This spring's Landfall features conjuror's tricks, uncanny scenes and practical magic from some of New Zealand's best artists and writers. Poets James Norcliffe, Shannon Welch and Janet Charman focus on some very different kinds of disappearing act. This spring's Landfall features conjuror's tricks, uncanny scenes and practical magic from some of New Zealand's best artists and writers. Poets James Norcliffe, Shannon Welch and Janet Charman focus on some very different kinds of disappearing act.Bill Manhire provides 'performance tips' for aspiring illusionists. And Alison Glenny opens the fascinating history of 'the Surrealist cookbook'.

Among this issue's essayists, Gregory O'Brien meditates on Bill Culbert's brand of practical magic, Anthony Byrt delves into New Zealand Gothic, and Alex Calder wonders about cannibals.

In the art portfolios Seraphine Pick paints three-legged-men and tattooed ladies, while photographer Ben Cauchi presents some 'scenes from the quiet room'.

Alongside all this, there is Landfall's usual range of thoughtful and provocative reviews, including Philip Armstrong's major account of the state of Pacific writing, Ian Wedde on Colin McCahon, and a skeptical take ('holy sea cow') on The Whale Rider.

Landfall is published by University of Otago Press. Its release coincides with the publication of Enduring Legacy: Charles Brasch, Patron, Poet & Collector which reassesses the life and work of Landfall's founding editor.

New Book on Charles Brasch

In the mid twentieth century Charles Brasch was an important figure in New Zealand's cultural life - a poet, patron and founding editor of Landfall, the country's premier journal of letters and art.

Enduring Legacy: Charles Brasch, Patron, Poet & Collector, edited by Donald Kerr, offers a reappraisal of Charles Brasch and his impact on New Zealand in the mid-twentieth century. It celebrates the life and legacy of a man whose quiet presence left many ripples in the developing New Zealand literary and art scene.

The May release from a 30-year embargo of the Brasch papers at the Hocken Library, University of Otago, presented an ideal opportunity to look at the man and his times. Two exhibitions have been held during the year and Enduring Legacy has been published by University of Otago Press in association with the University of Otago Library to close this season of acknowledgement. The volume contains essays by writers and critics, including literary executor Alan Roddick, W.H. Oliver, Iain Sharp, O.E. Middleton, Michael King and Ruth Dallas.

The book is divided into five sections: The Legacy, The Man and the Citizen, The Poet, The Editor and personal Recollections, covering Brasch's life and work. Most importantly it provides an occasion for revisiting his poetry.

Enduring Legacy is well illustrated with personal photographs and colour reproductions of works from his art collection, many of which have never before been published. Brasch was an early collector of New Zealand modernists, including Colin McCahon, Toss Woollaston, Evelyn Page and many other important artists.

Its publication coincides with the release of the Landfall 206: Magic.