Magic, insists stage illusionist Adrian
Ware, is entirely a matter of imagination, not supernatural ability.
But is he fooling himself?
Only Your Imagination
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine
Issue #4 • Spring 1989
|
cover not available |
This story was originally written when I was in college, and
arose from a discussion with a good friend and classmate who was
himself a professional magician at the time. (Patrick has
since changed careers, and is now a veteran Broadway stage
actor....)
Read an Excerpt....
"Psychic abilities aren't dishonest,"
Frank
said patiently. "Last couple of years, Meriwether's psychology
department has done some experiments that show definite indications
of clairvoyant effects. There's a long way to go yet, sure, and it's
not anything like the tricks I sell in the shop. But it's still
legitimate scientific study, and it's still ESP."
There was a touch of exasperation in Adrian's amused
reply. "We've had this argument for years,
Frank, and it always ends in a draw.
You insist I've got a closed mind, and I keep telling you it's a
matter of professional ethics. Stage magic and ESP just don't mix --
look how most magicians stay as far away from Kreskin as penguins do
from the Sahara."
Frank raised an eyebrow. "But look at
what Kreskin does, Adrian. Oh, I
know a lot of his stunts have been explained away, but that still
leaves some very interesting cases. Granted, there's no conclusive
proof-- "
"And there never will be," Adrian returned,
"because ESP only works when the people who believe in it say it
does. You know as well as I do that the laboratory studies always
come up ambiguous. There's enough 'potential' for believers to say
it works, and enough margin for error that the skeptics refuse to
accept the results."
"In other words," Frank
said dryly, "ESP is as much a product of the imagination as stage
magic."
Adrian's
comeback was cut off by another knock on the dressing room door.
"What is it?" he called.
One of his assistants pushed the door open and nervously took
a step forward. "We've got a problem," he said. "It's the wiring on
the Aladdin's Carpet motor. One of the connections is blown out --
it must have shorted during the show, or maybe at the end of
rehearsal this afternoon. Only that's impossible..." He trailed off.