Review of Rune's World. The Magic of Rune Klan by Vanishing inc.

[jrmagic]

Has anyone seen that green and white book that just came out called Runes World? Its about the magic of Rune Klan.

As a professional magician in NYC, for awhile I have felt jaded in that I am only exposed to the magic in my own city. While I have attended a few conventions most of my exposure to outside magicians and especially international magicians is through conventions, books and dvds. Well several years ago when Josh Jays Talk about Tricks DVDs came out, I saw one of the strangest magic effects Id ever seen, where Denmark magician Rune Klan brings out a beat up looking pad, shown to be a very used and oversized notepad with a bunch of beards draw on each page. A spectator calls stop as Rune flips through the pages and a page is opened to show a beard and two seconds later that same beard is now on Runes FACE! How cool, different, and creative. I viewed the rest of the dvds, looking out for more of Runes effects like that, and all I found were very technical but clever coin routines, and while I consider myself fairly proficient with coins, I was seeing subtleties, sleights, and presentations for coins that I had never seen before. For a good reason, they had titles like: Coins going through the floor? A pen and cap routine where they both end up on Runes face (which by the way was the starting point for Rick Merrills Grand Prix FISM Act)? Is it possible to add an extra phase in the card shooting behind the back gag that makes the original STRONGER(in my opinion)? And a matrix and coin and bottle routine that are EXTREMELY deceptive and magical.

Well at Magic Live! 2009 and The IBM/SAM combined convention I saw the material live in person. I met Rune saw in Runes hands the coins melting and being produced in the most elegant way Ive ever seen with seemingly no conscience effort at all. I should mention he did a few gags with some socks at Magic Live! that brought the house down, but hey when the Danish guy on stage asks an audience member to choose between two dirty socks you cant help but look and wonder what the heck is going on?

Without reading the book, I already know that Rune is very dedicated to his work, I assume he is practicing and constantly thinking about magic, and his demeanor on stage and in person makes it even more fun to watch.

I watched the free download from Vanishing Inc. and after seeing his stage work, Im already inspired on new ways I can give my audiences the time of their (and mine) life, which as a professional magician is what I demand no less of myself. While I generally work in the family entertainment market, I know better than to duplicate his style, material, or use of language (I dont speak much Danish!), but when I see someone from a different country than mine perform some of the most creative material Ive seen to constant laughter, you have my undivided attention for sure.

I received the book today, I flipped through it and see a beautifully done(Josh jay), beautifully written, well illustrated (Tony Dunn), and did I mention that the close-up material are in 5 WELL organized and structured Acts, or that the entire stand-up show is in comic book form, thats right, comic book form. And theres an even explanations in his stage show as to WHY each effect is where it is, and how it sets the tone. Truly different. Just watch out for jokes about porn, tampons, and some of the most inappropriate jokes Ive ever heard (from an American point of view on whats appropriate on the stage).- which is why there is a disclaimer and this book is being sold to ages 18+. But for me those jokes and gags that could easily cross the line, are very refreshing in that they are dirty jokes but in good taste and are presented very well, if that makes any sense. Rune in the book and interview on the dvd talk about how he fell in love with comedy because of the honesty of it. (And as a comedy magician myself, I feel the same way).

Alright, now I have to stop this, so I can actually read through and devour this book!

Enjoy!

By the way, if you didnt get the memo Rune just performed one of the tricks in the book for the Queen of Denmark. (Something about a signed slice of ham appearing inside a roll of bread from a shoe that was just on fire!) Dont believe me, check it on Youtube or vanishing inc.

Rune, Josh, and Andi- good stuff! Keep it comin.

[Steve Bryant]

There was a previous thread on this called Rune's World Rocks, started by RK. We agree: it's a great book.

[Kamal]

The Bank Night presentation in the book is fantastic. Although, technically not an effect, I think it shows some great presentational thinking.