Price$50.00
Media TypeBook
CategoryStage
Date AddedMay 10, 2012
The Real Secrets of the Chinese Linking Rings
Biro, Pete
(Based on 2 reviews)
This book has it all - everything you would ever want to know about the Linking Rings. Never before has there been a work that encompasses so much about this favorite classic. From its rich illustrious history, entertaining routines, and the showcasing of famous magicians who have built their world wide reputations using this effect.
There is even a chapter on "linking things" (that will serve as a mental spring board for magicians that want to create "their" reputation using this effect in novel and unique ways). There really is something for everyone in this book.
Here is a sampling of just some of the contributions and/or material provided from top magicians featured in this exciting book.
- Levent
- George Blake
- Jay Marshall
- Terry Seabrooke
- Trevor Lewis
- Robert Harbin
- Al Baker
- George Armstrong
- Al Koran
- Ken Brooke
- Paul Daniels
- John Northern Hilliard
- Richard Himber
- Fred Kaps
- Karrell Fox
- Viktor Voitko
Pete Biro has poured his heart and soul into this book, and it truly is a life's work 65 years in the making .Do yourself a favor and grab this book at this phenomenal price!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Even if you have only seen or just heard of the linking rings, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!
And, if you are performing [including just in front of the mirror] and don't have this book - SHAME ON YOU!
Go buy this book - or I will tell your mom. ;)
And, if you are performing [including just in front of the mirror] and don't have this book - SHAME ON YOU!
Go buy this book - or I will tell your mom. ;)
(Top ▲)
This was a book that I had been anticipating for a long time. It is a book that is long overdue in the world of magic as far as the linking rings are concerned.
Back in 1946 Dariel Fitzroy (otherwise known as Dariel Fitzkee) wrote and published a book on the linking rings called Rings In Your Fingers. Back then it was considered the best of the best references on the rings, and that designation is still valid today. For many years (and again, to a degree, still today) is one of the most thorough books ever written for the linking rings. He also published a manuscript in 1930 called 'Linking Ring Manipulation', which served as a predecessor to the 'Rings In Your Fingers' book.
Starting 50-something years ago and finishing in 2012, Pete Biro has written his book, The Real Secrets of the Chinese Linking Rings, and it is absolutely astounding! The wealth of material in this book is unequalled and is on the level of the Fitzkee book and is destined to become an instant must-have classic. Much of the material in this book has never been published before.
The Foreword by David Regal is spot-on and does a great job of setting up the book for the reader.
Pete starts with the bare-bones history of the rings and continues on up to the modern-day handlings, covering everything from linking finger rings to linking toilet seats (yes, toilet seats!). This book covers many of the famous, standard classic routines such as the Al Koran Three Ring Routine and the Master Routine of John Northern Hilliard to great comedic routines such as the George Blake Perverse Ring Routine and the notoriously funny Quadro Vicious Circle routine from Terry Seabrooke.
There are many, many, many tips, hints, gags, tricks and ideas for using with the rings, as well as other items like the Linking Finger Rings. Of course, as is mentioned in the book, no book on the history of the rings would be complete without mention of Claudius Odin (famous for his ring routine and his contribution to the rings, called the Odin Count). Not only is Odin talked about in this book, but his classic tome "The Odin Rings" is reprinted in full within the pages of this book.
Other routines included in the book (for the actual linking rings) include the The Lincoln Rings by Namreah (Herman Weber), the Frikell Indian Rings, a set of instructions from the Mysto Magic rings set, routines from Karrell Fox, Bill Palmer and Kevin James, among others.
The book has sections covering the Linking Ropes, Linking 'Things', Linking Finger Rings, and even a story on the Linking Coathangers.
The book also has reprinted discussions about the rings, their variations (in size, shape, etc.), the routines and their methodology from various internet forums and from conversations with performers such as the great Paul Daniels, Robert Harbin and Levent.
The 242 pages also include an excellent (but by no means complete) list of references and resources on/for the linking rings from the venerable Etienne Lorenceau.
Within this book, Pete Biro posed the questions, "Where does it begin? Where will it end?" These are excellent questions, and the text that follows those words is chock full of history, ideas, theories and even some philosophy as to their answers. Over the many years that the rings have been in existence, it has been one of the most recognizable magic effects ever created (and the 'linking objects' plot has been very widely explored), and it has also seen its popularity skyrocket and then fizzle out, many times over.
