Member Kenllh started a thread on what book you would chose if you could only chose one and like myself I'm sure many asked if a set counted and I didn't think it would as the title of it said you could only a single book even if it had 2 volumes or was part of a lager set. So, I thought I'd start one for sets and sets only. Although compilations may not be sets per se, I want to include those as well. What set of books is the crowning jewel of your collection? Mine is BRUCE CERVON'S CASTLE NOTEBOOKS VOL. 1-4. The quality and usablility of the plethra effects contained in these books is unbelieveable, but believe me if you have the chance to add these to your collection I'm sure you'll find them as usefull as I do!

Tarbell.

What MagicSanta said.

In my experience, a set of the Tarbell Course is the best investment anyone could ever make, and a real bargain to boot.

Some of the patter is dated, and some of it is also a bit corny. But the effects are timeless, and you should be creating your own patter anyway. SETH

Art of Astonishment changed my life. I use too many Harris pieces to count!

Grrrr I hate having to make such a choice

But, I would say that APOCALYPSE would be my choice. Now, strictly speaking, these are "books" only in the sense that they are bound compilations of a periodical, i.e., they are not monographs. So, if my choice is supposed to be a multi-volume monograph, then the choice is clear: Tarbell.

Best,
Vlad

First, Tarbell. But if I had a second choice, it would be Art Of Astonishment.

Complete Vernon Chronicles 4 vol set
Books of Wonder by Tommy Wonder without a doubt is my favorite books of all time.

Apocalypse series by Harry Lorayne. Worth its weight in gold and are they heavy.

Card College 5 Volume set

Card College would be my second choice, very well written.

Tarbell, AOA and Card College

1)Apocalypse (Lorayne)
2)Card College (Giobbi)
3)AOA (Harris)

The invocation / the new invocation

Classic Collection Vol I and II by Harry Lorayne

Tarbell, Card College, AOA

Apocalypse for close-up

Tarbell for stage

Appocalypse (harry lorayne)...

Stewart James set.

Paul Gordon's books on original card magic plots.

Ahhh yes Leo, but heavy is a GOOD thing Nothing so nice (bookwise) as hefting a TOME as opposed to - well - anything NOT a tome.

What amazes me are the "magicians" who claim to have read ALL of Apocalypse and got nothing out of it, or felt somehow it was substandard. There are SO many classics in the series that I wonder what this thankfully tiny minority was ACTUALLY reading.

Oh well, whilst I continue to fry minds and souls with stuff like David Regal's Luck of the Draw or Richard Vollmer's Earthly Powers, or, etc. etc., the - I must assume hypersonic - speed readers are missing out. *Grins cheekily

Hmmmm... Same goes for those who opted for The Essential Stewart James - NOT because of the price - but because they fear LARGE books. Their loss

Ok, end of snarky post

Best - ESPECIALLY to lovers of mega monolithic gimongous back breaking behemoth books,

Vlad

PS I saved a lot of money in terms of gym memberships by doing workouts with The Secret Ways of Al Baker and Stewart James in Print