Review in Genii Magazine, December 2024

The 12 original tricks Brown teaches in this book are excellent case studies in imaginative trick creation. For each trick, Brown walks readers through how exploring the kernel of an idea or wrestling a problem to the ground resulted in the published routine....

Most of the included props are specially printed packet tricks. These cards are well-made and colorful. The tricks themselves are mostly self-working, allowing readers to focus on performance and reflect on the concepts they illustrate in the text. Furthermore, these are commercial and fooling routines that many readers will no doubt keep in their everyday carry arsenal of magic tricks. The book has tricks and ideas for everyone, from beginners to experienced professionals....

I love reading magic books. My first mentor, Denny Haney, taught me the importance of reading both old and new magic books. I'm so glad he did, because I just finished reading Gary's book. Fantastic!

I had the privilege to attend the "unveiling" at Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas last month. I started reading it on the four-hour plane ride home.

So why do I love this book so much? At first, it was the tricks. There are some great tricks in here that I've started playing around with . . . most notably the Meta-Hypercards and Nightmare Santa. Honestly, they distracted me for a bit - and so I put down the book for brief periods so I could play with some of the things it taught me.

As I delved deeper into this book, a rhetorical question came to mind and kept nagging at me. Why would a book called "The Inventive Magicians Handbook" need to come with props? I mean, wouldn't you assume that you'd be creating your own props? And if you said yes, you are correct. You see, while the routines and props are flawless, Gary provides them for two reasons. First, they are great routines. If you want to learn Nightmare Santa or the book test he used on Fool Us, it's all right there. But if you read the book solely for the tricks, you are sorely missing out. Second, they are great inspiration.

In this book, Gary goes through the painstaking process of telling us and showing us his journey. How he took a card trick like Sidewalk Shuffle and took the "card trick" aspect out of it. Now it's a story. Now it draws in spectators. Now it has a "wow" impact. Talking again about Nightmare Santa, I got to witness this personally one morning at a hotel breakfast. Gary, I, and two other magicians had just finished breakfast. There was a lady sitting near us and heard us talking about magic. Gary performed Nightmare Santa for her - and she was totally amazed. I don't know that regular playing cards would have gotten the same reaction. That is the power of that trick and this book.

So, the lesson here is to take those props that come with the book, study them, work through the routines (after reading the rest of the information in the chapter), and see Gary's progression from one good effect to one great effect simply by changing the method, props, handling or story. And then figure out how you can do the same and create your own applications.

From the Orson Welles story on page 1 and for the next 195 pages, Gary draws you into his world of creation and invention. And, IMHO, the most important and useful chapter in this book is the one on scripting. If you are struggling to find a story-based script to go with an effect, this chapter will help you come up with something amazing.

The props are high quality! The book is amazing! And included are also some great video resources for you to check out.

It's Judge Gary Brown, c'mon. You can't judge a book by its cover . . . unless Judge's name is on the cover. Then you know you've got a true masterpiece on your hands. Get it, get it now!

CHUCK JONES

This is one amazing book!

There are few books that I have went through every routine. This is one of them.

"The Inventive Magician's Handbook... with Props" by Judge Brown looks at several important subjects for magicians. Teaching how to look at existing tricks through a different lens, scripting your magic and giving meaning, and, of course, having the props on hand to start right away are just a few of the subjects that are covered in this work.

I will say, the section on hypercards is a bit addictive. Give your old cards some new life.

The props are very well made. They are designed wonderfully and will last quite a while with normal care.

Grab this while you can. It is a unique work that you may not have another opportunity to experience.

The Inventive Magician's Handbook has quickly become one my favorite new magic books. There is absolute contagious glee in these pages and you will experience and take many new ideas to the magic you are doing right away.

How many times have you heard the phrase "make it your own?"
This book shows you exactly how to do that with the magic you perform right now.

Some magicians do make things on their own organically without giving much thought to the building blocks of how "making it your own" is actually done. Seeing the author's process illuminates the steps you can do today - and they are instantly understandable - with plenty of examples - and of course - the props.

Having the props on hand - which are very high quality - will allow you quick experimentation with the theories and ideas in the book. There are also included videos and very detailed footnotes with more references and ideas.

I read this book quickly because I felt like the author was a supportive magic coach gladly telling me to "go for it." The theory in this book will improve your current and new magic - it already has done so for me.

Make this book part of your library. You will be surprised how quickly you can tap into your personal creativity, to provide the magic world with something - of your own.

This book by Judge Gary Brown is a very unique and amazing presentation. It is not just a "How To" Magic book, it includes a vast amount of history, references and short stories that held my attention.

One problem I have always had with magic books is the explanation. One can get lost in the minutia making it very difficult to produce the intended result. Not so for this writing. Each trick is carefully laid out with both step-by-step explanations and wonderful illustrations. It is almost like Judge Brown is right there with you, explaining everything as I go through the processes.

Along with the great writing style and excellent organization there are beautiful photos and drawings that keep the momentum going and provide reference for all the details.

I would recommend "The Inventive Magician's Handbook...with Props" by Judge Gary Brown to experienced magicians, new magicians, or anyone with any level of interest in magic and creativity.

M-U-M Magazine Review, October 2024

The book sets you on a path toward inventing tricks. But first, there are some plausible reasons why you should invent your own tricks. This is a very intriguing section and every magician should read it. We are not here to show off some gimmicky ideas we learned from another guy and then practiced, any more than we are here to show off a bunch of glittery props we bought at a magic shop. We are involved in an art form and should treat our presentations as original art that we have created....

Along with the book you receive an envelope full of printed props that accompany the routines. These are all very handsomely designed, very professionally printed, and specifically customized to make Brown’s routines funand easy for you to perform. They certainly justify the fairly high price of the book....

I loved the book and particularly the "...With Props." It should get anyone’s creative juices flowing, and even if you do not invent your own tricks, you will enjoy reading about and performing Judge Gary Brown’s [tricks].