| Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic | |
| Author: | Mark Wilson |
| Illustrator: | Julia Laughlin; Manny Katz |
| Cover Artist: | Weaver Lilly; Tony Schmidt |
| Country: | USA |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: | Courage Books: Running Press Book Publishers |
| Pub Date: | 1975 |
| Pages: | 472 pages |
| Isbn: | 0-89471-623-9 |
| Dewey: | 793.8 19 |
| Congress: | GV1547.W763 1988 |
| Oclc: | 17805952 |
Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic is a book on magic written by magician Mark Wilson.[1] [2] The book is a popular reference for magicians and has been in print since its first issue in 1975.
This description is based on the 1988 edition.
The book is organized into sections; each devoted to a particular topic, as follows:
Wilson's exposition on the basics of misdirection.
Course Coordinator: Larry Anderson
Assistant Course Coordinator: Don Wayne[3]
The main body of the book comprises tricks (Wilson's term) and prerequisite techniques and skills required to perform them. The key elements are illustrated with line drawings and explained in detail in the accompanying text.
Each trick is divided into logical sub-sections:
The section on card effects is divided into classes of tricks; each class contains multiple individual techniques and tricks, as follows:
As with Card Magic, the section on money effects is divided into classes of tricks; each class comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, as follows:
The section on rope effects is not divided, but comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, mainly with household objects readily at hand.
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks of the kind which the magician might bet he can do something the spectator cannot: "I'll bet you."
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, requiring apparatus which can be constructed as build-it-yourself projects.
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks, requiring compressible balls as props.
This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks with incompressible balls.
Perhaps the first illusions performed; definitely the first recorded in writing (in ancient Egypt). This section comprises multiple individual techniques and tricks.
"In magical terms an "Illusion" is any trick or effect involving a human being." (p. 435) This section comprises multiple individual illusions, according to the quoted definition.
Wilson and co-authors' parting words of encouragement to their readers and students.