Books like this don’t swim by too often. And that’s probably for the best, otherwise we’d have a surge in voluntary illiteracy. Michael Breggar, the mastermind behind such literary wonders as Influence-Enza, Dancing with the Cards, and the utterly forgettable Back to the Launching Pad and The Five Roads to Vegas, has graced us with his latest creation. He’s dubbed it his magnum opus. After you’ve read it, you might feel the urge to down a magnum of Opus!
With The Expert at the Cod Table, Michael has dived deep into the murky waters of thousands of non-existent pages by a non-existent gambler, author, and musical saw enthusiast to present you with a collection of – shall we say – "unique" card magic.
Before you know it, you’ll be clutching a veritable InstaPot-pourri of remarkable, professional routines that may cause only a twinge of embarrassment when you perform them.
Let’s not beat about the bush; just like Michael’s previous literary gems, this book is quirky, bonkers, and downright funny. You’ll encounter poker routines that hand the power of the card shark to your volunteers (who’s the "expert" now, Moses?), mentalism routines, a couple of uniquely twisted ACAANs, and off-the-wall thought-of-card divinations with even edgier revelations. There’s a madcap routine that starts as a carny-game scam and swiftly morphs into an impossible prediction, a card stab featuring a guest-check spindle purloined from your local deli, and even a word routine using cards with Scrabble tiles! Plus, a cameo from Michael’s Martian pal, Vemple Paranozzle, who reveals how he (or she or it) somehow manages to deal himself (or herself or itself) winning poker hands, even when he (or she or it) always ends up with fewer cards than everyone else!
Fifteen routines in total, and every single one is 24-karat solid goldfish.
Amidst all this fishy fun, you’ll also discover some semi-solid thinking, clever effect construction, new methods, and lost methods rehashed. And for you history buffs, there’s even a bio of the enigmatic S. W. Ordfish himself (or at least as much as Michael could be bothered to make up).
So, plunge right into this fine kettle of fish.
Quick ... before your air runs out!
Here’s what a few blowfish have already said about The Expert at the Cod Table:
"I do enjoy reading good writing and I enjoy reading your books. You sure are one heck of a funny guy! Started chuckling almost immediately and really laughed out loud at '...confused with a hat-rack'! Well done!"
- Harry Lorayne
"Not all magic books are fun to read, but this is one that's fun to read and is as much fun to play with the pieces and create some antic fun for the audience."
- Jon Racherbaumer
"The Expert at the Cod Table is a true tour-de-fish of pescatarian prestidigitation. This book is filled with Philly-centric references, bad puns and some great card magic of the non-sleight variety...what could be better. Well written, fun scripts, wonderful plotz. It is one of the most original and enjoyable reads I've had in magic.... Now if I could just get that smell off my hands."
- Marc DeSouza
"Mike Breggar's new book, The Expert at the Cod Table, is loaded with solid card magic that involves appealing presentations and plots without sleight of hand. The book is also a very entertaining read, especially if you enjoy a good pun. Why purchase this book? Maybe just for the halibut. Or possibly to become a serious card shark. No crappie tricks here."
- Mike Powers
"Once again Mike Breggar brings us another fantastic collection of material that's strong, funny and very entertaining. You will use many of the items in this new eBook."
- John Carey
"I knew that Michael was onto a winner as soon as I saw the title of his latest book, The Expert at the Cod Table, which is spuriously attributed to S.W. Ordfish ... After reading through the laugh-out-loud opening piece "Who was S.W. Ordfish?", I was already thoroughly impressed. Michael's own "Hard of Herring" preface continues the madcap humor, and in the material that follows he ensures that those of us on a quest for entertaining magic come home with a good catch in our fishing bucket.... Oh, but you want to know about the magic? There's over a hundred pages altogether, with 15 different routines, in what might be Michael's best book yet. It's certainly his longest. This book has confirmed that Michael Breggar is the kind of guy I want in my boat when I'm out fishing for entertaining magic."
- EndersGame, Magic and Boardgame Reviewer
"Books like this don't come along very often...not counting Michael Breggar's four previous eBooks. But they are well written, light yet esoteric guidebooks to enlightened entertainment with the pasteboards. Unlike most guidebooks that list "effect" then "explanation" with a possible patter presentation thrown in for the uninspired, Michael's books jump right into the full presentation with explanations and credits added to delight and fulfill the soul. Each presentation is well thought out and completely satisfying.... Michael has taken his years of thought, study and performances to bring together, overlay and intertwine diverse ideas adding the right seasoning into a cohesive and pleasantly satisfying fish stew that is "xpert at the Cod Table." ... This is a fun read from start to finish even if you don't perform one of his routines. His writing is clever, tongue-in-cheek, and pithy. This is a guidebook for anyone angling to make a reputation with a pack of cards. My suggestion: perch ace this cod book today!" - Scott Wells
"In The Expert at the Cod Table Mike Breggar has served up a delectable assortment of easy to master cod mackerels. Mike employs simple yet devious methods to accomplish entertaining and deeply fooling card magic. His engaging and humorous style of writing made learning fun. I was hooked from the very beginning."
- Rudy Tinoco, Founder, themagiciansforum.com
"There are guys out there capable of working absolute miracles with a regular deck of cards. I'm not one of them. But Mike Breggar's carefully constructed (and joke-filled) plots make it possible for guys like me to be able...if only for a moment...to pretend that I'm one of them. Swordfish!"
- Steve Friedberg, President, Ring 6 (2020) International Brotherhood of Magicians
"Would somebody please tell Michael Breggar that magic books aren't supposed to be funny? I started reading The Expert at the Cod Table with my afternoon milk and cookies, and promptly ruined a brand-new deck of Jerry's Nuggets! Fortunately, the man also knows his magic; there's some deep stuff here, so net yourself a copy. You'll have a whale of a time."
- Anthony Vinson
"Michael Breggar's latest book is an incredible adventure. Along the way, you discover astonishing card routines, invaluable hints, and a mother lode of example presentations that show you how to make your magic engaging and entertaining."
- Michel Potts
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