Wonder, Tommy & Minch, Stephen: The Books of Wonder Vol.2
©1996, Hermetic Press
Hardback, 342 pages
ISBN-13: 9780945296171
ISBN-10: 0945296177

Comment (Jake Austin): The Books of Wonder are classic books of magic. They are books for intermediate to advanced magicians. The effects are spectacular but in general require a lot of work to master. The essays are a joy to read and are difficult to argue with. I highly recommend these books.

Contents:

vii Introduction-Eugene Burger
1 Prologue: The Encounter

5 Chapter One: In the Trenches
7 Sit or Stand?
11 The Essence of Close-Up
16 A Table-worker's Table
19 Facing the Music
26 Fifty Percent Lighter
32 Secondhand Drama
35 The Saving of a Cigarette
44 Amateur vs. Pro
46 Splitting the Profit
52 Approaching the Table
59 Toss and Turn
61 Our Big Happy Family
65 Clear Through
69 The Sensitivity of the Audience
72 Through the Eye of the Needle
76 When We Are Not Amused
80 Winged Signatures
86 And Now a Brief Message

89 Chapter Two: Acetabula Et Calculi
91 Cups and Balls: A Private History
101 Keep on Polishing
105 The Two-cup Routine
135 Applause

137 Chapter Three: Finger Sprints
139 Recalcitrant
151 Conflict and Emotion
154 The Snail's Progress
161 Colors Three and Through
174 Commercial
177 Perpetual Motion
180 A Sequence with Balls
184 The Big One
187 Shaking Them Off

191 Chapter Four: Department of Utilities
193 Now That Was a Great Magician!
197 The Tails Topit
200 The Belly Servante
203 Force and Its Disguise
206 On the Pendulum Holdout
212 The Frozen Lock
218 Utility Devices

221 Chapter Five: Mechanical Marvels
223 High Roads and Long
227 The Well-Tempered Birdcage
239 The Express Pull
255 Thoughts in Mid-air
260 Animating a Zombie
265 A Recipe for Art
267 The Watch in Nest of Boxes: a Quest for Ideals
268 Method One
280 Method Two
289 Method Three
319 Too Perfect?

325 Epilogue: Impact