What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Discuss the latest news and rumors in the magic world.
PickaCard
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What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby PickaCard » February 5th, 2017, 1:20 pm

Every year we are lucky to see the publication of some unexpected magic books which may turn out to be a pleasant discovery. However most of us are waiting for some long announced book that never gets around to being published and may never be.

What magic book are you patiently waiting for years which has now reached mythical status?

Mine is Max Maven's book on the Gilbreath Principle. I remember hearing about his 20+ years ago or so. I actually ran blindly to pre-order Hermetic press' untitled mysterious limited edition Max Maven book which turned out to be the Protocols of the Elders of Magic. Nice but not what one expected.

(Almost forgot, Mr. Jennings Takes it Easy)

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 5th, 2017, 1:22 pm

I believe Max has abandoned his Gilbreath project.
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Dustin Stinett
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Dustin Stinett » February 5th, 2017, 3:04 pm

Jon Racherbaumer once hinted that he was working on a comprehensive history of close-up magic. That is something I would like to read.

richardingram
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby richardingram » February 5th, 2017, 4:02 pm

I'm really looking forward to the Johnny Thompson book(s).

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Joe Mckay » February 5th, 2017, 4:07 pm

Dr Gene Matsuura's book on Winston Freer.

I am also looking forward to the Angelo Carbone and Lubor Fiedler books. But they are not unicorns since I am confident they will be along soon(ish).

And why did Max quit the idea of doing a Gilbreath book? That is a shame.

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AJM
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby AJM » February 5th, 2017, 4:09 pm

Best of Friends by Richard Kaufman & Jerry Sadowitz

Leonard Hevia
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Leonard Hevia » February 5th, 2017, 5:22 pm

Joe Mckay wrote:And why did Max quit the idea of doing a Gilbreath book? That is a shame.


Perhaps because of Gilbreath's Beyond Imagination book that was published a while ago?

PickaCard
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby PickaCard » February 5th, 2017, 5:25 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:I believe Max has abandoned his Gilbreath project.


Wow! What a huge disappointment. Now that I know, I can stop checking the forums every day for an announcement. 20 years of anticipation for nothing.

Was this supposed to be an original work or only a collection of Max's previous output on the Gilbreath Principle? I can think about less than half a dozen that I have run across, some in his L&L videos and the few books of Max that I have. The last item I remember him releasing on Gilbreath was in the EMC collection.

As for another Unicorn Magic Book: Michael Weber on Gardner's Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Leonard Hevia » February 5th, 2017, 5:54 pm

The Jack Birnman book is still in the pipeline somewhere. I believe the Chief Genii has the material.

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erdnasephile
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby erdnasephile » February 5th, 2017, 11:20 pm

"The Magic of Fred Kaps"

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 6th, 2017, 11:32 am

I don't see the point in wishing for something that's never going to happen instead of appreciating what you actually have.

Max abandoned his Gilbreath book after Norman published his own book through H&R.

There will never be a Fred Kaps book.

The Jack Birnman book could happen but it will take a lot of time, which is something I'm lacking.

I really don't know what's up with Gene's book on Freer. Will try to remember to ask him when I see him.

Johnny Thompson's book will be out this year.

Stephen Minch's book on the coin magic of Geoff Latta will be out this year.

I think the last two alone should keep you busy for several years!
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Bill Mullins » February 6th, 2017, 11:58 am

Somewhere (in the intro to 5 X 5 Scotland?) it was speculated that there could never be a 5 X 5 book from France, because you couldn't get that big of a group of French magicians to agree to be in a book with each other.

I'd like to see that book.

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 6th, 2017, 12:39 pm

Bill, I'm sorry to say that you won't see that book.

I could probably do a Spanish 5 x 5 now, though, and that's a good idea! :)
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Ted M
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Ted M » February 6th, 2017, 1:29 pm

I'd buy Spain 5x5 in a flash!

Speaking of Spain, Dani DaOrtiz announced on Facebook that his book with Miguel Angel Gea on Hofzinser will be published this year in Spain, and that you'll be publishing the English version. Can you tell us anything about that? ex: Who's translating? Is translation already in progress or does that phase only begin after the Spanish book comes back from press? Anything at all about process/timeline? etc...

