Maelstrom - New Book by Tom Stone

[Q. Kumber]

According to the November GENII, Tom Stone has a new book - Maelstrom.

Any info on the publishing date?

[Richard Kaufman]

I believe it will be SOON.

[Chris Aguilar]

Per Tom, planned for end of November.

[Tom Stone]

There should be an update on the Hermetic Press website at the end of this week.

[Matthew Field]

I am very much looking forward to Tom's new book. His column in the November Genii is genius.

Matt Field

[Tom Stone]

[img:center]http://images.mailermailer.com/image/48125664c/70353/o/Maelstrom.jpg[/img]
The Hermetic Press website has been updated now:
http://www.hermeticpress.com/product_in ... ucts_id=68

Table of contents: http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Maelstrom

[Richard Kaufman]

I've thought about the item on p.54 from time to time when walking in certain areas of New York City: "Don't stare at my bottom."

[Geno Munari]

Tom. Your graphics are beautiful and tell a story, and makes one want to look deeper. Very striking.

[Tom Stone]

Tom. Your graphics are beautiful and tell a story, and makes one want to look deeper. Very striking.

Thanks Geno! :)
The cover was a collaboration between myself and Anders Moden.

I'm glad that you saw a story. I wonder if the story you see is the same as mine. My intention wasn't to make it look like a story, but rather something more abstract.
My story was:
Our magical heritage; history, literature etc. is like a sea of knowledge - not static but moving, in waves. You can even put your own spin to it. And if you tap into that sea, you'll rise above the surface and will light up the sky.

Yep, pretty pretentious. But it was not intended to be percieved as a story - that was just to get an idea about what the cover should look like.

[Jim Riser]

According to Stephen Minch, supposedly they will ship around November 30th. This will be something else to be thankful for!
Jim

[Tom Stone]

Six days left until the pre-publication offer expires.
http://www.hermeticpress.com/product_in ... ucts_id=68

[Richard Kaufman]

The Genii looks into the future and sees that Maelstrom will receive a highly complimentary review by Jamy Ian Swiss in the January issue of Genii.

[Jim Riser]

The eagerly awaited Maelstrom has arrived in the deserts of Arizona!

For those interested in such things, Tom's new book is the same physical size as the Del Ray book.

Jim

[Tom Stone]

For those interested in such things, Tom's new book is the same physical size as the Del Ray book.

You gave me a scare there, Jim! I thought the printers had messed up things, since this book should have the same proportions as my previous book Vortex.

But then I compared the size, and yes, it has the same size as the Del Ray book, but rotated 90 degrees. Landscape oriented rather than portrait oriented.

[Richard Kaufman]

It's called a short-side bind.

[Jim Riser]

For those interested in such things, Tom's new book is the same physical size as the Del Ray book.

You gave me a scare there, Jim! I thought the printers had messed up things, since this book should have the same proportions as my previous book Vortex.

But then I compared the size, and yes, it has the same size as the Del Ray book, but rotated 90 degrees. Landscape oriented rather than portrait oriented.

Tom,
I was checking to see if anyone was paying attention. I did say "physical size".

Here is something to think about ... your proposed gimmick on page 112. Without exposing your idea here, I'll attempt to offer a suggestion. There is very little available space where this gimmick would move into. I think a combination of your idea with Tommy Wonder's idea of a "flattened" gimmick would make things doable. After the Christmas rush, I'll make you up such a gimmick to play with. What size? 2"?
Jim

[Tom Stone]

I think a combination of your idea with Tommy Wonder's idea of a "flattened" gimmick would make things doable. After the Christmas rush, I'll make you up such a gimmick to play with. What size? 2"?
Jim

I'd love to play with a gimmick like that! :)
I'm mainly using 2" white Fakinis, so your suggested size would be perfect.
-Tom

[Jim Riser]

Tom,
It's funny how gimmicks develop. I'm on the third version of the mental design of the gimmick. The goal from my end is to make it as small, deceptive, and easy to use as possible so that the performer does not need to worry about it. Once the mental design is completed, it's just a matter of making it. What to do with it will be your problem :-)

Oops - another version just popped into my mind. Development is the fun part! It will be interesting to see how it ends up by January.
Jim

[Jim Riser]

Tom and "Maelstrom" book owners, you may see gimmick progress here:

http://jamesriser.com/Magic/BallGimmick ... eIdea.html

Feedback is always desired. Enjoy.
Jim

[Tom Stone]

Maelstrom just got a flattering review on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SejVmj_tUi4#t=610s

It also got several approving comments on my Facebook page as well, among those, the following:
In magic, there are great performers, great inventors and great teachers. Tom Stone is all three. His books are gold mines. Anyone who wants to learn what great magic is all about, or take their magic into the highest professional realm, should be learning everything they can from Tom Stone, a modern master of first-class magical entertainment.
- Ian Rowland

It's a great feeling to learn that others have found joy and inspiration from one's scribblings.

Tom and "Maelstrom" book owners, you may see gimmick progress here:

http://jamesriser.com/Magic/BallGimmick ... eIdea.html

Feedback is always desired. Enjoy.
Jim

Jim, I find your prototypes very intriguing! How are the angles? Is the shallow roundness deceptive even from the sides?

[Jim Riser]

Tom,
The gimmicks have been sitting on the corner of my desk since I put them together. Email me your current mailing address and I'll get them on the way to you tomorrow when I go to the post office. They will be bare metal with the magnets taped in position for your final testing. If all is well, you can epoxy them in place and paint to match the balls you will be using.
Jim

P.S. Tape silences them. You will want such cushioning.

[Tom Stone]

Jim, thank you! I'll send you my address. :)