We wouldn't know about Aaron Fisher if it hadn't been for a pound-sized bag of Reese's Pieces.

The candy was his booty-to-be for a summer camp when he barely a teenager. However, he traded it to a much larger, intimidating boy to learn the secret behind a magic trick. So armed, he did the trick over and over -- eventually for a magic-savvy math teacher in high school. That teacher told him the name of the trick (it was the glide) and that there were many, many more sleights to be learned.

Since then, Fisher has become one of the greatest modern card magicians. He combines the visual, in-your-face effects of today with the nuances and tradition of yesteryear's magic masters. His sleights are performed with a grace that evokes the masters who mentored him, such as Larry Jennings, the Great Tomsoni and Michael Skinner. He has performed for countless corporate clients, such as Lexus, Chrysler, Viacom and Caesar's Palace, and has been a regular at the famous Magic Castle.

Much of his original effects were detailed in his book, "The Paper Engine: Tension, Focus and Design in Card Magic." First published in 2002, the book is hailed by many top magicians as a modern classic in how to handle cards.

More impressive than his sleight of hand (which is tremendous) is his commitment to study and research. Magicians who ask Fisher for advice are likely to hear references to several great magicians and their work. Fisher has an unmatched command of the wisdom and skills imparted by S.W. Erdnase, Hugard and Braue, Paul LePaul and Dai Vernon.

He also loves teaching those lessons. On his Web site, he writes how a full-time career as an entertainer inspired him to teach the next generation of magicians.

"I know all too well, after all, of the many pitfalls and missteps that can derail anyone who attempts to learn the craft of sleight-of-hand," he wrote. "I've read misleading books filled with bad information. I've taken advice that turned out to be wrong. I've spent countless hours learning sleights and techniques that turned out to be of no use at all."

That drive to educate is what makes his training videos so compelling and educational. Watching them feels like a master class in card magic. Fisher devotes considerable time to the subtleties and basic mechanics that make a sleight work.

Fisher's Web site

Fisher's other creations:

• Secret Weapon
• Panic
• The Rising