Much Ado About Something by Karrell Fox
Reviewed by Jamy Ian Swiss (originally published in Genii July, 2005)
Who that might call themselves "magician" would not know Karrell Fox? The presence
and influence of the Foxy One has unmistakably pervaded the culture of magic in our
time, and we are all far the better for this fact. An early tradeshow pioneer, a master of
all forms of magic and of comedy and children's magic in particular, an icon in Abbott
country (read: Colon, Michigan), past president of the IBM, and all-around great guy,
Mr. Fox is also the author of ten books over the past half-century, and now brings us his
eleventh. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention that in 1988, very early in this
then budding lecturer's career, some kind and encouraging private and subsequently
public words from Mr. Fox (at what was actually our first personal encounter) convinced
me to keep my chin up and continue lecturing, thanks to his appreciative and
enthusiastic presence amidst an otherwise morose lecture audience.
As a conjuring thinker, creator, and author, Mr. Fox's record is characterized, above all
else, by a searing eye for clarity, practicality, and simplicity of method. His is a mind so
scintillatingly refreshing that his ideas can blow by you so fast you miss the genius in
them. His unique outlook enables him to frequently describe his best ideas in a mere
page or even, on occasion, in a paragraph. I remember, years ago, reading about his idea
for the egg bag: an ungimmicked bag and a hooked egg. A moment's thought assures
you that he must have fooled the heck out of magicians with that one. I have used many
of his ideas over the years, and what is remarkable is that they run the gamut of close-
up, stage, and even mentalism, as well as his aforementioned talents for comedy and
children's magic.
This new volume follows in the style of much of his previous work, filled with chatter,
anecdotes, testimonials, photographs, cartoons—it is a scrapbook of the Foxy mind. And
also, as before, we are met with sleights, ideas, gags, tricks and routines, from chapters
on close-up magic, card magic, mentalism, children's magic, trade-show work, practical
how-to ideas for home-made gimmicks and other utility items, and stage magic. You will
doubtless find something to stimulate you, something to entertain you, and/or
something to use, all within these pages. However, I am compelled to add that I do not
consider this book quite up to the par of some of Mr. Fox's earlier works. There are a few
too many items here that have seen print in other sources over the years, many far from
recent. Frankly, you could do little harm and much benefit to yourself by purchasing
anything written by Karrell Fox, but given the choice, I would begin elsewhere in his
ouevre, with some of my favorite works like Comedy Ala Card, Clever Like A Fox,
Another Book, and For My Next Trick. Doubtless you have encountered Mr. Fox before
this in one way or another, but if by some chance you've yet to meet him between the
covers of a book, go forth and do so promptly, that you might be better prepared to
outfox your audiences.
