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Vicki Cobb explains how to break a pencil with a dollar bill, make a flame jump from one candle to another, levitate a handkerchief, and perform many other mysterious experiments in physics, chemistry, or perception. ... Read more

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This is the second collection of A. K. Dewdney's popular "Computer Recreations" columns, drawn from "Scientific American". The author discusses some of today's hottest topics including chaos, computer viruses, and artificial landscapes. The computer recreations described here range from purely entertaining brain teasers to more practical computer applications of scientific thought. 26 programs are included that require only moderate programming skills. There are Mathemagical movies, a miniature universe, puzzles, wordplay, and simple programs that produce striking effects. Dewdney's clear directions allow homecomputer owners to sit at the computer and try each one of them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Back when visual effects meant understanding algorithms
Published back in 1990, these were the days when programmers of visual effects had to understand the mathematics and algorithms behind what they were doing - or at least copy them and type them in - because you couldn't buy the latest software that would do it for you. These were the fun days of programming such effects. The chapters are taken from the author's column in Scientific American, and have a variety of algorithms and their explanations and implementations. The following is the table of contents:

1. Mandelbrot Magic
2. Visions of Julia - on generating the Julia set
3. The Strange Attractions of Chaos - Contains a program on the simplest known chaotic system and also a program on the Henon attractor.
4. Catching Biomorphs - One program that generates algebraic lifeforms and another that produces fractal forms laid out on a grid.
5. Fractal mountains and graftal plants - A program that draws a profile of a mountain and another program that produces an L-system for generating a plant.
6. Hodgepodge reactions - Contains a program that creates a cellular automaton that produces a self-sustaining reaction.
7. The Demons of Cyclic Space - Contains a program that create a cellular automaton that evolves.
8. Slow Growths - Simulates natural clustering processes.
9. Programmed parties - A program shows how to produce people who party on a computer screen.
10. Palmiter's Protozoa - Simulates protozoa hunting bacteria.
11. Panning for Primes - Shows how to write various types of prime number generators.
12. Special FX - Worms crawl on a computer screen, raindrops fall on a pond surface, and we get a view from a spaceship.
13. Balls in a box - Balls bounce, diffuse, and create nucear chain reactions.
14. The Invisible Professor - Learn to draw a circle, a Tschirnhausen's cubic curve, a Hippopede curve, and finally the Bowditch curves.
15. Computers in the Crypt - Learn about the Date Encryption Standard (DES) code.
16. Core Wars - all about the Core War operating system.

Maybe not useful in and of themselves, but they get you thinking about larger programs that use their principles. Highly recommended.

A greater book couldn't be written...
This book talks about various aspects of fractals, biomorphs and many other very, very interesting aspects of maths. A book for beginners, intermediate and advanced readers. Algorithms and much more for computer programming. A MUST HAVE for everybody interested on fractals and computer science. ... Read more

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This book looks at all facets of the field of interactive entertainment. From the early Atari 2600 to the 3DO and Sega's and Nintendo's game systems of the future, the book covers all home and portable systems. ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Magic Kingdom Attraction and Entertainment History, Epcot Attraction and Entertainment History, Haunted Mansion Holiday, La Nouba, Disney's Hollywood Studios Attraction and Entertainment History, Grad Nite, Disney's Animal Kingdom Attraction and Entertainment History, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Golden Horseshoe Saloon, the Dapper Dans, Michael Iceberg, Cast in Bronze, Future Corps, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, Off Kilter, Stitch's Supersonic Celebration, Muppet Mobile Lab, Push the Talking Trash Can, Hong Kong Disneyland Attraction and Entertainment History, Millennium Celebration, Miyuki. Excerpt:Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage Disney's Hollywood Studios (1991 - present) Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage! is a Broadway -style musical at the 1,500-seat Theater of the Stars, on Sunset Boulevard, at Disney's Hollywood Studios , Walt Disney World . It is based on the popular animated film Beauty and the Beast , including many of the original songs and characters. Two versions of the show have been presented since opening night. Plot summary The old woman curses the Beast for having a cold heart "Be Our Guest" The final bows. The plot of the stage show changed considerably from the original version to the currently running version, and the 1991 film of the same name. Because the show is condensed to approximately 25 minutes, many cuts and edits were made. The show opens, like the Broadway musical , a Prince turns an old beggar woman away, for she asks if he will allow her to stay in his palace for the night from the bitter cold, in exchange for a single rose. Because his heart is cold, she curses him by turning him in to a hideous Beast, and his castle. Only the ability to love another can break the curse. Years later, Belle is headed into the quiet little Frenc... ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on January 17, 2003. The length of the article is 1375 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Wooten fans ready for musical magic.(Entertainment)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: January 17, 2003
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: T14