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 6th, 2017, 1:49 pm

Ted, aside from providing all the Jennings material on Hofzinser, I don't know any more than you!
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PickaCard
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby PickaCard » February 6th, 2017, 2:14 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:I don't see the point in wishing for something that's never going to happen instead of appreciating what you actually have. !


Words of wisdom that one can hardly disagree with.

However, it is natural to mourn ones dream book that will never be. It's what happens when something is hyped and is eagerly anticipated for many years. I would gladly trade 10 of my favorite magic books for Max's book on Gilbreath which was supposed to take form one year or another.

Truth be told, I have more than enough books, DVDs and tricks to keep me occupied for a lifetime. Yet I still look forward to the new releases of my favorite performers.

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erdnasephile
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby erdnasephile » February 6th, 2017, 3:37 pm

PickaCard wrote:
Richard Kaufman wrote:I don't see the point in wishing for something that's never going to happen instead of appreciating what you actually have. !


Words of wisdom that one can hardly disagree with.

However, it is natural to mourn ones dream book that will never be. It's what happens when something is hyped and is eagerly anticipated for many years. I would gladly trade 10 of my favorite magic books for Max's book on Gilbreath which was supposed to take form one year or another.

Truth be told, I have more than enough books, DVDs and tricks to keep me occupied for a lifetime. Yet I still look forward to the new releases of my favorite performers.


Agree with both RK and PickaCard. However, not every internet thread is one for serious discussion--sometimes (most times?) we're just spitballin'. For me, I'm too busy trying to work up this @#$@#! Michael Vincent routine to sit around wishing for more. However, it's fun to speculate and conjecture with you all about these things. Besides, "wishing for what you haven't got" is what keeps the magic marketplace alive! ;)

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Leonard Hevia » February 6th, 2017, 9:54 pm

erdnasephile wrote:Besides, "wishing for what you haven't got" is what keeps the magic marketplace alive! ;)


You got that right Erdnasephile! It's easy to become like a horse with blinders and focus on that magic bucket list instead of the material we already own. I'd like to see an annotated version of Dr. Daley's Notebook.

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Max Maven » February 7th, 2017, 4:26 pm

Okay, let me try to clean up a claim about me that has appeared in two different threads on this board:

For years I have been working, slowly, on a book devoted to the Gilbreath Principle. That project is ongoing. It has not been canceled. At no time have I ever stated, or even suggested, that the book is not moving forward.

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erdnasephile
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby erdnasephile » February 7th, 2017, 5:47 pm

Yes!!!! Thank you, Mr. Maven!

PickaCard
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby PickaCard » February 7th, 2017, 6:13 pm

Great news Max! I hope we will not have to wait much longer.

Any projects planned for the magic community in the near future apart from the EMC DVDs? A book or packet trick maybe?

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Joe Mckay » February 7th, 2017, 6:22 pm

Great news!

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 7th, 2017, 6:57 pm

I must have ... misheard.
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Tom Gilbert
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Tom Gilbert » February 8th, 2017, 8:13 am

I like to see the second book of the Vernon biography by David Ben.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 8th, 2017, 12:00 pm

And you will!
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sjrwheeler
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby sjrwheeler » March 8th, 2017, 1:24 pm

Yeh, I'd love to see the second Vernon book too!

Also looking forward to the new Tamariz book which I heard Rafael Benatar is translating.

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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Richard Tremblay » March 8th, 2017, 3:12 pm

I'd love to see a book about the magic of David Gripenwalt.

Many years ago, Gregory Wilson wrote in Magic Magazine that he was working on this project (he and Mr. Gripenwalt are friends).

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Michael Dustman
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Re: What is your Unicorn Magic Book?

Postby Michael Dustman » March 8th, 2017, 9:37 pm

Doesn't fall into the realm of Unicorn, but in addition to the Johnny Thompson books, I am really looking forward to the Tim Conover Project that Eric Mead has been diligently working on. Was excited to see on social media just today that he has finished all the photos for illustration. Can't wait for both of these projects.


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