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Karl Fulves: Foolproof Card Tricks for the Amateur Magician Review
Two books in one, over 280 pages, nearly 200 effects and $13 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
As I've mentioned many, many, many times, I don't usually judge a product on effect. However, when it comes to a book of nearly 200 (183) effects, it's hard not to discuss effect. This book is LOADED with effects that are practical and self-working and live up to the name Foolproof. Not every effect will appeal to every reader, but many, many, many effects will, likely, appeal to most readers.
This is actually two books in one. The first book is Foolproof Card Tricks for the Amateur Magician, and the second book is More Self-Working Card Tricks. Both books alone would be worth the asking price, but for two books at the price of one, it's hard to dispute the bang for buck.
You'll find a whole section on telephone effects. Some are the kind you can do to someone over the phone, while others are the kind where you have the spectator call someone (i.e., a medium) who reveals the thought of card, etc.
There are plenty of gambling based effects, topological effects, dealing and procedural type effects, and even some Gilbreathe action can be found here. There are mentalism style effects, effects using dice, and there are even a ton of classic effects that are found in the arsenal of working pros today.
If you're worried about whether or not you'll find something you'll like, you can check that concern at the door. You'll like at least a dozen effects or more. There truly is something for everyone here.
Method
When it comes to the methods, it's even easier to recommend this book. Over 95% of the effects are self-working, and even the ones that aren't self-working are as close as you can get to self-working. There is no reason why even the greenest newb-est magician couldn't easily learn any or all of the effects in these two books. Further, the methods, though super easy, are clever enough to fool your audiences. These effects/methods are appropriate for, literally, any performer regardless of skill and experience.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is simple and 100% accurate. It makes no untrue or outrageous claims. Solid.
Product Quality
The books is well made, easy to read and full of excellent illustrations. The write up for each effect is short, direct and easy to understand. Most effects can be understood without a deck in hand. Of course, it does improve the overall experience if you take the time to walk through it with cards in hand — you'll have to do that anyway if you're going to learn the effect.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, Dover books are always a solid bang-for-buck. This is no exception. Even if you're an extremely well-versed card worker, I'd still recommend this book. It's full of some great classic effects, clever uses of familiar principles, and tons of fun and solid presentational premises. For the asking price it would be almost foolish to not get this book.
Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
17 Comments
Reviews! Yay!
Welcome back.
@Emory – Thanks brother. 🙂
Jeffy,
Great to see you back and hope that you are well. I actually was considering “The nuclear option” to force you back, that is, writing reviews under the name “J. Stone.” J. Stone would sing high praises for “Killer Red Caps” while panning The Invisible Deck as a “Poorly conceived, poorly constructed, one trick pony that wouldn’t fool anyone with an I. Q. higher than the average Golden Retriever.” I figured that would bring you back quick. It would have been fun…on this end anyway, but now unnecessary of course.
Welcome back,
Ryan
@Ryan – whew! Good thing I came back when I did. 🙂
Brother Jeffro is Back!
Six stars with a Stoned Status of JIM!!
PS: You couldn’t be more right about any of Karl’s books, but especially this one.
@Chetly – I think Mr. Fulves is the quasi-Erdnase of our day. Nobody knows who he really is.
Not even himself.
Well – Bruce Elliott and Walt Gibson knew, but I only spoke with Gibson that one time. And he LIED to me – on purpose yet! – about Houdini’s Vanishing Elephant.
I would expect no less, especially since he told the story so effectively that it SHOULD have happened that way.
Have a couple of Karls books, will be adding this one now!
Glad to see you are back in action, hope that means things for you health and other wise are well! I think I speak for all of us when I say as much as we missed the reviews, were were more concerned about you. Take care of yourself broski!
@Jay – Thanks brother. I’m back . . . slowly easin’ in. I’m definitely better for sure. The problem, however, is that the month-ish I took off to recover put me 3 months behind on life (emails, reviews, work, family, everything). I’ve caught up for the most part, and I’m trying to stay on top of everything. Keep your fingers crossed. 🙂
Awfully hard to drive with your fingers crossed. Take the bus.
Drive with your feet brother.
Monkey skills. Who needs opposable thumbs?
My feet don’t have brothers.
I strongly protest the accuracy of the title of this book. At the end of giving me driving directions, people have told me. “You can’t miss it.” Of course, I DID miss it and drove right on by. And I similarly maintain that nothing can be truly called “Foolproof” until I have had the chance to royally screw something up unintentionally. This is yet another personal outrage. First, Magic For Dummies was not dedicated to me personally and now this.
Dang ol’ . . . Yep [cracks open a can of beer while standing in the alley with “the guys.”]
Two books???
13$ ?????
Are there any hesitations??
Even though it doesn’t seems like there is an effect there that I would like
Damn, there are 183 effects in this thing I have to find at least one that I will use!
That is what I like about your reviews, you review products that I wouldn’t pay any particular attention to them and because of you I get to know them so thank you for that!
@Jordan – Glad to help. Also, I’m pretty sure you’ll find at least one thing in there that you’ll like.