The Magic of Ascanio is a right treasure trove, spread across four volumes, showcasing the genius of a Maestro who turned the tide of magic in Spain and inspired countless performers. Dive into the legacy of a true craftsman: his groundbreaking theories, legendary card routines, sleights, and even a bit of magic with pocket knives (yes, you read that right!).
Studies of Card Magic
This second volume comes with the added bonus of forewords by none other than Roberto Giobbi and Aurelio Paviato. It’s a deep dive into the Ascanio Spread and its many variations, alongside all the lay-downs. These sleights are the bedrock of Ascanio's magic and have never been laid out with such clarity before. Spend some quality time with this section, and you’ll have a solid grasp of these brilliant moves (seriously, don’t skip it!).
Prepare yourself for an enlightening jaunt through the early versions of Ascanio's classics. You’ll get to wrangle with Oil and Water using the Ascanio Spread (a three-phase routine) and delve into Father Ace and Sons (versions 66 and 67), all while basking in the brilliance of Ascanio's routining. Watch the theory unfold with examples of concepts introduced in the first volume, like the Parenthesis of Forgetfulness, the Anti-Contrasting Parenthesis, Stressing the Initial Situation, Slow Execution, misdirection, and the In-Transit Actions (don’t worry, it’s more fun than it sounds).
The next three chapters treat you to magic from Ascanio's mentors, Kaps and Carles, as well as his mates Dany Ray and Fu Manchu, and even features one of his idols, Ed Marlo, all with the Ascanio flair. This section is packed with tricks that these great masters shared with him (lucky bloke!).
Chapter Seven is a smorgasbord of Ascanio's favourite routines: If You Don't Pay Attention..., Aunt Enriqueta's Aces, The Trick I Would Show Dai Vernon, Sleightless Oil and Water (or so it seems), and Aces with Love (yes, love is in the air!).
In Chapter Eight, two more Ascanio gems are featured: The Wriggling Aces and Don't Blink! Revisited. The Trick I Would Show Dai Vernon is a masterclass in Conditioned Naturalness, whilst The Wriggling Aces was part of his winning act at FISM in Amsterdam 1970 (no pressure, then).
Chapter Nine introduces you to two Ascanian classics: A Baroque Transposition and The Mechanical Strength of Thought (and no, it’s not as heavy as it sounds).
Finally, Chapter Ten wraps things up with some of Ascanio's lesser-known masterpieces, including: Dolores's Trick, The Pathology of Cards, X - 1 = 0, Triumph, Eight-Card Oil and Water, The Nine Facts, Antagonistic Aces, and A Hunger for Dreaming (who knew magic could be so poetic?).
Pages 320 and 390 illustrations.
