I was never a big fan of Sankey but reading this set has made me do a complete 180.  Do you remember way back when, it was Christmas morning,
you opened the box from Grandma and Grandpa and found your first magic set? This set is kind of like that experience for the grownups. A new
marvelous toy is revealed to you at every turn of the page. There are very few items here that could not be marketed as a separate dealer item. Thinking
of that alone makes the price of $200.00 for this treasure chest one of the best bargains in magic today.

When I get a huge publication like this to review, it is always tempting to cheat a bit and do some skimming. Tried that with this set and was
unsuccessful. Once you start reading, you don't want to miss a thing so you just keep on reading.

In a lot of sets like this, each volume has a theme. This does not. Each volume has a number of chapters devoted to a single subject. Many of the
themes are brought up in a second volume. In my opinion, this is a great idea. In a set of this size if you just read page after page on card tricks or
 coins, it can burn you out. Jay's organization gives you a chance to see something new a few pages down the line and keeps your interest.

I am going to go through each book, chapter by chapter, and tell you my favorite from each section. I realize that this is going to make for a
long review but if you are considering paying $200.00 for the set, you should have a good idea just what you are getting and if you should
 buy the whole set (the best deal) or just a single volume.

Difficulty level is noted at the beginning of each routine. From one (easiest) to five (toughest) stars. This is the approach Joshua Jay
 used in his Talk about Tricks column.

Hang on because here we go!

Volume 1 starts out with Sankey Essentials. Instruction for 32 sleights, counts and moves that you will
need for Jay's routines. If you already know one, read it anyway. You might get an idea on how to
improve your execution.

Cards and Props, Part 1. The winner here is Airtight where a deck of card is sucked into a balloon.
Reputation maker.

Torn and Restored Card  - Fans of Roy Walton will like this one. A combination of Torn and
Restored and Card warp.

Close-Up Mentalism - The Pagemaster. A quick and easy book test.

Finger Rings  - To The Point Karate Coin with a ring.

Body Magic  - Eye Popper. Love the thinking on this even though I will never do it (and you won't either)

Paperclipped  - Obviously Paperclipped, an iconic Sankey trick. (Although there is a huge amount
of routines in this chapter utilizing the principle)

Wipe Clean Principle - the Phoenix Effect. Flash paper is always fun but be careful.

Ambitious Card 1 Splat Production -Very visual card to top

Rubber Bands - Simple Division ￿easy and deceptive

Essays  - These are scattered throughout the books. Take the time to read them. There are valuable
lessons to be learned.

Bill Switch Part 1  - a plot so popular John Lovick wrote an entire book on it. Strange and Stranger.
A corner torn off a
bill switches to another corner

Close-Up Magic  -  the type of magic Sankey is best known for. The Cups Runneth Over is a full
routine for the cups and balls.

Coin Sleights - Flying Shuttle Pass - Learn this as it is used throughout the series.

Top 10's  - Scattered throughout the books are these lists of favorites by well known magicians.
Gives you a good idea of the really good stuff here.

Flash Paper - One item that I found amusing was in the lead up to the chapter on flash paper magic.
 It says when a sheet of flash paper is mentioned, it refers to a sheet 2” by 3” Then the first trick states
that a sheet of flash paper is needed. The size
 of 4'”square is given. Hmmmm? In a Flash is my choice here.

Business Cards  - Change in Direction  - Nice version of the Chinese Compass.

Impromptu Magic Part 1  - Everyone seems to love Back in Time. A classic plot where the cards
return to a previous time. I've had Ed Marlo's Time Machine (Ron Bauer #16) for years but Jay's
looks a lot easier to do.

Magic for Children  - Chocolate Bar Prediction  - Great routine but it does require you to eat 50 chocolate bars.

Coin Productions  - Silver Lining looks to be a very pretty production.

Almost-Impromptu Card Magic Part 1  - Splitsville. Looks reasonably easy to do. Nice visual.

