Britain's brightest independent magic magazine

Issue 25 - March 09

Review

The Rauschenberg Effect  

John Hostler
PDF e-book, 103 pp;
available from: john@johnhostler.com
Price: Free!!  

Here in the UK , we are quite to used to the notion of an honours system. Only a few weeks ago, as I write this, Her Majesty Betty Windsor dished out another bunch of gongs and citations, this time mostly to a bunch of jocks that went to China and did races and things. (It’s scandalous the lack of magic persons that have been honoured but it can only be a matter of time before we hear the words, “arise Sir Dynamo.”) However, if you wish to own The Rauschenberg Effect – a fairly substantial e-publication from US magician John Hostler – then you will need to be a party to the author’s own honours system or “honor system” as our American friends would have it.  

On contacting  the author, and if he deems you worthy of meeting the requirements of his “honor system,” then his book of advanced card magic will find its way into your inbox.  (Quite what his criteria are I don’t know, though it is nice to know that I was personally honoured by the magicseen editor, who sent it to me). Within the virtual pages are ten card effects and a broken and restored toothpick effect. The card tricks include variations and takes on card-to-wallet, wild card, and a poker cheating demonstration, and all require a healthy dose of card-handling skill and experience.  

The titular Rauschenberg Effect makes reference to the late American Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg, who would combine non-traditional materials and objects to make novel pieces of art - (thank you Wikipedia) - and the particular effect itself which lends its name to the book is a multi-phased one, containing Ambitious and Triumph phases, and which nicely illustrates the type of complex and sophisticated magic Hostler is going for, or if you prefer, the rather indirect and oblique meanderings that some cardicians are prone to. The $13 Card to Wallet, Hostler’s card-to-wallet effect, isn’t a simple control, palm and load, but a lengthy affair opening with a sandwich effect and the spectator’s signed card twice appearing in the wallet, via a prediction. Yes, the work on the load of an ungimmicked wallet is welcome, but it reinforces the fact that this is a work for the diligent card-worker to luxuriate in, and not one to acquaint oneself with direct and commercial magic.  

Perhaps I’m being a little harsh on this book because its approach and vocabulary are a little alienating to me; the sub-headings are, pretentiously, in Latin, and Hostler’s final words are, “The Rauschenberg Effect is less a book or trick than an artistic paradigm … one demanding synthesis with a higher purpose, unfettered by bias or tradition… one where round holes welcome square pegs… yet one equally and uniquely utilitarian in vision.” Now, I don’t know what that means but Hostler is an artistic type and one must grant him the freedom to express his magic how he likes. There is plenty of useful content there in the book, whilst Hostler writes with character and humour, and has well illustrated the document with plenty of clear photographs. Ultimately, this is a book for the assiduous, conscientious card-worker and, one suspects, this attribute is precisely what Hostler is looking for in those who come to him to seek his work and attempt to prove their honour.  DL

What’s Hot: Heck, it’s free!
What’s Not: Heck, you might be refused access and so feel unworthy and bereft!
Star Rating: ***  

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