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on January 28, 2008. The length of the article is 598 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Wooden Nickel's Buffalo stuck in the scrap heap; Performance misses Mamet's magic.(Entertainment)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 28, 2008
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: d3

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by Thomson Gale on December 27, 2007. The length of the article is 1090 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The weird and the wonderful.(Entertainment)(Mozart's 'Magic Flute': Lovely music and an odd story)(Opera review)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: December 27, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: E31

Article Type: Opera review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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The nearly two dozen studies in this collection explore the very rich ways in which the rule of law and the practice of magic enrich and inform each other. The authors bring both a U.S. and a comparative law perspective while examining areas such as law and religion, criminal law, intellectual property law, the law of evidence, and animal rights. Topics include alchemy in fifteenth-century England, a discussion of how a courtroom is like a magic show, stage hypnotism and the law, Scottish witchcraft trials in the eighteenth century, the question of whether stage magicians can look to intellectual property to protect their rights, tarot card readings and the First Amendment, and an analysis of whether a magician can be qualified as an expert witness under the Federal Rules of Evidence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Niche topic
I'm deeply involved with magic/ illusion and its creation. I've also had a passion for law. I think this book must have been personally written for me. The book is great, especially considering how little precendent there is in the field of magic and law. I didn't learn much about law (because I've already studied it), but its application to magic and the historical information presented is wonderful. I know that there is probably a limited and niche market for this kind of book, but its the only one that i'm aware of that covers law and magic. Magicians who don't care about legal aspects of their craft probably won't care for the book. But the book is a great read for magicians who do care about law and for lawyers (or law enthusiests) who enjoy learning niche aspects and applications of the law (and holes in our current laws). I'm so happy I have my copy... worth every penny. ... Read more

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John Pooley's World of Magic is proud to present magic from a few of our favorite suppliers... Celebrating our 11th year serving the magic fraternity! ... Read more

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23 pages of tv magic tricks by Marshall Brodien, TV Magic LTD, Schaumburg ILL 60172 ... Read more

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White covers, green lettering, b/w diagrams throughout, 17 articles by various experts including: Ren Fetzer. Cleveland Miller, Jr. Jon Kirby. Jack La Wain. Bob Hurt. Tom Rainey. Thoki Yenn. Don Keller. Malcolm Campbell. Nevin Hoefert. ... Read more

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Chapters: Children's Magic, Mini Page, Donkey Rides. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 18. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Children's magic is a specialized aspect of stage magic and is meant to entertain children. It is typically performed at birthday parties, churches, preschools, elementary schools, Sunday Schools or libraries. It is often the only type of magic most Westerners experience other than that seen on television. This type of magic is usually comedic in nature. A distinction should be made between Children's magic and "young magicians." The former is meant for audiences made up of mostly children while the latter refers to performers who are under-aged. The later has organizations dedicated to them including Society of Young Magicians, Magic Youth International and Young Magicians' Club. Not every magician is interested in performing for children both artistically and in terms of patience. When Br. John Hamman, sm, was honored in 1995 during the first St. Louis Magical Heritage Awards, he explained in his acceptance speech the key to a successful magic performance: Since children do not have the natural social filters adults have in such situations, they have no compunction against pointing out every error or inconsistency a magician makes during his performance. This makes performing for children exceedingly difficult. Though it can be very profitable for magicians to take such jobs, not everyone feels confident or comfortable doing so. It should be pointed out that since children eagerly point out a magician's errors and inconsistencies, a good performer will use this knowledge to intentionally misdirect the children in his auidence. One form of this type of misdirection is referred to as "Magician-in-Trouble" wherein a performer pretends to have made a mistake in...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=18083223 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Ibanez, Key, Level-5, Cing, Nex Entertainment, Polygon Magic, Inis, Vision Factory, Game Republic, Imageepoch, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Bank, Japan Post Service, Japan Post Network, World Co., Ltd.. Excerpt:This article is about the Japanese video game developer. For the radio station in Hamilton, Ontario , Canada , see CING-FM . Cing, Inc. ( , Kabushiki-gaisha Shingu ? ) was an independent video game developer based out of Fukuoka , Japan . The company, a small development house employing only 29 people, was founded in April 1999, and was run by Takuya Miyagawa, who served as President and CEO. Miyagawa also acted as producer on all of Cing's titles. The company filed for bankruptcy on March 1, 2010. Since releasing a PS2 title in 2003 and a handful of mobile titles in 2004, Cing had enjoyed a close working relationship with Nintendo . Two projects were created in cooperation with the publisher for their Nintendo DS handheld system, and a sequel to one of these was developed for Nintendo's home console, the Wii . Cing also partnered with Town Factory to bring about the critically acclaimed Little King's Story for the Wii. History Founded on April 2, 1999, Cing was created as a means of providing gamers with new and unique video game experiences. The studio's first project was providing the core production for Capcom 's Glass Rose , an adventure title for Sony 's PlayStation 2 . Unfortunately, despite having Masahiro Matsuoka 's likeness (from the popular Japanese pop group Tokio ) for its main character, the title failed to prove successful at retail and was never localized in North America , but did see a European release. Following this, Cing went on to create five separate titles for mobile phones in Japan, including an adaptation of the popular farming simulation s... ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (9)

Passes My Litmus Test
This is a review of Knack Magic Tricks (2010) by Richard Kaufman.

