The Magic of Pit Hartling: A Review of His Classic Book Card Fictions
Pit Hartling Card Fictions: A Review of the Best Card Magic Book Ever
If you are a card magician or a card magic enthusiast, you have probably heard of Pit Hartling Card Fictions. It is widely regarded as one of the best card magic books ever written, and for good reasons. In this article, I will review the book and tell you why you should buy it if you haven't already.
Pit Hartling Card Fictions.pdf
The Author: Pit Hartling
Pit Hartling is a German card magician who has been performing and creating magic for over 30 years. He is a member of the famous Flicking Fingers group, along with other renowned magicians like Lennart Green, Rene Lavand, Juan Tamariz, and Dani DaOrtiz. He has won several awards for his magic, including the Grand Prix at FISM Europe in 1997.
Pit Hartling is not only a master performer, but also a master teacher. He has lectured and taught at many conventions and workshops around the world, sharing his insights and innovations with other magicians. He has also published several books and DVDs on card magic, such as Little Green Lecture Notes, In Order to Amaze, and Pit Stop.
But his most famous and acclaimed work is Card Fictions, which was first published in 2003 and has since been reprinted several times due to its popularity and demand.
The Book: Card Fictions
Card Fictions is a hardcover book that contains 94 pages of pure card magic gold. It features seven original effects that are designed to fool, entertain, and amaze both laypeople and magicians alike. Each effect is explained in detail, with clear illustrations, diagrams, and photos.
But Card Fictions is not just a collection of tricks. It is also a treasure trove of principles, techniques, subtleties, psychology, presentation, and theory that can be applied to any card magic routine. Pit Hartling reveals his secrets and tips on how to make your card magic more effective, deceptive, and memorable.
Card Fictions is different from other card magic books in several ways. First of all, it is very selective and focused. It only contains seven effects, but each one is a masterpiece that has been refined and polished over years of practice and performance. Pit Hartling does not waste your time with filler or variations. He only gives you the best of the best.
Secondly, it is very innovative and original. Pit Hartling does not rely on old or common methods or plots. He creates his own solutions and approaches that are fresh and surprising. He uses minimal sleight of hand and gimmicks, and maximizes the use of psychology, timing, misdirection, and logic. He also adds twists and surprises that make his effects more interesting and unpredictable.
Thirdly, it is very practical and workable. Pit Hartling does not present pipe dreams or impractical ideas. He only teaches effects that he has performed in real-world situations, for real audiences, with real reactions. He also gives you advice on how to adapt his effects to different settings, conditions, and spectators.
The Contents: Seven Masterpieces of Card Magic
Card Fictions contains seven effects that cover a wide range of themes and plots. Here is a brief description of each one:
Chaos
This is a stunning opener that will grab your audience's attention right away. You show a deck of cards that is thoroughly shuffled and mixed. You ask a spectator to name any card. You then spread the deck face up and show that the named card is the only one that is face down. But that's not all. You then turn the deck face down and show that the named card is also the only one that has a different colored back. And to top it off, you then turn the deck face up again and show that the cards are now in perfect order, except for the named card.
Finger Flicker
This is a visual and elegant transposition effect that uses minimal sleight of hand. You show two cards, say the ace of spades and the ace of hearts. You place one card face up on top of the deck and the other card face down in your hand. You then flick your finger on the face-down card and show that it has changed into the other card. You then turn over the top card of the deck and show that it has also changed into the other card.
Unforgettable
This is a mind-blowing memory effect that will make your spectator question their own sanity. You show a deck of cards and ask a spectator to cut off a small packet and look at the bottom card. You then ask them to shuffle the packet and place it back on top of the deck. You then ask them to name their card out loud. You then spread the deck face up and show that their card is not in the deck at all. You then ask them to look at the bottom card of the packet they cut off earlier. They are shocked to see that it is not their card either. In fact, it is a blank card with a message that says "Forget me". You then reveal that their card never existed in the first place, and that they have just experienced a false memory.
In Order To Amaze
This is a powerful demonstration of your control over a shuffled deck. You show a deck of cards and ask a spectator to shuffle it as much as they want. You then ask them to name any four-of-a-kind, say the kings. You then cut off a small packet of cards from the deck and hand it to them. You ask them to deal four cards face down on the table. You then reveal that they have just dealt the four kings.
The Core
This is a simple but effective self-working effect that relies on pure psychology and logic. You show a deck of cards and ask a spectator to shuffle it as much as they want. You then ask them to cut off a small packet of cards from the deck and look at the bottom card. You then ask them to place the packet back on top of the deck and cut it anywhere they want. You then spread the deck face up on the table and ask them to find their card among the face-up cards. They are surprised to see that their card is not there at all. You then turn over the top card of the deck and show that it is their card.
Mr. Fogg Tracked Down
Mr. Fogg Tracked Down
This is a stunning finale that will leave your audience speechless. You show a deck of cards and ask a spectator to shuffle it as much as they want. You then ask them to name any card, say the queen of diamonds. You then ask them to place the deck inside a card box and seal it with a sticker. You then take out a small envelope and show that it contains a single card. You ask the spectator to open the envelope and reveal the card. They are shocked to see that it is the queen of diamonds. You then explain that you have just performed a miracle of time travel. You tell them that you knew they would name the queen of diamonds, so you sent it back in time to the envelope before they even shuffled the deck. You then ask them to open the card box and spread the deck on the table. They are amazed to see that the queen of diamonds is missing from the deck.
