Bill Severn's Magic Across the Table is an excellent book to get you started. The essence of the twenty-six tricks in this collection is that they are simple for beginners to learn and that they use small, easily obtained props such as a comb, pad and pencil, coins, bottle-tops and keys. In each case Bill Severn first describes what happens as it would appear to the person watching it. Then he gives the basic secret of the trick and lists the props needed, along with instructions for fixing them. Finally he gives the instruction for the performance, illustrating and explaining every hand movement, and suggesting exactly what sort of patter the budding magician can use to put the trick over. Every detail of the trick and presentation is given, plus very good illustrations. A thoroughly enjoyable and usable book. 112 pages, cloth bound, attractive dust jacket.