In 2011, Levent Cimkentli released a set of DVDs that contain over seven hours (yes, SEVEN HOURS) of linking ring material, called 'The Ultimate Guide to the Linking Rings'. It is certainly a revolutionary set of DVDs as far as instructional videos are concerned, and there is little doubt that it has (and will continue to be) an instrument of regenerating interest in the rings. What those videos have done for the rings, so too will this book, 'The Real Secrets of the Chinese Linking Rings' by Pete Biro.
As mentioned before, this book is destined to become an instant classic right along with the masterful contemporary works of the masters of the past. No serious performer of the Chinese Linking Rings would have a complete library without this book on their shelf, and no serious linking ring historian would have a complete collection of books on the linking rings without it.
This is a well-written and produced book and I VERY highly recommend it!
Dr. J
Back in 1946 Dariel Fitzroy (otherwise known as Dariel Fitzkee) wrote and published a book on the linking rings called Rings In Your Fingers. Back then it was considered the best of the best references on the rings, and that designation is still valid today. For many years (and again, to a degree, still today) is one of the most thorough books ever written for the linking rings. He also published a manuscript in 1930 called 'Linking Ring Manipulation', which served as a predecessor to the 'Rings In Your Fingers' book.
Starting 50-something years ago and finishing in 2012, Pete Biro has written his book, The Real Secrets of the Chinese Linking Rings, and it is absolutely astounding! The wealth of material in this book is unequalled and is on the level of the Fitzkee book and is destined to become an instant must-have classic. Much of the material in this book has never been published before.
The Foreword by David Regal is spot-on and does a great job of setting up the book for the reader.
Pete starts with the bare-bones history of the rings and continues on up to the modern-day handlings, covering everything from linking finger rings to linking toilet seats (yes, toilet seats!). This book covers many of the famous, standard classic routines such as the Al Koran Three Ring Routine and the Master Routine of John Northern Hilliard to great comedic routines such as the George Blake Perverse Ring Routine and the notoriously funny Quadro Vicious Circle routine from Terry Seabrooke.
There are many, many, many tips, hints, gags, tricks and ideas for using with the rings, as well as other items like the Linking Finger Rings. Of course, as is mentioned in the book, no book on the history of the rings would be complete without mention of Claudius Odin (famous for his ring routine and his contribution to the rings, called the Odin Count). Not only is Odin talked about in this book, but his classic tome "The Odin Rings" is reprinted in full within the pages of this book.
Other routines included in the book (for the actual linking rings) include the The Lincoln Rings by Namreah (Herman Weber), the Frikell Indian Rings, a set of instructions from the Mysto Magic rings set, routines from Karrell Fox, Bill Palmer and Kevin James, among others.
The book has sections covering the Linking Ropes, Linking 'Things', Linking Finger Rings, and even a story on the Linking Coathangers.
The book also has reprinted discussions about the rings, their variations (in size, shape, etc.), the routines and their methodology from various internet forums and from conversations with performers such as the great Paul Daniels, Robert Harbin and Levent.
The 242 pages also include an excellent (but by no means complete) list of references and resources on/for the linking rings from the venerable Etienne Lorenceau.
Within this book, Pete Biro posed the questions, "Where does it begin? Where will it end?" These are excellent questions, and the text that follows those words is chock full of history, ideas, theories and even some philosophy as to their answers. Over the many years that the rings have been in existence, it has been one of the most recognizable magic effects ever created (and the 'linking objects' plot has been very widely explored), and it has also seen its popularity skyrocket and then fizzle out, many times over.
In 2011, Levent Cimkentli released a set of DVDs that contain over seven hours (yes, SEVEN HOURS) of linking ring material, called 'The Ultimate Guide to the Linking Rings'. It is certainly a revolutionary set of DVDs as far as instructional videos are concerned, and there is little doubt that it has (and will continue to be) an instrument of regenerating interest in the rings. What those videos have done for the rings, so too will this book, 'The Real Secrets of the Chinese Linking Rings' by Pete Biro.
As mentioned before, this book is destined to become an instant classic right along with the masterful contemporary works of the masters of the past. No serious performer of the Chinese Linking Rings would have a complete library without this book on their shelf, and no serious linking ring historian would have a complete collection of books on the linking rings without it.
This is a well-written and produced book and I VERY highly recommend it!
Dr. J