Wesley James - The Real Work

Many magic books come and go but when Wesley James releases a new book, serious students of magic pay attention. This is his first all new book since 2007 and it shows the same consideration for detail and exceptional technique he always delivers. In addition, it reveals new plots and insight into the thought he gives any new effect or routine he explores. Each investigation is important; any of them could change your magic forever.
It should come as no surprise to those who have read Wesley's previous works that he examines card magic at a depth rarely found in any field, but less so in sleight-of-hand or magic. It will take time to extract all he has packed into these 200+ densely packed pages but it is, as the title states, the Real Work in more ways than one.
While this new work may not be the type actively sought by the novice readers, like the current crop of "self working" material, it is a gold mine for those experienced in card technique now seeking to refine and perfect their performance. It is also excellent for the student in the early stages of development, as it can help them avoid the time consuming mistakes others have made. Rarely does a magic book offer so much sophisticated thought and analysis crammed between its covers. This is a book you will return to as you explore the array of subjects it addresses. It is a book you will continually turn to when looking for new plots to explore. It is also a book you'll turn to when seeking the finest analysis of technique. Further, it is a book you'll pull out when you want to know the history of some standard and not so standard effects, plots and sleights.
Obviously, no book can discuss every area of card magic but those it covers are examined at a depth that, as the reviewer for the Linking Ring wrote of Wesley's [url=]The Complete Mojo[/url], is a PhD course in magic.
The Table of Contents below will give you some idea of the material covered and the breadth and scope of Wesley's The Real Work.
Preface
Introduction
Problem Solving
Future Perfect
The Hofzinser Solution
Brown Tabled
The Spectator Cuts and Makes the Aces
The Greek Spectator Cuts and Turns the Aces
Spectator Cuts the Grand Coups
A Pain in My Ace
Zombies
Inspired By
Bolder Aces
Visible Riser
Dead Thumb Fake-out
Dispersed Transposition
The Jump Back Card
Stand-Up Magic
The Stuff of Legends
In a Glass with a Twist
Garuda Aces
Seven Deck Dream
Notes on the Tuned Deck
Tabled False Cuts
In the Cue
Aim a Canted Sinker
The Age of Knight
Frustration
Either Way is Good
Technique Notes
Notes on the Application of the Bottom Deal to Magic
Notes on the Under the Spread Force
Notes on the Improved Christ-Balducci Force and other Cut Force Strategies
The JJ Tabled Bluff Multiple Shift
Notes on the WJ “Invisible Pass
The Diagonal Palm Shift
Closing Observations
Bibliography
Index
1st edition 2014, 212 pages with illustrations and photos.
word count: 107350 which is equivalent to 429 standard pages of text