What’s Inside the 20th Anniversary Edition
With over 165 pages of advanced sleight-of-hand magic, The Paper Engine has become a cult classic among serious card workers—and a rite of passage for magicians looking to elevate their technique. This new edition preserves the original core material while layering in 20+ years of teaching experience to make the work more accessible, more practical, and more powerful.
Inside, you’ll learn foundational and original sleights like:
- The Nowhere Pass
- The Outjog Herrmann Pass
- The Illusion Control
- The Undercover Switch
- The Bluff Shift
- Routines including Revolver, Search and Destroy, and 2001, an Ace Odyssey
At the time of this release, copies of the original edition were still selling for $135–400 online. This edition replaces the scarcity with clarity—and finally completes what the original set out to teach.
“The Paper Engine is one of the best books of card magic that I have ever read.”
— Michael Close
What’s New in This Edition
A New Chapter on the Gravity Half Pass
This isn’t a rewrite—it’s a complete reimagining. Based on two decades of workshops, lectures, and private lessons, this new chapter finally shows what the original couldn’t: how to see, feel, and master the defining moment of the GHP. If you’ve ever struggled with the sleight—or put it on the shelf—this chapter will bring it back to life.
A Deep Dive into Natural Dealing Position
For many magicians, this will be the most important addition in the entire book. The Natural Dealing Position isn’t just a better way to hold the deck—it’s the hidden key that makes sleights like the GHP actually work. It sets the stage for natural rhythm, invisible motion, and deceptive transitions. Whether you’re a beginner or a technician, this chapter will unlock not just The Paper Engine, but the world of advanced card magic itself.
New Illustrations (in the New Material Only)
The Gravity Half Pass and Natural Dealing Position sections include new illustrations created using the Club Deck design. These images support the updated teaching and clarify key technical beats, especially in the GHP’s unique reversal moment.
“Aaron Fisher’s Paper Engine is a significant contribution to the literature of card magic… insightfully analytical and filled with techniques that matter.”
— Jamy Ian Swiss, Genii
Two Versions. One Engine.
Standard Hardcover Version
- 165 pages
- Hardcover with dust jacket
- Refined layout with Club Deck illustrations
- Durable, practical, and built to be used
- $49.95
Collector’s Edition (Signed & Slipcased)
- Clothbound hardcover with foil stamping
- Custom slipcase
- Signed and numbered frontispiece
- Backer names included in both editions
“The material in this book is top notch, and I guarantee it will enhance the repertoire of any serious student of card magic immensely.”
— Johnny Thompson
A Personal Note to Readers
Whether you’ve owned The Paper Engine for years or you’re discovering it for the first time, this edition is for you.
If you’re returning, you’ll find the core material untouched—but clearer, easier to apply, and more teachable than ever before. The new Gravity Half Pass chapter clarifies what we couldn’t land the first time. And the Natural Dealing Position reveals why moves that once felt difficult might not have been your fault.
If you’re new to the book, you’re getting the version I always wanted to make—guided by the feedback and experiences of magicians I’ve taught and learned from over the past 20 years.
Thanks for being here.
—Aaron
FAQs
Q: Is this just a reprint of the original?
No. It’s a complete reissue of the original book’s content, with two major additions: a new 20-page chapter on the Gravity Half Pass, a full section on Natural Dealing Position, updated illustrations, and new front/back matter.
Q: Are any of the original routines or sleights changed?
No. Everything from the original remains exactly as published. The new material adds clarity, insight, and context—but doesn’t alter the original work.
Q: What’s the difference between the two versions?
Content is identical. The Collector’s Version is signed, numbered, and comes in a premium slipcase. It was originally offered as part of the Kickstarter campaign and won’t be reprinted.
Q: Is there a paperback version?
No. This 20th Anniversary Edition is available exclusively in hardcover formats.
Q: Can I get this elsewhere?
Yes. It’s available from Vanishing Inc. and magic retailers through Murphy’s Magic. But this page—written by Aaron—is the only place you’ll find the full story behind the new edition.