David Copperfield asks in the Foreward, "Does the world really need another book about how to do magic?" I was surprised to read his one-word answer: "Perhaps." But then Copperfield went on to describe Richard Kaufman, a personal friend since their high school days, as a "real writer and teacher," as someone who "has written or published many of the most famous books in the world of magic," and as someone whose "work is superb." When it came time to select a writer for the textbook of Copperfield's Project Magic, a hospital rehab program for kids and adults, Copperfield chose Kaufman.

Even though Kaufman's Knack Magic Tricks was written for non-magicians, many of the tricks described in this book first appeared in print by magicians for magicians. Credits for the professional tricks described in this book read like a Who's Who in magic: Jim Steinmeyer, Larry Jennings, Paul Curry, Jack Miller, Edward Marlo, Martin Gardner, Harry Lorayne, Max Holden, Wayne Dobson, Dai Vernon, Frank Everhart, Frank Garcia, Shigeo Takagi, Mike Shelley, Al Schneider, Stanley Collins, Jack Kent Tillar, Edmund Balducci, Harry Kellar, Karl Germain, Stewart James, Joseph Kolar, Roy Baker, Howard Lyons, Max Maven, Theodore Annemann, John Northern Hilliard, Albert Spackman, Hiroshi Sawa, Bill Madden, Bernie Trueblood, Bob Carver, Bob Read, Nicholas Night, and Lubor Fiedler.

Tricks by the professionals include card tricks (automatic, simple, intermediate, and advanced), coin tricks (simple and advanced), anytime tricks, string tricks, mental magic (simple, intermediate, and advanced), rope tricks, bill tricks, handkerchief and napkin tricks, fruit tricks, glass and cup tricks, and magic for kids.

Just as good as the tricks from the VIPs of magic are the classic effects explained by Kaufman, such as, Do As I Do card trick, Coin Vanish trick, Spoon Bending trick, Cut and Restored Rope trick, Buddha Bills trick, Cut and Restored Napkin trick, Card in Orange trick, Cups and Balls trick, and homemade Magic Production Tubes.

Much of the clarity of this book is due to the lucid and consistent style of the Knack Make It Easy series. In this Knack book, there are 450 full color photos by Elizabeth O'Keefe Kaufman of props, gimmicks, fakes, setups, and tricky moves accompanying Richard Kaufman's step-by-step explanation of each illusion, sleight, and feat.

Don't overlook the page about Routining Magic in the back of the book. Kaufman shows his readers how to put various sequences of tricks together into routines, creating acts that make you look like a "card expert," "mentalist," "platform magician," or "kids' magician."

The back of the book also includes a number of helpful Internet resources featuring dealers of magic and magic clubs (both public and private).Magician's lingo -- words like equivoque, key card, misdirection, and patter -- is covered in a brief glossary.

There are several other features that added to my appreciation for this book. For instance, there are special interest boxes on many of the pages. "Zoom" boxes supplement the step-by-step instructions by adding in-depth commentary. "Who Invented This?" boxes tell about the creators of the tricks. "Variation" boxes suggest alternative ways to perform or end tricks. "Red Light" boxes warn readers to beware of steps that are easily messed up. "The Art of Magic" boxes put tricks into their historical context.

I especially took note of the fact that Kaufman does not skimp on the importance of personality, presentation, and patter, which are just as crucial as, or even of more import than, the secret methods employed by performers.

Does this book pass my litmus test? I discovered a long time ago that practically every volume I've added to my collection of magic books over the past sixty years has included a chapter on that classic of classics, the Cups and Balls. This is the oldest trick known in magic and still the most popular. A book's treatment of this trick has become my litmus test for the composition as a whole. Is the trick presented as an unremarkable modus operandi or as a smoothly choreographed, catchy little routine? Kaufman kept the classic form of the trick where the balls gather and penetrate through three cups. But then he added a sequence where a piece of fruit is magically produced from each cup at the end. This finale is the professional touch that makes Kaufman's version of the Cups and Balls pass my litmus test. What's even better was my subsequent confirmation of the litmus test when I discovered the way Kaufman added his personal touch to many of the illusions and feats in this book of magic tricks.

