book, because in the book the deck are not shuffled.
I assume you have a m… Ed deck, but i don’t know if you use a stack with some faro shuffle.
Can i talk with you about your perform?
Please send me your email.
Thank you so much