Mike Caveney's Carter the Great may be the most detailed biography of a magician ever written. The book -- 375 oversized pages -- is beautifully produced, clearly written, and contains a wealth of material on Carter, his seven world tours, his illusions, his ownership of Martinka's, and the men and women who made up the world of magic from 1900 to 1936 or so. There are scores of photographs and illustrations, including 24 full color lithographs -- every Carter poster known to exist -- plus black and white illustrations of four posters that have vanished. Much of the material is drawn from Carter's personal collection -- letters, scrapbooks, notes, illusions, costumes, and posters -- which was purchased by Caveney and Bill Smith. This is a fascinating biography, a sumptuous history, and a fun read. The 1,000 copies that have been printed are priced at $85 each. But if you're serious about magic history, a collector of magicana, or simply relish a great biography, you'll find this a rewarding inve stment. ( )