Beyond Secrets  - Part 1. In this section, Jay has split his book Beyond Secrets, a book on magic
theory, into three parts and has published one if each book. There is a plethora of thoughts to be absorbed
here. One that really resonated with me was the Myth of Speed where he reveals that the hand is quicker than
the eye is a bad philosophy. Take the time to study these to vastly improve your performance.

Volume 2

Keys - Twister. Bent key illusion. Looks great but a gimmick must be made or purchased.

On the Erdnase Color Change- Jay definitely has a love affair going with this change but he does  some
unique magic with it. Easiest would probably be Fragile Harbor where a ship and a bottle are drawn on a
card and you put the ship into the bottle. Leaves a nice souvenir for your volunteer. IQ Test is also amazing.
You draw a black hole on a card and push a Sharpie through it.

Restaurant Magic - I know a lot of you  perform in restaurants and this chapter will be a gold mine for you.
My favorite is actually the simplest in the chapter. Xtreme involves a coffee stirrer and a paddle move.

Situational Magic -  You are told that this is magic you may never do because you can only do it if the
situation arises. Three routines (Slay Bells, Duet and Mute) all play with the idea of bells that will or will not ring.

Again essays are scattered through the book, all worth the time it takes to read them.

Impromptu Card Magic, Part 2 - I have been doing Doc Daley's Last Trick quite regularly lately. Easy
and gets a huge reaction. Departure Time serves as a nice opener to that effect.

Stage Mentalism -Fans of Max Maven's Kurotsuke will love this routine, Seer.

Ambitious Card, Part 2 - It always amazes me what strong audience reaction you get to Ambitious Card.
If you are a fan of Paul Harris' Solid Deception, Hammered Deception is sure to find its way into your set.

Mealtime Magic - Besides performing in restaurants,you can also entertain at your own table using things
that are there. Broken English is a very nice paddle routine using chopsticks.

Drawing on Cards  - For some reason, drawing or writing on a playing card always seems to impress your audience.
They would never wreck a card and the fact that you do, impresses them. I particularly like Snow Storm where
a selected card appears in a snow globe.

Coin Routines Part 1  - Some great coin stuff here from knuckle-busting on down. I have always liked the plot
of a coin bending so check out Prime Time Bending.

Cards and Props, Part 2  Check out Bounty Hunter. Jay certainly does love his paperclips.

Coins and Props  - Paul Harris fans will love Stand-up Twilight, a walk around version of this classic.

Close-Up Mentalism, Part 2 -X's and OhMyGod. The outcome of a game of Tic Tac Toe is predicted using
a very clever gimmick you make yourself.

Bar Magic - Some nice effects using bottle caps and other things you would find at a bar.

Almost Impromptu Card Magic 2 -Tricks requiring a little setup. Arthur Emerson fans are going to like
Partial Knowledge.

Levitations-  Only two tricks here but you will be playing with both before the day is over.

Invisible Deck -  Most of these you won't do as it involves marking up your invisible deck. But then along
comes Echo and gives the trick a whole new punch.Mischief - What an appropriate name for a chapter
of Jay's materiel. This chapter made me laugh out loud and although  it is doubtful you will do any of these,
they are a delight to read.

Tenkai Pinch - You are taught the mechanics of the pinch, several variations and a number of routines. Not for the novice.

Gimmicked Cards Part 1 - Lots of cool tricks here but they need a specially printed gimmick which you don't have
but they are available from Jay.

Beyond Secrets Part 2- Another group of short essays from his book Beyond Secrets.

Cartoons - Scattered throughout the books are cartoons by Jay and this volume finishes with a whole section of his
demented humor.

(Intermission. If you are still with me, you have earned a break. So have a cup of coffee, take a nap, watch some tube
or whatever. Because when you are ready, there is still one more volume!)¥

Volume 3 -

Close-Up Magic - Part 2  - Border Crossing could not be more perfect for me. I live in Florida and golf is almost a religion here,

Magic with Bills – Mismade Monopoly. Looks like a lot of fun and you don't wreck any real bills.

