Presented in a stamped wooden collector's box, with alternative cloth cover and exclusive deck of Bund18 playing cards.
Inspired by the look and feel of occult magic books from the early 20th Century, Reality is Magic contains 13 original routines and 7 thought-provoking essays in a cloth-covered hardback form.
Anson Chen's work here is a celebration of our fascinating journey as magicians and a rare chance to view a world in which “real” magic can exist.
Within these pages you’ll find 13 of the most closely-guarded routines from Anson’s 20+ year magical career. These road-tested effects span everything from close-up magic to parlor magic and even direct, mind-blowing mentalism. Each effect has astounded lay audiences and magicians alike across the globe.
Created over the course of a year’s discussion and collaboration between Ting Chen, Alexander Hansford and THE NEAT REVIEW, we are delighted to present Reality is Magic.
Loosely inspired by the look and feel of occult magic books from the early 20th Century. 13 original routines and 7 essays.
This instructional book teaches how to:
— Create a deeper emotional impact with magic
— Transform tricks into memorable showpieces
— Develop and integrate original scripts in a way that isn’t robotic
— Make magic REAL for both your audience & yourself
Details
Black cloth hardback with white foil type.
- 01 REALITY IS MAGIC
- 02 Wishstone
- 03 REAL MAGIC IN FAKE MAGIC
- 04 BLINDSPOT
- 05 ABRACADABRA
- 06 NON-DUALITY
- 07 OUT OF HONG KONG
- 08 THE MENTALIST’S DILEMMA I
- 09 THOUGHT CRIME
- 10 CLOSING THE GAP
- 11 THOUGHT OF CARD TRANSPOSITION
- 12 THE MENTALIST’S DILEMMA II
- 13 CACTUS
- 14 SERIAL KILLER
- 15 UBER MIRACLE
- 16 SHADOW PLAY
- 17 THE FULL MOON
- 18 EVALUATE
- 19 PHOENIX
- 20 LOCKDOWN
- 21 BEST STORY WINS
Scott Black
Scott is a Scottish graphic designer and cardist based out of London. He produces his own playing cards under his label "Four Corner", and works for the clothing brand SCRT in east London.
Ting Chen
In 2017, Ting Chen founded China’s first Magic Bar — The Blackstone Magic Bar. This was an intimate theatre that redefined how magic is presented in China, a unique space that showcased some of the best talents in mystery entertainment. THE NEAT REVIEW created a striking brand identity for Ting, and co-created, designed, edited and published the first book of his work, "Reality Is Magic," in 2023. This work led Ting to a world tour, performing in over 18 cities, delivering lectures, and crafting immersive experiences for festivals and one-of-a-kind events.
Dr Will Houstoun
Will Houstoun has a PhD in the history of magical education, supervised by Dame Marina Warner, and is a winner of the European Magic Championships. He holds a Literary Fellowship with the Academy of Magical Arts in Los Angeles and a Research Fellowship with the Victoria & Albert Museum Research Institute. His current research interests lie in exploring the ways in which the skill and approach of the conjurer can be utilised in an educational context. He was guest editor of Issue Four and contributed linocut artworks for our publication "Reality is Magic".
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.