JAPANESE EDITION Compiled and Written by Jesús Etcheverry
The Maestro may have left us on April 6th, 1997, but his magic is still very much alive and kicking. The Magic of Ascanio comes in four delightful volumes, packed with his theories, musings, philosophy, and a treasure trove of card magic, including over thirty tricks you didn’t even know you needed (and let's be honest, you really do). Oh, and there's magic with pocketknives too—because why not?
The first volume contains:
The Structural Conception of Magic: Technique, Construction, Cover, Presentation, and How to Study Magic. Plus, Ascanio's unpublished gems: Thoughts on Creativity and his Theory Notebook from 1970. Classic articles on theory that you’ll actually want to read: Conception of the Magical Atmosphere, Analysis of a Trick, On Misdirection, The Fundamentals of Timing, Know Yourself, The Psychology of Palming. And let’s not forget the interviews: Interview with a Genius of Magic by Juan Tamariz, A Biographical Interview and My Character by Docampo. Three cheeky conversations: Arturo and Juan Chat and a riveting essay by Aurelio Paviato.
The end result? Quite possibly the most important theoretical book on magic ever penned. No biggie.
"...I was tempted to say this book will make you a better magician, but nothing can do that but yourself. What it does is show you the way. Whether you take it or not is up to you, but at least you will know what magic can be. A book for all time and a must read." - Phil Willmarth (The Linking Ring, May 2005)
"This book is so good that all I really need say is 'Buy it, you won't be disappointed.'" - Michael Close (MAGIC Magazine, April 2005)
"Now all of Ascanio's theoretical work has been assembled in the first volume of a planned trilogy on the magic of Arturo de Ascanio. The 30-page segment on how to study magic will be immensely useful to any student in the early years of his or her approach, and I highly recommend it to anyone attempting to approach the art in a serious manner." - Jamy Ian Swiss (Genii, March 2005)
"In the first of four volumes of The Magic of Ascanio, to be published by Páginas, can be found some of the real secrets of magic, the ones you won't find in any other book." - Matthew Field (The Magic Circle Circular, May 2005)
On Ascanio:
"Described as the Dai Vernon of Spain, Ascanio cared about magic so passionately that he devoted much of his life to thinking creatively, profoundly, and brilliantly about it: what it is and can be, how it is performed. No detail was too unimportant to escape his attention. Incidentally, lest you think Ascanio did not practice what he preached, he was a FISM card champion (as an amateur!)." - Phil Willmarth (The Linking Ring, May 2005)
"Ascanio is gone, but his work is just arriving for some of us. And thus, great art continues to live beyond the life of its artisans." - Jamy Ian Swiss (Genii, March 2005)
