David Acer has been doing a splendid job with magicana. So do any of you have any favorite tricks or moves from the magazine? Both of Jack Parker's one man Magicana particulary became one of my favorites. A whole lot of great card routines can be found inside those pages.

I'm with you - I think both Jack Parker issues feature some of the most interesting and original card magic published in a long time. For me, reading the first one in June of 2006 (the one with Dai Vernon on the cover) was like the first time I read stuff by Dingle, or Jennings.

This year (so far) I really like the impromptu pencil-through-bill that ran in January (Nick D'Angelo's Almighty Dollar), Ken Krenzel's Natural Ace Assembly (which ran in April) and Rick Merril's metamorphosis trick with cards where he lifts his shirt over a card hanging from his mouth and it changes into another card (that was in the July issue, which is the last one I read). Guy Hollingworth's one-coin trick in the March issue (Inflation?) where a dime becomes bigger and bigger until finally it's a jumbo coin was pretty cool too, but a little beyond my skill level.

Yet another vote for the Jack Parker issues. Top-Notch Stuff.

Ah you reminded me of the Ken Krenzel issue. That had some great stuff in it, including an oil and water routine. I'll have to read up on my back issues.

I agree. The interview with Krenzel was great too. As far as oil-and-water routines, I also really liked Hiro Sakai’s “Color Sunder” in the October 2006 issue, especially the ending (an unexpected transposition between the red and black cards).

I enjoyed reading the Hofzinser issue and its descriptions of his work. Also the Sawa issue from a long time ago.

Or the Jennings issue from a long, long time ago.. ..

There are some very neat tricks in the May 2000 issue.

Best,
Charles

Hi Charles,

Could you be more specific? Was that a one-man issue? A theme issue?

Hi Ben,

The May 2000 issue is the Magic of Japan issue, as there are many tricks in there that are created by Japanese magicians. Here are all the Japanese items that appeared in this issue:

Human Cannonball - Tomo Maeda
Automatic Ace Triumph - Kuniyasu Fujiwara
Fading Coin - Tomoyuki Takahashi
Mr. Green's Prediction - Kuniyasu Fujiwara
The Vibrating Bed - Hiro Sakai
Torn and Restored 2000 - Ken Kuroki
Backstabber II - Ton Onosaka
Ton's Dropped Force - Ton Onosaka
Piano Sans Keyboard - Hideo Kato
Ancient Coins Across - Shintaro Fujiyama
The Copper Queen and Silver President - Hiroshi Sawa
Three Different Coins - Yuji Wada
Ryu Susato's Business Card - Ryu Susato
The Novelist's Prediction - Masao Atsukawa
Warp 9 - Masao Atsukawa
Two Pens With But a Single Thought - Kazayuki Hase

Best,
Charles

Would someone care to describe the 'Fading Coin' effect? I've read several comments on it. Either that or I'll need to order the back issue from Genii. Thanks.

It amazes me that any of these are still available. It's among my favorite issues and certain to become a collector's item (but I'll never sell mine). Get it while you can. It really is a steal at that price.

To quote from another post: In essence, the spectator chooses a coin through imagination and it is materialized in your hand.

Best,
Charles

Pay through the nose (in this month's issue. Original name: Todd Nose Best (tribute to Todd Robbins).

Frankly, I think the best mentalist effect in a long time appears in this month's issue, the one with Max Maven on the cover. It's an effect called "off-center tear" by someone named Andrew Baroch. Obviously well-written by David Acer, the move presents a delightfully simple yet fresh approach to the center tear with built-in misdirection for instant read.
fib [I wrote it.]

Well, contributed it. David did a much better writing job.

I thought both issues with the Jack Parker material were excellent. The Max Maven issue was excellent as well, the interview was and excellent and the tricks were good. My friend Jared Kopf has a trick in that issue that is particularly good.

In my opinion Richard Kaufman has taken Genii to new heights. It just keeps getting better.

There is a Derek Dingle issue from 2004 that is wonderful. Some of the tricks were pulished in his Complete Works but they have been re-written and updated. The articles are good, too. Check it out if you want to know if you can handle Dingles stuff without buying the whole book.

Also in the same year was a Bob Read issue with some great gags and his legendary bottle production.

Finally, Johnathan Townsends coin routine should be analysed by anyone interested in coins. That was published sometime last year.

I second the Max Maven issue. My friend Donny Orbit had an effect that ran as well that was a little offbeat.

XX

After looking through a lot of the Genii Archive (which is great!) I think there is a tie between a Japanese 1969 issue and May 2000 issue. The 1969 issue is the one that has Kato's Card Happening in it.

I also believe Richard has been doing a great job with Genii. He's getting them out so fast!

Noah