Tractare
By
R. Shane
Sequel to Automata, from the author of Pentalogy!
In Pentalogy we learned about Shane in an ENOURMOUS body of work that focused on simple methods wrapped in AMAZING dynamic sometimes bizarre, fun or disturbing presentations. Each of these had been audience tested again and again and all had Shane's unmistakable mark of creativity among them.
In Automata, Shane presented a series of his creative ideas, based on self working mathematic principles, given a mask of humanity through awesome presentations and stories!
Here, In Tractare (A Latin word that means "To Handle) we continue that exploration. Second of a three part series that started with Automata, Tractare features magic that is easy to do, based on a subtlety or simple move, but nothing that really requires sleights or finger flinging. Here you are able to beguile your audiences while making them smile, laugh, engage and become PART of your show!
You can read a sneak preview HERE.
What else can we say about Tractare:
Ya know, it is odd to review a book that I am publishing, I mean OBVIOSULY it matters to me if you buy this book, AND I only do books or effects that I think have merit or value- but starting this month I decided to write a little first person review of the book, WHY I like it and why I chose to release it.
Shane was new to me- keep in mind I took a 10 year break from magic land, so a LOT of people are new to me. But Shane was known to a dear friend of mine, Ron Dayton, and through Ron we met. Shane overwhelmed me with Pentalogy- in part because it was so BIG but mainly because there was material in there I would actually do. See, I’m picky. I also am a bit odd in my thinking. Shane and I share that in common. Well, as I turned page after page I found effect after effect that I LOVED. So, sure I published that. Then came Automata- the first in three volume set (I found out later) of which Tractare is book number 2. At first I was NOT excited about Automata… Math based self working magic. 21 card trick.. yippee….. Then I got the manuscript! WOW! I gave it the subtitle- Self Working Magic With A Sense OF Humanity, because THAT knocked my socks off. It WAS self working magic but it had amazing presentations, cool themes, and most of all it HID the self working part of the method. That was something else I loved about Thomas Henry’s Hidden Numerical Forces.
So, Shane sent me the manuscript for Tractare. I had no clue what to expect, other than I expected I would enjoy it thoroughly! Well, I was amazed.
In Tractare, Shane takes a series of simple effects. Many of which you may know. He starts by sharing the original effect, talking about why he liked or in some cases DISliked the original. Then he starts “Shan-Ifying” it…. He talks about the psychology behind the trick, why it works. He talks about the weaknesses and strengths of it. Sometimes he runs off on tangents (and Oh yeah it sounds JUST like Shane talking… That makes it fun to read- even if sometimes mind spinning) and brings in other effects.
The thing about the material in Tractare is it uses no real sleights. There are some moves, little movements or things one does to make the magic happen, but in some cases they are as simple as turning over a stack of business cards. Yes- THAT little of a move.
Finally, Shane shows you what HE did with it all. Like mixing ingredients together for a cake, (Ever taste vanilla by itself? BLECHA!) the end is MUCH more delightful than the parts. Often the final routine and indeed EFFECT are not recognizable from the original, but ALWAYS Shane weaves a well thought out audience tested plot, with simple magic to leave you with Miracles. I HATE reading the word Miracle in magic descriptions, but that’s all I can call much of his magic.
Each step of the way he tells you what he is thinking and why he made certain choices with regards to mechanics , presentation or otherwise. Shane’s treatise midway through the book on “containers and things” (Read Cups And Balls) is a master class on how to present any routine where a thing ends up under or penetrating a container. Best of all, NO Finger Flinging… I could do this routine.
Bottom line, I published it…. I wouldn’t if I didn’t love it… but WOW. Check out the free sample.
Tractare $45
One Available: 8.5 X 11 Softcover, 154 Pages, Perfect Bound, Printed Book
Order Tractare Printed Booklet $45
