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WAR MAGICIAN
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Bill Page
May 31, 2002, 8:37:21 PM5/31/02
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When is the movie coming out???, March 10, 2002 Reviewer: Sean Barry
Weske (see more about me) from Westminster., CA United States
I had the privilege of portraying the Title Character in the History
Channel production of this extraordinary person. This is the unique
story of the British Stage Magician, Jasper Maskelyne who, when war
broke out, offered his 'special skills' to the War Dept. He promptly
enlisted in the British Army and attempted to convince the Generals that
his skills as an illusionist could be put to use against the Germans. At
first, he was laughed at, "What could we possibly use a magician for?"
He was asked. "If I could fool an audience only twenty feet away, I
could certainly fool the enemy a mile away or more!" He answered. He was
put into Camouflage School, where he succeeded in hiding a Machine-gun
Bunker so completely that the Inspecting General couldn't find it (even
when he was standing right on top of it). Jasper had made his point! He
was sent to North Africa, where he put together a hand-picked team of
men. His first job was to hide Alexandria Harbour from the Luftwaffe's
nightly bombing raids. With the Magician's ability of 'mis-direction',
he and his team created a phony harbour some miles away, which looked so
like the original, that the invading bombers dropped their cargo on that
instead of the correct target. His next task was to hide the Suez Canal,
which by using a series of Anti-Aircraft searchlights combined with a
collection of mirrors, Jasper and his team caused a 'blinding effect',
which confused the Luftwaffe Pilots so, that they couldn't see the
target to bomb it. He then put his 'skills' to disguising British tanks
to look like harmless trucks and vice-versa. Rommel placed his main
forces to oppose, what he thought was a strong force of British tanks,
which in reality, were only trucks disguised as tanks. Meanwhile the
real British tank force (disguised as trucks) were about to attack many
miles away, against a now, very small opposing force. It was due, in no
small part, to the stage illusionist, Jasper Maskelyne, that the British
8th Army won the battle of El Alamein, which spelled the end of the
Afrika Korps' and General Field Marshall Rommel's aspirations in North
Africa.
This book is now being planned as an up-coming movie, starring Tom
Cruise in the lead role!
Was this review helpful to you?
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: One of the most
captivating books I have ever read, November 4, 2001
Reviewer: Richard Nichols (see more about me) from Wayland, MA USA
The War Magician by David Fisher is a brilliant and intriguing book that
explains the "art" of war. The "magic gang" is a group of mostly
non-combatants in WWII that had a major effect on the outcome of the War
in Africa. They outsmarted Field Marshall Rommel, changed trucks into
tanks and tanks into trucks. They created their own navy and helped in
the defense and support of Malta. The human element and compassion shown
in this book is both touching and inspiring. I used to have 2 paperbacks
and 1 hard back copy of the book but I never got the paperbacks returned
to me after loaning them out! People have always responded positively
after reading my copy (which I no longer loan out!). Buy this book it is
a definite keeper!
Was this review helpful to you?
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful: Very Interesting,
August 25, 1997
Reviewer: plkq...@ix.netcom.com from Florence, KY
Whether you are a magician or not, you'll love this book. The subjects
of the book not only contributed to camoflage techniques, but it also
explains how they "moved" the port city of Alexandria to hide it from
Axis bombers. Forget smart bombs and laser weapons, here are some real
wonder 'weapons'
Was this review helpful to you?
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Jack Handey
John M. Irvin
Clint Willis
Stephen Ambrose
Jean Shepherd
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Weske (see more about me) from Westminster., CA United States
I had the privilege of portraying the Title Character in the History
Channel production of this extraordinary person. This is the unique
story of the British Stage Magician, Jasper Maskelyne who, when war
broke out, offered his 'special skills' to the War Dept. He promptly
enlisted in the British Army and attempted to convince the Generals that
his skills as an illusionist could be put to use against the Germans. At
first, he was laughed at, "What could we possibly use a magician for?"
