MISSING ALMOST EVERY THING is the third book by Alexander Hansford. It is an elaborate and intricate 224-page photo book teaching nine routines, with 196 photos to explain the attendant nuances of each effect and technique.
Available in a series of 200 Collector's Edition copies.
Comes with alternate foil block MISSING ALMOST EVERY THING book with signed and numbered book plate, custom thread, head bands and alternate dipped page edges.
Also includes a 1hr 23minute reading of sections of the book by Alexander Hansford, with additional commentary on certain tricks (alternate handlings) and behind-the-scenes of the writing of the book. On silkscreened cassette tape.
Housed in a wooden two-part collector's box, with inlays for the book and for the cassette tape.
A follow up to the sold out Often Rarely That Simple, Missing Almost Every Thing is a curated collection of rare card sleights built into beautiful, practical and fooling magic routines.
The starting point was the question: "What are the strongest tricks in card magic, and can we gather —or create— the best handlings for these plots?"
Written in London during a long-running series of book club meetings between magicians Alexander Hansford, George Hage, Andrew Frost and Ross Tayler. We collectively read and discussed rare and famous card magic books dating back to the late 19th Century, deciphering the best handlings and facets from our favourite plots in all of card magic.
MISSING ALMOST EVERY THING offers Alexander Hansford's handlings for these plots.
Additional input for the material in this book has been provided by Guy Hollingworth, Justin Higham, Bradley Hodgins and Denis Behr.
“Alex is a modern great. The material here ain’t easy, but good Lord, He’s spectacular.” — Derren Brown.
The starting point for MISSING ALMOST EVERY THING was a series of book-club meetings we set up in London, amongst a small group of close friends. George Hage, Andrew Frost, Ross Tayler, and, on occasion, Marc Kerstein. And me. These are magicians I look up to and am inspired by daily. And me. Together, we asked:
“What are our favourite plots in all of card magic?”
MISSING ALMOST EVERY THING presents my handlings
for my all-time favourite card tricks.
Where OFTEN RARELY THAT SIMPLE offered routines with a deep focus on the sleights and controls involved, MISSING ALMOST EVERY THING brings together 9 full routines, focusing on the effect itself, with attendant alternate handlings depending on the situation.
Inspired by conversations with Andrew Frost, Arthur Chavaudret, Yann Frisch, David Blaine, and furthered by chats in our book-club meet-ups, my focus these past years has shifted to more performance-based thought, and how to best highlight what the actual effect of a trick is to an audience, bringing attention to the strongest parts of a routine and shadow to the sleight-y parts.
As with OFTEN RARELY, every piece in this book is accomplished by sleight of hand and a deck of cards. There are no gimmicks or duplicates, no need for stooges or accomplices. The material includes a mix of hands-off, relaxed routines alongside other visual and technically more complex routines. On the whole, the material here is a little easier than OFTEN RARELY, ranging from intermediate up to more challenging.
Details
224 pages
- 01 WHILST OUT OF SIGHT
- 02 SPECTATOR CUTS THEIR THOUGHTS
- 03 & IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE
- 04 SUDDEN TRAVELLING LIGHT
- 05 EIGHT YEAR GENERAL CARD
- 06 THOUGHT OF CARD TO POCKET
- 07 REMORSELESS MIRACLE TRIUMPH
- 08 ASPECT OF ETERNITY / GATHERING DUST
- 09 CHAIRMAN OF THE BORED
Alexander Hansford
Alexander Hansford founded THE NEAT REVIEW in 2019, after printing a string of limited-run artist books to accompany talks he was giving to magicians worldwide. Across a 14-country lecture tour, from Vienna & Sydney to Beirut & Los Angeles, his books were met with a unique reverence by the magic community. Alexander's long-running collaboration with Derren Brown spans Derren's live theatre shows, including Olivier Award-winning “Underground,” “Secret” and “Showman,” to consulting on the card magic pieces for Derren's “Only Human,” which comes to London’s West-End in late-2026.
Kez Dearmer
Kez Dearmer is a painter, illustrator and 3D visualisation artist living and working in London. His writing, photography and illustrations feature heavily throughout the REVIEW and our books, and he co-created the DEARMERS playing cards with Alexander Hansford. Kez has been chief illustrator at THE NEAT REVIEW since its inception, and he is to thank for why any of the publications even exist.
Andrew Frost
Andrew Frost has spent two decades studying, practising, performing and creating his own original card magic, designed specifically for close-up environments. Andrew is renowned as one of the best card magicians in the world, celebrated for his seamless sleight of hand and sharp sense of humour. His contemporary approach to card magic captivates audiences worldwide. He has performed his card magic stage show “Cards on the Table” globally from cosy New York venues to grand London theatres. Andrew's book DOUBLE LIFT was an immediate success and he has contributed immeasurably to many of the publications available through THE NEAT REVIEW. He is formidable.
Guy Hollingworth
Guy Hollingworth is an English barrister, conjurer, author and lecturer. And a gentleman. As a conjurer he is known for his painstaking adeptness, and skilful performances of card magic. It cannot be overstated: his elegant and effortless sleight of hand with cards has been of immeasurable influence on every single one of our contributors.
Ross Tayler
Ross Tayler is an underground legend of card magic. He gave an exclusive lecture at NEATCON 2023, a highlight of the event.
Arthur Chavaudret
Arthur Chavaudret is a staggering presence. He is, I believe, the best close-up magician in the world. Born in 1989, Arthur discovered his passion at the age of nine: magic. After training in contemporary magic at the CNAC in Châlons-en-Champagne, he now explores both the creation and the definition of magic. What does magic depend on? What makes something seem magical? To broaden his horizons, Arthur collaborates with numerous artists. He has served as an outside eye for Yann Frisch on the productions BALTASS and LE PARADOXE DE GEORGES, and for Jean-Christophe Dollé on HANDBALL and JE VOLE. He was also a magic advisor for David Blaine on the TV show BEYOND MAGIC in Los Angeles in 2016, and in 2018, a magic consultant for the Comédie-Française on the production of FAUST by Valentine Losseau and Raphaël Navarro.