"I have just watched Roger's Real Gone Aces and thoroughly enjoyed what I saw. You caught me several times during the routine. Your handling is among the best I've seen…" – Peter Duffie
"The techniques used in Roger's Real Gone Aces are very direct and straightforward. I honestly believe that the cardman will have a stunning addition to his repertoire." – Bill Miesel
"Arcardia exemplifies Roger's special enthusiasm for sleights that are executed under cover of what is for him a natural handling of the deck. With an exasperating capacity for self-criticism, his pursuit of excellence in the execution of sleight-of-hand with cards is second to none. I thoroughly recommend this book." – David Berglas
Roger Crosthwaite belongs to the no-flourish school of card magic. His special enthusiasm is reserved for sleights that are executed under cover of a natural handling of the deck. He believes, with LePaul, that simplicity is the keynote of good card magic. Some card tricks baffle by their complexity. Others, and some of these you will find in Arcardia, create wonder by their simplicity.
"Just finished reading Roger Crosthwaite's new book, Arcardia. It's the kind of book cardmen love to read – lots of details, the kind of details that take a good trick and make it into a great one. I thought Roger's Upjog Switch to be an extremely strong utility item that will have many applications. This one move alone would be worth the price of this book." – Allan Ackerman
"I always look forward to Fr Roger's publications. Technically Roger is one of the foremost standard bearers in the Marlo tradition. He reminds me of what it was like to be in sessions with Ed, where the moves and technique were so effortless, so seamless, so invisible. For me the technical innovations are the strongest part of Arcardia. The Upjog Switch seems like a utility that can have wide applicability, because of its natural appearance, and the flexibility it offers. The section on Further Finesse is challenging, but there are definite rewards for those willing to devote the effort. The material on the LTP Peek Steal is great!" – Simon Aronson
"After reading Roger's Arcardia, my natural inclination was to reach for my deck of cards and start practicing. I think that anyone in any way interested in card magic will want to do the same. This book epitomises the spirit that has pushed the frontiers of quality magic to great heights during my lifetime; it contains some of the very best in card magic today. I give Arcardia my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation." – Jack Avis
1st edition 1999 The Cairn Press, 198 pages; 1st digital edition 2011 Lybrary.com, PDF 149 pages.
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DEDICATION
ORIENTATION
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE HISTORY, THEORY & PRACTICE
TRUE MAGIC VIA OBJECTIVITY (REVISED)
FROM WlTCHCRAFT TO WARLOCK: A REMEMBRANCE OF PETER WARLOCK
FROM WITCHCRAFT TO WARLOCK: THE EVOLUTION OF THINK-A-CARD
– 1. Scot's 'Discoverie'
– 2. Goldston's Quarterly
– 3. The Berglas Effect
PERCEPTION
TO PAUSE OR NOT TO PAUSE
UN DEUX, TROIS
CHAPTER TWO THE MINDREADER
MINDSHAKER
– MINDSHAKER ONE
– MINDSHAKER TWO
– MINDSHAKER THREE
THINK-AS-I-THINK
– Look-AS-I-Look
– FORCE-AS-I-FORCE
– THE UPJOG SWITCH
TELEVISION FX
– FOCUSED TELEVISION
– MULTIPLE PROCEDURES
– ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS
DOMINATION OF THOUGHT
– CORRECTED PREDICTION
– INDEPENDENT PREDICTION
– DOT REVISITED
SQUARE-RIGGED
– TRI-RIGGED
CHAPTER THREE THE GAMBLER
THE CHEAT
MISSISSIPI HEART HAND
THIRDS AND MORE
– THE UNIT CONTROL DEAL
– THE CENTER CONTROL DEAL
– THE BOTTOM CONTROL DEAL
POKER DEAL ASSEMBLY
MORE ON THE DRIBBLE SHIFT
– DRIBBLE SHIFT AND PALM
FURTHER FINESSE
– THE TWO-HANDED PIVOT-JOG GLIMPSE
– THE ONE-HANDED PIVOT-JOG GLIMPSE
– THE SECOND FINGERTIP CRIMP
– THE DELAYED BOTTOM PALM
– LTP PEEK STEAL
CHAPTER FOUR THE MAGICIAN
PROFOUND MAGICIAN
RED AND BLUE FX
– RED AND BLUE
– REVISED RED AND BLUE
MONACO'S QUEENS
A MACHIAVELLIAN MASTERPIECE
THE ORIGINAL TWIST PASS
– The Technique (2/12/94)
AFTERWORD
word count: 50406 which is equivalent to 201 standard pages of text