Coloreto
This is a fun and colorful effect that will make your spectator feel like they have psychic powers. You show a deck of cards that has different colored backs, such as red, blue, green, and yellow. You ask a spectator to shuffle the deck as much as they want. You then ask them to deal cards face down on the table, one by one, and stop whenever they want. You then ask them to name any color, say red. You then turn over the last card they dealt and show that it has a red back. But that's not all. You then turn over all the other cards they dealt and show that they all have red backs too. You then congratulate them on their amazing intuition.
The Methods: Innovative and Practical Techniques
Card Fictions is not only about the effects, but also about the methods behind them. Pit Hartling teaches you some of his original techniques and principles that make his magic so deceptive and powerful. Some of these include:
The Chaos Shuffle: A false shuffle that looks completely fair and random, but leaves the deck in a secretly ordered state.
The Finger Flicker Switch: A visual and elegant switch of two cards that uses minimal sleight of hand and a flick of the finger.
The Unforgettable Principle: A psychological principle that creates a false memory in your spectator's mind and makes them believe that they saw something that never happened.
The In Order To Amaze Force: A clever and subtle force of any four-of-a-kind that uses a combination of mathematics, psychology, and misdirection.
The Core Concept: A simple but effective concept that allows you to locate any card in a shuffled deck without looking at the faces.
The Mr. Fogg Principle: A brilliant and ingenious principle that allows you to perform miracles of time travel with cards.
The Coloreto Count: A versatile and easy-to-do false count that shows different colored backs on a packet of cards.
Pit Hartling explains each technique in detail, with clear illustrations, diagrams, and photos. He also shows you how to apply them to other effects and routines, and gives you tips on how to practice and perform them.
The Style: Clear and Engaging Writing
Card Fictions is not only a book of magic, but also a book of writing. Pit Hartling has a clear and engaging style of writing that makes his book easy to read and enjoyable to follow. He uses simple and direct language, without unnecessary jargon or technical terms. He also uses humor, anecdotes, examples, and analogies to make his points more interesting and memorable.
Pit Hartling does not just tell you what to do, but also why and how to do it. He explains his reasoning and logic behind each effect and technique, and gives you insights into his creative process and thinking. He also shares his personal experiences and stories from his performances, which add flavor and personality to his book.
Pit Hartling writes with passion and enthusiasm for his art, which is contagious and inspiring for his readers. He makes you feel like he is talking to you personally, as a friend and mentor, rather than as an author or teacher.
The Verdict: Why You Should Buy Pit Hartling Card Fictions
Card Fictions is one of the best card magic books ever written, and here are some reasons why you should buy it:
It contains seven original and amazing effects that will fool and entertain any audience.
It teaches you innovative and practical techniques and principles that will improve your card magic skills and repertoire.
It is written in a clear and engaging style that makes it easy and enjoyable to read and follow.
It is suitable for any level of card magician, from beginner to expert.
It is a classic and timeless book that will never go out of date or style.
Card Fictions is a book that you will read, study, and use for years to come. It is a book that you will treasure and cherish as a valuable resource and inspiration. It is a book that you will love and recommend to others.
So, how can you get your copy of Card Fictions? You can order it online from Pit Hartling's website, www.pithartling.com, or from any reputable magic dealer. The price is 35 euros, which is a bargain for the quality and quantity of magic you will get. You can also get it as a PDF download for 25 euros, which is convenient and eco-friendly.
Conclusion
Pit Hartling Card Fictions is a book that every card magician should have in their library. It is a book that will teach you amazing effects, techniques, and principles that will make your card magic more effective, deceptive, and memorable. It is a book that will inspire you to create your own card fictions and share them with the world.
So, what are you waiting for? Order your copy of Card Fictions today and discover the magic of Pit Hartling. You will not regret it.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Pit Hartling Card Fictions:
Q: How long does it take to learn the effects and techniques in the book?
A: It depends on your level of experience and practice. Some effects and techniques are easier than others, but none of them are too difficult or require advanced sleight of hand. You should be able to learn them in a few hours or days, depending on how much time you devote to them.
Q: Do I need any special cards or gimmicks to perform the effects in the book?
A: No, you don't need any special cards or gimmicks to perform the effects in the book. All you need is a regular deck of cards, preferably with different colored backs for some effects. You may also need some envelopes, stickers, or other common items for some effects, but nothing too fancy or expensive.
Q: Can I perform the effects in the book for any audience or setting?
A: Yes, you can perform the effects in the book for any audience or setting, as long as you have a deck of cards and some space to spread them on. You can perform them for one person or a group of people, close-up or stand-up, casually or formally, indoors or outdoors. You can also adapt them to suit your style and personality.
Q: Are the effects in the book original or based on other sources?
A: The effects in the book are original creations by Pit Hartling, but some of them are based on or inspired by other sources. Pit Hartling gives credit and references to these sources in the book, and also explains how he improved or modified them to make them his own.
Q: Is there a video or DVD version of the book?
A: No, there is no video or DVD version of the book. However, there are some videos online where you can see Pit Hartling perform some of the effects in the book. You can also find some reviews and testimonials from other magicians who have read and used the book.
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