BELLISSIMO -- The new book of Vanni Bossi magic from Hermetic Press is a strikingly handsome volume with a title so fancy I had to look up one of its words. A sneak peek (it is destined to reappear, gift-wrapped, beneath my tree on Christmas morning) reveals that its unique style ("various printers' devices") derives from a 1593 Italian treatise on card conjuring by Galasso. Accordingly, it is "composed and brought to light" by Stephen Minch and "illuminated" by Tony Dunn. I found myself quite enjoying its stylistic quirks, from the titles themselves (one brief chapter is "Mirabile Visu," and I loved the twist of calling the card chapter "The Angels' Playthings") to the ornate fonts to the clever layout. Trick descriptions (there are 44 of them) float willy-nilly on the page in maroon while the instructional text snakes around them (and the illustrations) in black.

Vanni Bossi's legacy.

The methods behind the routines that make up The Aretalogy of Vanni Bossi are unexpected, to say the least, and I won't be convinced that they all work until I try them (some involved unusual substances). In Vanni's favor, his The Surfing Card Stab worked perfectly the first time, a delightful surprise. Among the items in the generous card chapter (28 titled effects), I enjoyed a card in glass effect, a restored card in picture frame, an impromptu force, a couple of alternatives to the Mercury Fold, a card to box, a card to head of beer (my favorite in the book), a color change in a sealed bag, two cards from a sealed box, and a double card rise in a sealed bag.

Coins star in the second chapter (12 items), among which I liked a coin through hand, over a dozen Okito box turnovers and ruses including one routine in which the box is half filled with water, a switch under a hank, and a coins through table that does not involve lapping.

All this plus a novel introduction of a thumb tip, a pencil through bill that could be a miracle, and two elaborate Jerx-like scenarios, one using a swimming pool and the other a drive in the country that could get you arrested for littering.

16th century adornment.

In short, in both format and content, this is quite unlike any magic book I have previously encountered. Lavish cover and end papers, hardback, 192 pages. It is the first book from Hermetic Press to be marketed by Penguin, and they will sell you one for $65. I bought mine from H&R Magic Books.

THE BOOKS OF 2016 -- If you can afford only one book this Christmas, I recommend David Linsell's The Spirit of Magic, pictured at the top of the page. Reviewed here in August 2016, it is a simply sensational compendium of the larger-than-life images that define 20th and 21st-century magic. I understand that David printed only a few hundred, so take advantage of the opportunity to own one. I can think of no other book that will similarly raise your spirits and make you proud to be a magician. How wonderful life is that we got to know these subjects. Per David's recent ads, send $40 via Paypal to okito@earthlink.net. (I am assuming that is for U.S. orders.)

Stunning photography.

The year was a fine one for magic books in general, with Richard Kaufman's Tenyo-ism as the coffee table book of the year, with two major entries for stand-up magic (John Lovick's Handsome Jack and Gene Anderson The Book), with such out-of-the-box sources as this month's Vanni Bossi book and The Jerx Volume 1, and with brilliant material to be found in Lewis Jones's Top Deck (see the trick Avalanche!) and Raj Madhok's Mysteriouser and Mysteriouser (check Chair Way to Heaven). Although I rate David Linsell's book as the magic book of the year, the traditional books that I am having the most fun working through are John Bannon's Mentalissimo and The Secrets of So Sato. The two contain plenty of brilliant material within the range of mortal hands. Your audiences will thank you.

Sixty years of It's Magic! in one fine book.

I'd be remiss of course to not mention two books of my own. First up is Milt Larsen's fine hardback Sixty Year Celebration It's Magic! 2016. The book grew from a Little Egypt Gazette interview into a 60-year retrospective of It's Magic! filled with dozens of color photos. As she does with all Milt's books, editor Carol Marie did all the heavy lifting, and we thank her along with sponsor Randy Pitchford. Magic is full of wonderful people. ($25 if you can find one. Check the Magic Castle.)

Also of mine, mentioned here frequently of late, is my middle-grade novel McGrave's Hotel. Don't let that "middle-grade" bit dissuade you. Magicians of any age should enjoy the adventures of a young bellhop at a haunted hotel battling dark forces with a new love interest at his side (Death's daughter!). I am quite fond of both this volume and its predecessor, Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show. Both are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.