INTRODUCTION
by Jeff Davis

Many magicians have escaped or "cheated" death. But isn’t it always a trick? Diamond Jim Tyler once performed a feat that even the great Houdini himself never equaled.

Jim is somewhat of an enigma. He has a wicked sense of humor that belies his polite demeanor. I first laid eyes on Jim in 1986. He was honing his skills as a magician the same way I had done it more than ten years earlier, by working and demonstrating magic at a local magic shop. A terrarium on the counter contained a fake tarantula. Or so I thought. If you’ve never seen a tarantula up close, it often remains motionless for such long periods that you’d swear it’s a fake.

I was staring at the tarantula trying to determine whether it was indeed real or just a joke. My face was just inches from the glass. Suddenly another tarantula jumped from behind the terrarium onto the counter! My heart skipped a beat. Jim laughed. I looked down at the counter and saw an obviously fake plastic spider with a hose attached. The other end of the hose was in Jim’s hand. A squeeze from his hand had made the plastic spider jump at just the right time while the beast in the terrarium had misdirected my attention. But Jim’s chuckle was about to turn into a belly laugh.

Convinced that the tarantula in the terrarium was also a fake and the danger was over, I again placed my face just inches from the glass. "But this one looks so real," I remarked, trying to look unrattled. "It is real," Jim insisted, but with a crooked smile.

"C’mon, you’re not going to fool me again. If it’s real, then why won’t it move?" I challenged. My face was still inches from the glass, and I was now tapping on the side furiously. Suddenly, as if Jim somehow had the ability to control this living, breathing creature, the tarantula instantly jumped onto the glass RIGHT IN MY FACE! It was instantaneous, like a magic trick. Jim howled.

Lew Zafran, the man to whom this book is dedicated, was my great-uncle. Lew was a master at making friends. When I chose the pallbearers for Lew’s funeral, I selected some of his oldest friends as well as some of his newest, including Jim Tyler. This was appropriate because Lew continued making new friends right up until his death. "I’d make friends with people my own age," he’d joke, "but there aren’t any."

Among the most distraught at Lew’s death was Jim Tyler, nearly sixty years his junior! "I’ve lost my best friend," he told me, echoing my sentiments. I’ve had the good fortune to get to know Jim a little better since then. I’ve seen him perform, had dinner with Jim and his wife, Kathy, and been a guest in their home. I’ve come to understand what Lew saw in Jim. He is energetic, enthusiastic, and dedicated to being the best magician he can be. More important, he is a fine and decent person.

I’m happy that Lew inspired Jim to write this book, and I know Lew would be very proud. Many of the effects in this book are strong magic. Some might be dismissed as merely "cute" items. Do not underestimate these items. Lew knew, and Jim has learned, that these items can elevate a show from being ordinary to being truly entertaining. Items or effects such as these will endear you to your audiences.

Jim’s goal was to write a book that would appeal to and benefit beginners as well as experienced magicians. He has succeeded. He has included a glossary for beginners, who often get frustrated by references to sleights that are unfamiliar to them. (Check the glossary if you don’t know what a sleight is!) Many of the tricks, such as Burning Impression and The Birthday Bill, require very little sleight-of-hand and are easy to do. Yet they get terrific response from an audience. For the more experienced finger-flingers, check out One-Armed Aces, Trapdoor Coins, and Diamond’s Dazzler. These knuckle-busters should keep you busy. Don’t overlook some of the simpler items, such as Three Burnt Matches, Invisible Thumbscrews, and The Hitchhiker. With a little showmanship and the right personality, you can really have fun with these. As a bonus beyond the abundance of material, the book is also a fun read. Jim includes quotations from various sources that are amusing and sometimes thought-provoking. And his own sense of humor runs throughout.

So what has Jim done that Houdini failed to do? Of all Jim’s accomplishments in life, his greatest feat is one that none of us would ever even hope to attempt. Jim beat cancer. I’m happy to report that he recently celebrated five years of his cancer being in remission. The medical experts say that means he is officially cured of Hodgkin’s disease. And he really did celebrate. Had a pool party. I can’t think of anything more worthy of a celebration. And his victory against cancer is good news for you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be holding this book in your hands. Celebrate and enjoy.