Cards & Props – Part 3 – Op Bones is a very nice matrix routine using dice.

Matches – Chameleon, great trick with a great souvenir takeaway for your volunteer

Cards and Bands – Although a flourish (so technically it's not a trick), Pyramid is a lot of fun to play with.

Pens -   Cap in Hand – A pen cap is restored to a pen held behind your volunteer's back

Coin Routines – Part 2 – The Visible Coin Assembly is probably my favorite in the books so far. Imagine a matrix where
once the four coins are laid out, they all move to the same corner in full view without you touching them.

Card Box Trickery – Maybe I am just a fan of horror but the title Nosferatu caught my attention. Fun trick with a great visual.

Han Ping Chien – Jay does Han Ping Chien (Chien Pimg Han) in reverse and comes up with a great coin move.

Playing Card Mentalism - Third Eye - One of Jay's weirder outings, it is easy to do, fun and it will keep your
audience engaged.

Packet Tricks - As a packet trick kind of guy, I would have preferred a lot longer section, but there is gold to
be had here. Dreamscape is a nice easy one that will fit in your pocket.

Coins Across - Mexican Jumping Coins is a three coin trick using only two coins.

Card Sleights - Jay teaches some of his original sleights that he has used on tricks in this set such as the
Wichita Slip, Surfboard Change, Face Up Rub-a-Dub Vanish and more.

Bill Switch Part 2 - Insanely creative uses for the bill switch. Dye Job is a must if you do kid shows.

Not-So-Impromptu Card Magic - Chosen card in block of ice.

Coins and Props - Smashed is a keeper.

Firestarters - C'mon, admit it. You got into magic for all the women (and no, the ladies out there are not
as shallow as this) This is Jay's chapter on routines that may get you a date with a volunteer, My choice
would be Kinky, a little edgy but fun.

Gimmicked Decks -  Yes and No. Nice routine that seems to be a cousin of the Phil card trick.by Trevor Duffy.

Sankey Utilities -  Without a doubt, it's Omnilope. This is absolutely brilliant.

Gimmicked Cards -Part 2 - Open Sesame looks like  lot of fun.

Gimmicked Coins  - Razor's Edge ￿Penetrate a card with a coin and pass everything out for examination after.

Beyond Secrets - Part 3 -In which Jay finishes sharing Beyond Secrets, his book on magic theory. No tricks,
just great advice and practical lessons.

The book ends with a a complete bibliography of Jay's works. One thing I really like about this (and
would like to see in more books) is there is a picture of almost every entry of the covers and in some cases
omments about the material. Going through this, it surprised me how little of this vast amount of magic actually
appeared in this set of books so there is so much more to try to find out there. Output like this from a single
creator is mind boggling. This guy comes up with great tricks faster than James Patterson releases new books.

But wait, that's not all! There are also two free downloads that you can only get by purchasing the set directly from
Vanishing. If you buy from any other company, you are out of luck. Here is what is included.

Download 1

Airtight, Black Market, Carbon Paper. X.  Traveling Expenses, Paperclipped, Back inTime, Mr. Clean Coins Across, Porous,
Chameleon, Global Warming, From the Archives (comedy bits)

Download 2

Holy Moly, Joking Around, Slick Splits, Stirring Silver, Forgery, Mercuring, Reception, Belly of the Beast,
Leaving Home, Mexican Jumping Coins, From the Archives (comedy bits)

Jay has been incredibly generous with his fans, too. He has posted numerous free tutorials teaching magic
on Youtube. SankeyMagic - YouTube

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I have fallen in love with this set of books and they will have a prominent
place on my shelf. It is impossible for a true magic lover to go through even a small part of this set without
absorbing enough material for an entire performance. Get it. You  will not be disappointed.  Highly, highly recommended.