Cardworks

Discuss your favorite books, authors, and tricks from Kaufman and Company.
Philippe Noël
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Cardworks

Postby Philippe Noël » April 26th, 2003, 8:34 am

It seems to me that people do not talk very often about the book "CardWorks"(1981).
Is it just an impression, is it because it is hard to find, is it because it was not a good book?
I think it is now out of print and hard to find.
Was it a big book or just a booklet? Are there projects of a reprint?
When you read the Bull of the very first issue of Richard's Almanac(1982), Richard Kaufman talks about the first year of Apocalypse, CardMagic, CoinMagic, The Complete Works of Derek Dingle but not a word about Cardworks. Once again is there a particular reason?

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 26th, 2003, 9:17 am

I knew someone would bring this up eventually. :help:
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Dave Egleston
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Dave Egleston » April 26th, 2003, 10:08 am

Mr Noel:

No Richard Kaufman collection is complete without CARDWORKS, - I have a copy - I can't find it - I've been looking for it for half an hour - I may have loaned it out - If you don't have it - My RK collection is more complete than yours!! ;)

Dave

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Re: Cardworks

Postby Guest » April 26th, 2003, 4:36 pm

In Richard's defense, I'll just say that the last effect in the book is worth far more than the price of the entire book, at whatever premium. This is the kind of thing that Skinner could easily turn into a closer, and deservedly. (I almost said "someone like Skinner", but that would be ridiculous.)

The rest of the book reflects the author's interests at the time, partly historical, partly technical, what was the hot stuff at the time, etc.; but while the book is definitely of its time, it is also definitely worthwhile. Not one I'll be putting up on ebay, ever.

Besides, I have a signed copy, and the profanities included therewith would inhibit its sale.

Best,

Geoff

Edwin Corrie
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Edwin Corrie » April 28th, 2003, 4:51 am

Surely people don't think it's really that bad. I don't have my copy with me at the moment, but I do remember enjoying the tunnel effect with the four aces. And wasn't James Swain's Passing Along the Vanishing Aces in there too?

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Re: Cardworks

Postby Guest » April 28th, 2003, 9:30 am

Yes! Passing on the Vanishing Aces was "worth the price of the book" for me. Actually Mr. Latta's extension to the "Collectors" theme was worth double the price. (thanks, Geoff! thanks, Richard!)

Doug

seraph127
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Re: Cardworks

Postby seraph127 » March 8th, 2004, 7:38 am

Mr. Latta, I know the routine of which you speak (my copy is at hand, hahaha) and it is indeed exquisite. As you have not deigned to name it, I will refrain as well, but I will say that I also liked "Impromptu Blankwave", "Ethereal Poker", "Ethereal Blackjack No. 1" and "Etheral Blackjack No. 2".

RK, you should really talk this up more; it's a natural lead-in to hawking some copies of your On the Pass video.

:D

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 8th, 2004, 9:03 am

Oh, you mean "Stapled BlackJack"?
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David Acer
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Re: Cardworks

Postby David Acer » March 9th, 2004, 12:39 pm

Weird that this should come up now - I just read Cardworks last week. And what's even stranger is, I have Dave Egleston's copy.
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Mallakite
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Mallakite » April 26th, 2008, 7:05 pm

I'am reading this book for the first time and have just read Passing Along The Vanishing Aces by James Swain, what an amazing trick! Also the first trick called Kaufman and Krenzel on Cryptology is awesome, I don't know why this book gets so much hate, even from Kaufman himself.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 26th, 2008, 8:43 pm

I don't hate it, it's just far from my best.

Some excellent tricks in there, including an early version of "Fusion" (the first "peeling apart double backers trick"), and an odd version of All Backs of my own using the idea called "The Inside Out Deck."
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Darryl Harris
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Darryl Harris » April 26th, 2008, 11:12 pm

Excerpted from CardMagic.

Scene: August 23, 1980.

"The heat bounces off the concrete in New York City, and slaps you in the face like a hot towel."... "It's so humid that my blue Tally-Ho's have swollen to twice their normal thickness. It is a day of unintentional five-card lifts."

The first noir card book.

Don't you just love the imagery?
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 27th, 2008, 12:26 am

Do you mean CardWorks?
I think the writing is pretty bad myself. :)
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Adrian Kuiper
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Adrian Kuiper » April 27th, 2008, 8:07 am

Isn't the "five card lift" the mythical move that only Corky is able to do in the movie "Magic"???

Adrian

Darryl Harris
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Darryl Harris » April 27th, 2008, 9:01 am

My face is hot with shame. :blush: I did mean CardWorks.
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Joe Pecore
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Joe Pecore » April 27th, 2008, 9:26 am

CardMagic has all the cool Shakespeare stuff ;-)
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 27th, 2008, 10:52 am

The "Five Card Lift" is the name William Goldman gave to part of Cliff Green's "Phoenix Aces" (which he called "The Rising Cards") when he used it in the novel Magic.

The Shakespeare stuff in CardMagic is dumb! I tried to get the Japanese publisher to leave it out when translating the book but they insisted on putting it in.
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PapaG
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Re: Cardworks

Postby PapaG » April 27th, 2008, 12:38 pm

Does that mean it's not on your list to reprint any time soon?

Mallakite
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Mallakite » April 27th, 2008, 12:50 pm

CardMagic and CardWorks, reprint reprint reprint!

PapaG
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Re: Cardworks

Postby PapaG » April 27th, 2008, 1:05 pm

Seconded.

Darryl Harris
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Darryl Harris » April 27th, 2008, 1:10 pm

Looking back with hindsight, and taking into account your experience as an author at that time vs now, it's easy to see how you might feel the way you do about those earlier works. But, I remember the times, the context, the enthusiasm, your fondness for The Bard, and the willingness to experiment and forge ahead with reckless abandon.

Those were some fun days, and I can still feel the excitement and sense of discovery in those early books. I also remember how excited the boys were at Rueben's, and everybody running up to Tannen's to get the books when they were released.

"What do you mean you don't have CardMagic, CoinMagic or CardWorks in your library. How lame. Later, Dude." Stupid vibrators...
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Cardworks

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 27th, 2008, 1:37 pm

I won't reprint CardWorks as a separate book. Sales won't justify it. I've considered relaying the material and adding it to CardMagic if I were to reprint that. It wouldn't be bad as a chapter in another book.
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PapaG
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Re: Cardworks

Postby PapaG » May 17th, 2008, 1:35 pm

I for one would love to see these two books combined in one volume.


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