Magic has come a long way since the days when it was the entertainment of choice for kiddie parties and sock salesmen conventions. Now it’s Big Time, it’s TV, it’s lights and colored smoke and digital sound…and it’s on the Internet.

If you were one of those who watched David Blaine getting buried earlier this year and thought, "Hey, if I were insane or pushing a TV special, I could do that!", then step right this way to see the biggest show on Earth: Magic On The Internet!

As a prospective conjurer, you’ll want to start small, and there’s nothing better for building dexterity and confidence than a few well-executed card tricks. At the Card Tricks Web Site, you’ll find 100 different tricks that you can learn for free. The tricks are ranked from easy to hard, and there’ s even a section on using special decks or accessories.

Poise, confidence . . . let’s face it, a magician’s attitude is as important as his cape, and the surest way to get in the right frame of mind with something is to surround yourself with it. That’s right, we’re talking ...clipart! At Circle Magic’s Free Magic Web Clipart site you’ll find more cards, wizards, and rabbits (many of them animated!) than you can shake a wand at.

Mom’s proud and Aunt Silvia thinks you’re the devil incarnate. This can only mean one thing: you’re getting pretty skilled at those card tricks. It’s time to move onto The Conjuring Cabinet. Here you'll find a wider selection of tricks, tips, and stunts to learn in both beginning and (if you can pass a simple test) advanced areas. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter!

No name conjures up more magical images than that of Houdini. Born Ehrich Weiss, Houdini’s life and tragic death (on Halloween, 1926) really brought to magic a universal appeal and aura that survives to this day. At this MagicTricks.com’s site, you can access a Houdini biography, photo gallery, audio and film clips…even information on the famous Houdini seances.

When it comes to name recognition, Copperfield may well be the Houdini of his age. His TV specials (remember the vanishing Statue of Liberty?) consistently bring in more viewers than the latest "Cop Chases That Result In Killer Shark Attacks!" episode, and the showmanship is not lost at his official Website.

Here you can get video clips, information on illusions, and the latest Copperfield news and appearances. Chat, post messages, send postcards, snag icons and images…much of it for free. Grab the Shockwave plug in to get full use of the site, including a game where you can intentionally lose and saw David in half. Yippee!

If you’re getting real serious with your magic, or maybe just seeking like companionship, check out the IBM Website (not that IBM, silly). The International Brotherhood of Magicians is the fraternal organization for magicians.

Sporting 15,000 members (including Lance Burton and that Copperfield fella’), you can get news and membership info here. Upon joining you’ll be able to party with one of the local "rings" or groups, as well as the biggest show of all: the annual IBM convention.

You can take this tour to the nth degree by stopping into The Magical Ring, home to a magic WebRing with (currently) 49 member sites. Pick a starting point such as "The Magic Garage Sale" or "Magic Dan," and pore through them one by one, or pick the "random" option to be surprised.

Better yet, start your own page and join the ring. Pretty soon they’ll be calling you "The Great Your Name Here!" and sending you e-mail on how to, just out of curiosity, "reappear" Aunt Silvia.

Think of it: a hundred years ago, the Internet would have looked like the greatest magic show on Earth. It’s only fitting that so much magical wonder and knowledge would now find a home on it. Ah, I love the virtual smell of flash powder in the morning!