This book takes an artful, intellectual approach to what makes for compelling card magic for a medium-sized “parlor” audience. A mixture of essays and material, this book will redefine the way you approach your work.

In “Eureka” Mansilla explores the venerable Any-Card-At-Any-Number plot with a thrilling stage version. Many versions of ACAAN have been published, but very few have been considered for a parlor environment, with every aspect thoroughly thought through. “Eureka” is ready to go right into your show.

“Outstanding” is a handling for the classic “Out of This World” plot, and it’s a treatment that gets everyone involved and is presented in a way that solves the problem of being able to see what’s happening from afar.

“Card in Envelope” is exactly what you would expect. But what you might not expect is just how polished and powerful this routine is. Mansilla has, as ever, thought through every detail in how to amplify the power of a close-up trick when reapplied to a larger environment.

In total, there are a dozen routines and three major essays, including a fascinating interview with Helder Guimarães, all of which work together to help clarify your approach to parlor magic with cards. In his preface, the great Roberto Giobbi writes, “I’ve had the pleasure of personally seeing Roberto perform several of the pieces described in this book, and I can assure you to the best of my knowledge and competence that he simply “gets it.” He’s one of the few blessed who knows what he’s doing, and he’s doing it well. Actually, extremely well.”