About the Author: I first became acquainted with Richard Kaufman as the editor and publisher of Genii, the Conjurors' Magazine, the world's oldest independent journal for magicians. Genii operates MagicPedia, the largest online encyclopedia of magic. A card expert in his own right, Kaufman specializes in the basic sleight of hand methods needed to do card magic. Master the sleights taught in Knack Magic Tricks and you will be on your way to becoming an expert with a deck of cards. Kaufman's writing ability has been perfected through the more than 100 books he has written since 1977.

Knack Magic Tricks
Excellent book on magic-enables people of all ages to perform mini-miracles!!!recommend for novices and pros--Well done!!Love it!!!

Knack Magic Tricks
Well written book and easy to follow instructions.Recommended for either the new or experienced non-professional magician.

This is the magic book I should have had!
I wish I had this book decades ago when I was first interested in magic.It's very well written - no surprise given that Richard Kaufman is highly admired for his many books and Genii Magazine.The pictures are so helpful...you don't have to try to imagine what to do.And the magic is superb.You can read this book...do the required practice!...and then go out and amaze friends and family.

This could be your entree into the wonderful world of magic.If it is, you've made a very wise choice.

More than a Bunch of Tricks
I've been a full time professional magician for 21 years. Most pros have a certain reverence for well written magic books. The problem is most entry-level magic books are not well written. Magic books offer a distinct advantage over DVD's and You Tube videos, as long as the book is well written. Knack Magic Tricks is very well written with an unusual collection of clever, but not difficult, professionally constructed routines.

Richard Kaufman is a great writer of magic books. He has written dozens of magic books that have become modern classics. Magic books need to be concise and clear. Every sentence deserves consideration. This is an intelligently written book for beginners. Kaufman instills respect for the art by offering brief historical backgrounds. He offers insight into not only how but the reasons why the trick works. This is more than a collection of magic tricks. This is a collection of magic lessons.

The performance of magic develops confidence, attention to detail and public speaking skills. Magic teaches you how to highlight your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. These are interview skills that will help you for the rest of your life. Knack Magic Tricks is a great way to get started. If you only buy one magic book in your life, it should be this one.
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FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. When Marvin Redpost's new friend, Casey, shares with him her magic crystal that can make wishes come true, things get out of control. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

More Fun by Louis Sachar
These books are great for kids who are picky or have difficulty getting into books and love comedy.

CRYSTAL!
This book once again earns five stars!This book is so awesome because Marvin is going to Casey's house!That's so weird.Casey invited him over to look at something.(And I thought he hated her.)At the end something REALLY weird happens.SO READ IT AND FIND OUT!!

This is a good book
I love this book!It is one of my favorite Marvin Redpost books!It is fnny.They think that the rock Casey has is a magic crystal. It even looks like one too.They keep trying to make wishes on it.Read this book if you want to find out what happens. I love this book so much!

Marvin Redpost A Magic Crystal?
I read Marvin Redpost, A Magic Crystal? It was a good, funny, exciting, COOL book. Do you think that others will read it? Well I hope that people will read the book because its fun to read it! Kids can read this book when they are in first through third grad!! You can get other book of Marvin Redpost books in you local library!

Marvin Redpost's a Winner!
It all started with Casey Happleton.She was the most unusual girl Marvin Redpost had ever met.She lived in an old fire station.Actually, it had been remodeled and on the inside looked pretty much like a regular house, except for the fire pole right in the middle of the living room.The pole went all the way up to the fourth floor and Casey was allowed to slide down on it.And, she had a big secret...a magic crystal.It used to be a normal rock, but had been struck by lightning in the storm the night before and now, if you made a wish on the magic crystal, it would come true.Casey had already tested it out.She had wished that Marvin would come over to her house and he had.Marvin was pretty skeptical about the magic and so he decided to test it himself.He wished that everyone would be in school the next day, no absences and the next day, everyone was in class.Then Casey wished for homemade cookies for an afterschool snack and a plate was waiting for them when she and Marvin got to his house later that day.Marvin figured the magic could be a coincidence and was pretty iffy.Casey was beginning to get on his nerves, always babbling away about the magic crystal and wishes and he finally got so angry that he wished she'd just shut up.And she did.She stopped talking completely.Now Marvin is starting to panic.No sounds are coming out of Casey's mouth and he doesn't know what to do..... Louis Sachar has written a delightful, silly and endearing story youngsters 6-10 will really enjoy.His writing is funny and true to life, his characters real people that kids can identify with and his scenes are vivid and at times laugh-out-loud funny.A Magic Crystal is a wonderful addition to the Marvin Redpost series. ... Read more