Fredrick Turner

Reflections

Magic

  • Some Things Change…

    About a decade ago, I decided that after reaching the status of Order of Merlin: Shield that it was time to stop paying dues and leave the International Brotherhood of Magicians. We had moved to a spot where attending any Ring meetings was a logistical challenge. Most importantly, I felt my involvement had run its… Continue reading

  • Revisiting: Shadowland

    In 1980, Peter Straub (1943-2022) published Shadowland. I didn’t read it until it came out in paperback a year or so later. I read other books by Staub before and since however this is the one I return to every few years. Shadowland is the story of Tom and Del, two young teenagers who become… Continue reading

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  • Digital Loss

    Recently I found a forgotten disc that I received from Todd Karr’s Miracle Factory for my patience in waiting for one book or another to be delivered. It’s titled Annemann’s Enigma and I believe the contents that became a portion of the book of the same name. I don’t remember if I mentioned it before… Continue reading

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  • Revisiting: Magic In Mind

    The adage goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” In our day-to-day transactional world, this is true more often than not. Quid pro quo tends to be our motto. Occasionally there are some things that come without explicit expectations of getting something in return. One is the ebook, Magic In Mind, compiled by… Continue reading

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  • Carney on Learning

    John Carney is a true master. I return often to his books for help and inspiration. I recently found this passage on learning in his Book of Secrets. I know it rings true for me so it may for you too. Most magicians give up too quickly when they meet a challenge in technique. If… Continue reading

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  • Nealist Questions to Wonder About

    When I see performances of magic, my questions to the magicians are two: Who are you?What do you care about? Sometimes I am asking because I have received no clues other than that they watch Jeff McBride and read magic catalogs or magazines. And sometimes they find the questions difficult to answer. I do not… Continue reading

  • Art and Magic

    The discussion – some may say argument – of whether magic is art is evergreen. It pops up in the online forums as regular as dandelions in the spring. I don’t believe it will ever be settled to the satisfaction of either side of the fence. If you can find it, magician and filmmaker, R.… Continue reading

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