David Acer is a smart and interesting Canadian magician, he is also a really funny comedian. The Camirand Academy of Magic has published several of Acer‘s books, and this is an excellent magic book. David Acer is good friends with the also talented Canadian magic funny man Richard Sanders and has worked with him on several effects in this book.

The 147 pages are jammed pack with 31 magic effects using cards, coins, balloons, rings and other things. One of my favorite effects in this book is Cheap Labour, a packet effect where a card is chosen and with two other indiffernt cards removed form the deck, a fouth card is also removed and a stick figure is drawn on the back. The stick figure must find the selected card, it is shown to be on all the backs of the cards and then it dissapears from all the backs of the cards except one, the selected card. There are quite a few gems in this book, and everything is well written, and explained in great detail with both pictures and consice descriptions. Acer is very good about crediting those who deserve it when he utilizes a sleight, it’s always good to see credit going to where it belongs. If you can get your hands on this book, I highly suggest you pick it up.

Natural Selections is now out of print, but I have seen copies floating around from $120.00-$180.00

Jay Sankey is an intelligent magical creator and a smooth highly motivated business man. This re-release of his book Sankey Unleashed in PDF format is a strong move on his part to get on the E-Book train. The E-book version features the same 81 effects with the impressive list of many ordinary everyday items as it’s hard-bound counterpart.

I respect Jay Sankey as a magical creator and truly a vault of amazing and orginal magic effects, however I am unsure as to how I feel about this release. I know that it is inconsequential how you read the information, be it on the computer screen or on the printed page, but I feel like a PDF release should much less expensive, or at least have new additions from the orginal 2004 printed release. I know some of you may argue, and rightfully so, that the E-book has the same valuable information and incrediable magic as the printed version, but I just feel this release could have been better or updated with a bonus routine or something.

I use the compter daily, and make my living with the computer so I am not anti-technology, however for me there is something special about sitting down with a physical book in hand and reading, so I am partial to printed releases, it seems more tangible than an E-book and therefore more valuable. I know it is a bit silly but it makes sense in my head.

This is a great book full of wonderful effects that I perform on a regular basis, there are many effects that Jay Sankey is selling as individual tricks as well in here (ie. Leaving Home, a version of Holy Moly, and more). There is definately something for everyone in this book and I would highly reccommend it to anyone who is looking for some Sankey style effects.

The Sankey Unleashed (PDF) retails for $34.95

A card magic classic is the Torn and Restored Card plot. Quite awhile back there was a release Color Fusion that was taught by Eric James (but created by Nash Fung). This is the new Color Fusion: The Real Works by Nash Fung and produced by Zenneth Kok. This time the instructional DVD comes with 8 gaffed cards, as well as all the normal instructions, tips, subtitles, and multiple handlings.

Here is the official teaser video of Nash Fung’s Color Fusion card magic trick below:

If you own the original this DVD release of Nash Fung’s Color Fusion there are several differences, this new Color Fusion: The real workscomes with 8 gaffed cards, an interview with Nash Fung, some more subtitles, tips and a much higher production value then the first DVD release.

Over all this is a great torn and restored card effect and a magic trick that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The final restoration looks beautiful and the giveaway is brilliant. If you are a huge fan of the original or a newcomer to this effect, it is definitely a magic trick, and instructional DVD worth your consideration for purchase.

Nash Fung’s Color Fusion retails for $29.95

Andrew Mayne has released another interesting magic trick. This magic trick is called Inversion and is a magic effect that removes the knot from a balloon and then replaces it, inside the balloon leaving an impossible give away for a spectator.

You can watch Andrew Mayne perform the magic trickInversion below:

I have been looking at several of other magic trick review sites and there is a lot harsh criticism floating around for this DVD release. I have not picked this instructional DVD up yet, so I am unable to agree or disagree with the negative criticism out there. However I am able to say that, I will admit that I have received several of Andrew Mayne’s magic tricks and been a little let down. But his methods are always interesting and he is a very creative and intelligent magical creator. One thing that cannot be argued is the very low price at which Andrew Mayne sells his magic tricks. His production quality is normally very high and even if you do not use the magic trick, you will have an interesting method that could possibly be used for other applications.

I would like to see a demo showing Andrew perform the Inversion magic trick in it’s entirety so I would be able to make a more informed decision on the effect. The giveaway, the inside out balloon is a very interesting possibility and it could be something that could play very well in the right situation, however since the entire performance is not shown in the teaser video I am not sold that it is something that I would use on a regular basis. I have had several of Mayne’s magic tricks that use methods I would not consider using, and normally I can spot what is and is not acceptable in the full magic performance of a teaser video. The write up he has put on the product page sounds great, but without a full demonstration of the effect, I will probably not be picking this up anytime soon.

If anyone has picked this magic trick up please comment as to how you feel on the effect as I would love to hear what someone who owns the DVD would have to say.

Andrew Mayne’s Inversion magic trick DVD retails for $15.00