Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic - Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic is a book on magic written by Mark Wilson, the stage magician. The book is a popular reference for magicians and has been in print since its first issue in 1975.

Description of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic

This description is based on the 1988 edition.

The book is organized into sections; each devoted to a particular topic, as follows:

Introductory sections

Table of Contents

Listing of all sections and effects with page numbers.

This volume contains no index.

Dedication

Introductory Letter

Mark Wilson addresses his reader as "Dear Student," and expounds on his views of the basics of performance magic.

Throughout, Wilson refers to illusions as "tricks."

Biographies

Mark Wilson

Nani Darnell Wilson (his wife and partner on stage)

Greg Wilson (their son)

Walter Gibson, co-author

U.F. "Gen" Grant, co-author

Larry Anderson, co-author

Rakesh Menon, Budding Magician

Misdirection

Wilson's exposition on the basics of misdirection.

Acknowledgements and Credits

Course Coordinator: Larry Anderson
Assistant Course Coordinator: Don Wayne

Illusions (Tricks)

The main body of the book comprises tricks (Wilson's term) and prerequisite techniques and skills required to perform them. The key elements are illustrated with line drawings and explained in detail in the accompanying text.

Each trick is divided into logical sub-sections:

Effect

What the audience is intended to see

Secret and Preparation

Setting up the props, and how they work.

Method

How the performer achieves the effect, step by step.

Comments and Suggestions

Tips, pointers, and hard-won experience from the authors.

Card Magic

The section on card effects is divided into classes of tricks; each class contains multiple individual techniques and tricks, as follows:

Money Magic

As with Card Magic, the section on money effects is divided into classes of tricks; each class comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, as follows:

Money Magic

Money Magic — Bills

Rope Magic

The section on rope effects is not divided, but comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

Silk & Handkerchief Magic

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

Impromptu Magic

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, mainly with household objects readily at hand.

Mental Magic

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

Betchas

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks of the kind which the magician might bet he can do something the spectator cannot: "I'll bet you."

Make At Home Magic

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, requiring apparatus which can be constructed as build-it-yourself projects.

Sponge Ball Magic

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, requiring compressible balls as props.

Billiard Ball Magic

This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks with incompressible balls.

Cups & Balls

Perhaps the first illusions performed; definitely the first recorded in writing (in ancient Egypt). This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.

Magical Illusions

"In magical terms an "Illusion" is any trick or effect involving a human being." (p. 435) This section comprises multiple individual illusions, according to the quoted definition.

Your Future In Magic

Wilson and co-authors' parting words of encouragement to their readers and students.

References

Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA