Nick Trost was a renowned magician and card master who astounded audiences with his incredible card tricks. His unique style, innovative techniques, and captivating performances made him one of the most influential card magicians of his time. What set Trost apart from other magicians was his ability to create seemingly impossible illusions using a regular deck of cards. He had an extraordinary talent for manipulating the cards in ways that left viewers spellbound. Trost's card magic was characterized by a combination of skill, dexterity, and creativity. He would often devise intricate routines that involved complex shuffling, cutting, and manipulating the cards in ways that defied logic.
posted 2017 Jan by Nathan Kranzo
In fact, these volumes would be a great way of surveying the wider card magic literature with Nick Trost as your guide or curator to lead you to the gems. Each of the 3 books is a bit different Card College Light - has 7 separate routines, each with 3 tricks each an opener, a middle trick, and a closer , along with a short chapter on performing or maybe he goes over it as he explains each trick Card College Lighter - has 21 different short routines 7 opening, 7 middle, 7 closing , along with a chapter on building your own sort of routine set programming as Roberto refers to it.
He would often devise intricate routines that involved complex shuffling, cutting, and manipulating the cards in ways that defied logic. His ability to manipulate the deck with such precision and finesse was truly astonishing. One of Trost's most famous tricks was his "Out of this Universe" routine, where he would separate a shuffled deck into red and black cards without looking at them.
Nick Trost – Subtle Card Creations Volume 6 – review
When I first acquired the original Nick Trost Subtle Card Creations book, I had no idea it would launch such an exhaustive series. We’re now up to Volume 6 – and they’re still well worth your attention. Here’s our review.
Between the covers
Produced in a design which matches the first five Subtle Card Creations volumes, this is a lovely hard-backed book of more than 230 pages containing over 100 tricks in 13 chapters. Effects are grouped by theme and cover an enormous range of card magic – including 4-Ace tricks, tricks using Court Cards, Poker and Gambling Tricks, ESP tricks, etc.
I didn’t spot any that used anything other than an ordinary deck of cards (though a couple did require some special dice) – so you can pretty much sit down, deck in hand, and dig in.
The word ‘Subtle’ in the title does imply that careful thought has gone into the methods to avoid them relying on much in the way of sleight of hand. However, many of the routines do require basic card handling – false shuffles, double undercuts, counts etc. – this isn’t a completely ‘self-working’ volume.
Like me, as you work your way through the amazing variety of effects, you will learn or be reminded of some subtle forces and sneaky procedures. Trost (who died in 2008) was clearly extraordinarily well-read. In fact, these volumes would be a great way of surveying the wider card magic literature with Nick Trost as your guide or curator to lead you to the gems. He appears to have read everything written on card magic since around the 1940s! He is also fastidious in his crediting/attribution which always wins bonus points with me.
A few minor niggles
One small frustration is that moves already described in earlier volumes aren’t always described again – so if you don’t have the whole set you may have to look things up elsewhere. The writing style is straightforward and clear – but not particularly engaging. Some magic books are just a joy to read – this is much more functional – clear and informative rather than entertaining in style.
From my perspective it contained a very high number of poker and other card games or gambling-based tricks. Although I love playing Cribbage on occasion, I’m not sure a cribbage based trick would appeal to many of my audiences. And effects themed around Gin-Rummy/Euchre/Casino even less so.
Trost also tends to take a principle and work it to death – in fact I think we get an insight into his creative process here. He will often take someone else’s effect and try to streamline or simplify it by applying some of his enormous repertoire of principles.
Final thoughts
That being said, there are some real gems in here. In this quantity of tricks you wouldn’t expect them all to be of the same quality/interest. As always with a decent magic book, the price per trick value rating is fabulous! And if you were to collect the whole set you would find yourself with an extraordinary resource and a lifetime of study. I’ve still got a couple of volumes missing from my set – so I better get saving…
The Subtle Card Creations of Nick Trost Volume 6 is available from the Merchant of Magic for £39.50 (at the time of writing).
Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.
Some of other books with "self-working" effects are:
This trick became a signature piece for Trost and showcased his skillful handling of the cards. His ability to seemingly shuffle the cards randomly while secretly maintaining the separation of colors amazed audiences time and time again. Another notable performance by Trost was his "Oil and Water" routine, where he would mix red and black cards together, only for them to separate magically right before the audience's eyes. This trick was a display of Trost's mastery of sleight of hand and misdirection. His smooth execution of the trick left spectators wondering how such a feat was possible. Aside from his individual tricks, Trost was also known for his numerous contributions to the field of card magic. He authored several books on the subject, sharing his techniques and routines with fellow magicians. His ideas and methods continue to be a source of inspiration for aspiring magicians around the world. In conclusion, Nick Trost was a magician who revolutionized the art of card magic with his astonishing tricks and innovative techniques. His skillful manipulation of the deck and captivating performances continue to leave audiences amazed. His legacy lives on through his writings and contributions to the field of card magic..
Reviews for "Dive into the Fascinating Card Magic of Nick Trost"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The astonishing card magic of Nick Trost." The tricks were predictable and the presentation lacked any real excitement. I've seen much better card magic shows and this one just fell flat for me. The effects were basic and the overall performance was lacking in creativity and originality. I wouldn't recommend this show to anyone looking for a truly mind-blowing card magic experience.
- John - 1 star - What a waste of time and money! "The astonishing card magic of Nick Trost" was anything but astonishing. The tricks were unimpressive and I could see through the gimmicks. It felt like he was doing the same trick over and over again with slight variations. I expected more variety and innovation from a supposedly renowned card magician. I'd say save your money and watch some online tutorials instead, you'll get more bang for your buck.
- Emma - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The astonishing card magic of Nick Trost" but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The tricks were unimaginative and lacked that "wow" factor. I've seen better card magic performances at a local magic show. Trost's presentation was also quite monotonous and lacked charisma. I wanted to be amazed and entertained, but instead, I was left feeling underwhelmed. Overall, not worth the time or money.