He was asked. "If I could fool an audience only twenty feet away, I
could certainly fool the enemy a mile away or more!" He answered. He was
put into Camouflage School, where he succeeded in hiding a Machine-gun
Bunker so completely that the Inspecting General couldn't find it (even
when he was standing right on top of it). Jasper had made his point! He
was sent to North Africa, where he put together a hand-picked team of
men. His first job was to hide Alexandria Harbour from the Luftwaffe's
nightly bombing raids. With the Magician's ability of 'mis-direction',
he and his team created a phony harbour some miles away, which looked so
like the original, that the invading bombers dropped their cargo on that
instead of the correct target. His next task was to hide the Suez Canal,
which by using a series of Anti-Aircraft searchlights combined with a
collection of mirrors, Jasper and his team caused a 'blinding effect',
which confused the Luftwaffe Pilots so, that they couldn't see the
target to bomb it. He then put his 'skills' to disguising British tanks
to look like harmless trucks and vice-versa. Rommel placed his main
forces to oppose, what he thought was a strong force of British tanks,
which in reality, were only trucks disguised as tanks. Meanwhile the
real British tank force (disguised as trucks) were about to attack many
miles away, against a now, very small opposing force. It was due, in no
small part, to the stage illusionist, Jasper Maskelyne, that the British
8th Army won the battle of El Alamein, which spelled the end of the
Afrika Korps' and General Field Marshall Rommel's aspirations in North
Africa.
This book is now being planned as an up-coming movie, starring Tom
Cruise in the lead role!
Was this review helpful to you?
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: One of the most
captivating books I have ever read, November 4, 2001
Reviewer: Richard Nichols (see more about me) from Wayland, MA USA
The War Magician by David Fisher is a brilliant and intriguing book that
explains the "art" of war. The "magic gang" is a group of mostly
non-combatants in WWII that had a major effect on the outcome of the War
in Africa. They outsmarted Field Marshall Rommel, changed trucks into
tanks and tanks into trucks. They created their own navy and helped in
the defense and support of Malta. The human element and compassion shown
in this book is both touching and inspiring. I used to have 2 paperbacks
and 1 hard back copy of the book but I never got the paperbacks returned
to me after loaning them out! People have always responded positively
after reading my copy (which I no longer loan out!). Buy this book it is
a definite keeper!
Was this review helpful to you?
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful: Very Interesting,
August 25, 1997
Reviewer: plkq...@ix.netcom.com from Florence, KY
Whether you are a magician or not, you'll love this book. The subjects
of the book not only contributed to camoflage techniques, but it also
explains how they "moved" the port city of Alexandria to hide it from
Axis bombers. Forget smart bombs and laser weapons, here are some real
wonder 'weapons'
Was this review helpful to you?
Customers who bought titles by David Fisher also bought titles by these
authors:
Jack Handey
John M. Irvin
Clint Willis
Stephen Ambrose
Jean Shepherd
Explore similar authors
I have read this book, and I want to review it. E-mail a friend about
this item.
Write a So You'd Like to... guide.
Correct errors and omissions in this listing. Is there a specific
product you'd like us to sell? Tell us about it.
Where's My Stuff?
• Track your recent orders.
• View or change your orders in Your Account. Shipping & Returns
• See our shipping rates & policies.
• Return an item (here's our Returns Policy). Need Help? • Forgot
your password? Click here.
• Redeem or buy a gift certificate.
• Visit our Help department.
Search for
Your Recent History
Learn More
Recently Viewed Products
The War Magician by David Fisher
Visit the Page You Made
Turn your past books purchases into $$$
Learn more about selling at Amazon.com today! Top of Page
Books Search | Browse Subjects | Bestsellers |
Magazines | Corporate Accounts
e-Books & Docs | New & Used Textbooks | Used Books
Amazon.com Home | Directory of All Stores Our International
Sites: United Kingdom | Germany | Japan
| France
Help | Shopping Cart | Your Account |
Sell Items | 1-Click Settings
About Amazon.com | Join Our Staff
Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2002, Amazon.com, Inc. or
its affiliates
Included Page: Amazon.com: buying info: The War Magician
WOW!
OH YEAH TONOTIGHT ON THE HITSORY CHANEL THE WAR MAGICIAN AT
11:00PM
AND part 2 at 3:00am
PART 1
War Illusionist TODAY 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM RATED:
TV-Y7 Special. British magician Jasper Maskelyne was called in
to fool Hitler's generals and pilots, and to outsmart German field
marshal Erwin Rommel.(CC)
THEN part2 on cox coable chanel 59
on the hisory channel
History's Mysteries TOMORROW 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM NOT
RATED Network Series. The War Illusionist.British magician
Jasper Maskelyne was called in to fool Hitler's generals and pilots, and
to outsmart German field marshal Erwin Rommel.(CC)
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