Title: Dear Mr Fantasy By John Bannon
Description: Review by Lapping
Description: Review by Lapping
Lapping - July 17, 2006 03:54 PM (GMT)
::::::::::::::::::::::::DEAR MR FANTASY by JOHN BANNON REVIEW
Pretoughts
I had heard SO MUCH great things about this product, that I literally said "Damn, I need to get this for sure" So I payed for the book and I waited for the arrival. So, there I was, half-asleep, just woken up, when I saw a package in the doorway. DAMN!!! It turns out to be the book I longly awaited for! It was at that moment that I really thought it was surely going to be a blast, and boi was a right..
The Contents
WOW! Nice design, beautifully set out! Great quality pictures and illustrations, too! The paper quality is superb, it wasn't that cheap ol' recycled crap that fades and goes yellow after a few years, this stuff looks like it'll last forever! :shock: Damn, I was really hyped up about this now. So, let's get onto the actual content of the book;
The Foreword
In these few paragraphs, John really gives you an insight to why he created this book, it's actually quite inspiring to read and it shows how he was inspired aswell. Great little introduction to such a fantastic book!
CHAPTER ONE:BULLET TRAIN -:
Inconoclastic Aces, Syncopated Aces, Interrobang Aces:
Effect:
The classic all-at-once Ace Assembly with a twist. This three-phase routine begins in the usual manner, but the instant the cards are laid down in the classic "T" formation, the four Aces unexpectedly appear and assemble in the leader packet.
This is Bannon's take on the classic "Ace Assembly" plot, but this time with a twist of handling and presentation! His usage to use 3 different timings to show 3 climaxes completely hightens the effect and brings out much surprise to the audience. He even takes the time to first begin explaining why and what made him strive to create this routine, which from my point of view, is a really nice touch.
CHAPTER TWO:SECRETS AND MYSTERIES OF THE FOUR ACES -:
Line Of Sight (Control):
Effect:
Having set the stage, the performer has an audience member shuffle a deck of cards. The cards are fanned before the spectator's eyes and she is asked to stare at one card in the spread of cards. Looking into the spectator's eyes (he cannot see and has not looked at the faces of the cards), the performer discerns the identity of the card the spectator is thinking of.
The cards are again shuffled by the spectator and the experiment is immediatly repeated.
A great little control that is, dare I say, diguised as an effect! This simple yet affective method uses "a diabolical peek glimpse and a lot of blowing smoke" (as a quote from the book). This effect simply sets you up for the next routines to follow in this Chapter.
Final Verdict:
Effect:
From a shuffled deck, a spectator cuts off four packets of cards. The spectator then turns over the top card of each packet and discovers the four Aces.
Oh, no! Damn! This one's HOT! This is purely and simply exactly how the effect is described. It's just that. THAT simple. The spectator cuts four packets, cutting to each of the four Aces. It really is a kicker of an effect, a super-easy Ace production that involves the spectator to do all the work - something that most Ace productions don't have! This is also the perfect opener to the following effects described in Chapter Two.
Cull De Stack (Control):
This is an easy, yet ellegant and natural way to casually cull a number or group of cards to the top of the deck is a great little control that you can use in any situation when you wish to set up numbers of cards on top of the deck.
INTERLUDE: Two Classics:
Effect:
After the spectator has cut to the four Aces, the magician asks the spectator to cross her arms, and open out her hands flat. He places one of the red Aces in her left hand, and the other in her right, and tells her to un-cross her arms. He says, "in doing so, the two Aces actually switched places. Not with each other, but with the black Aces" - and the two colours switch places, the audience member is now holding the two black Aces and the performer the red Aces.
This is John's personal presentation and handeling for "The Last Trick of Dr. Jacob Daley" or "Daley's Aces" which I now love; thanks to his work and handeling. Bannon includes patter ideas what will keep the spectator more focused and more alarmed by the effects that just occured right in front of them. Great little variation.
Beyond Fabulous:
Effect:
After fooling the audience member with the last phase, he swiftly moves onto another mystery concerning once again, the four Aces. The performer fairly distributes the aces in the deck via placing four packets of cards behind each Ace and loosing them completely. The packets containing each one Ace are re-assembled to one 52-card deck, and the performer procceeds to produce the Aces in a number of different ways.
First, a 7 appears reversed in the deck, "surpringly" not an Ace. He says it's a locator card, and that 7 cards down from the locator, is the Ace of Clubs - which it is, the first Ace is found. The Second, by snaping the fingers over the tabled face-down deck, the second Ace - the Ace of Diamonds appears reversed in the centre, that's two Aces. The third by mearly spelling to it; A-C-E-O-F-H-E-A-R-T-S; the third Ace is found. The fourth Ace is found by the spectator, and is asked to cut off a pile of cards from the deck. A process of elmination is conducted at the spectator's descretion. At the conclusion, there are four piles of discards and a single card left in the performer's hand - the final Ace of Spades!
Before the applause becomes too out of control, the magician recaptures their attention. "Wait! The secret is control, but do you know what the mystery is?" The performer reminds the audience that his game is Poker, and that while four Aces are a good hand, a Royal Flush always beats four aces. The top card of each of the discard piles is turned over to reveal the King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of Spades that, with the Ace, comprise a Royal Flush!
OMG. This effect is one KILLER routine for sure! Not only have the spectators cut to the four Aces, but they have seen so many miracles along with them, making a combined effect SO STRONG that it will leave their jaws on the floor. This routine in itself is also extremely powerful; but the fact that the audience themselves have shuffled the deck numerous times beforehand, can only hit the applause further. Wonderfully easy and a nice little magician fooler too!
CHAPTER THREE:DEAD RECKONING -:
Dead Reckoning: (Control):
Effect:
The spectator cuts a pile of cards off the deck and shuffles them in his hand. He is asked to remember the top card, and keep the identity to himself. The performer asks them to bury their card by further cutting more cards onto the pile in their hand. The packets are then re-assembled and the magician explains what will occure. After going through what he wishes to happen, the spectator is to silently spell out in their head the name of their card , but as they do so, to deal one card for each letter. For example, "N-I-N-E-O-F-D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S". The magician stops them dealing, which is stopped at the last letter of their spelling sequence, which is odd as the spectator was the only person to know the card, and was spelling it out silently in their head. Either way, the audience member names their card and right where they stopped dealing, the magician tells them to turn over the top card of the deck... it IS their very card!
Wowerz! This is one of those effects that make you think, "WOW! How in the world can he come up with this?!" It truely is a work of art, one of the best routines in this book. I cannot stress how powerful this is to a magician, a complete fooler. The 'SD Location' is completely undetectable, yet appears so impossible. Gotta love this routine, excellent work and presentation!
Out Of Touch: (Control):
Effect:
The deck is shuffled and 5 cards are outjogged in a spread. These are held up to the audience and they are to remember one of them. The mechanic pushes these flush with the deck and faily cuts the cards. The audience member is asked to think of her card as she is to touch one card from the now face-down in-the-hands-spread deck. She does so, and is asked, for the first time, to name her thought of card. For instance let's say the 5 of Spades. The magician shows that the card she mearly touched before she named it happens to be that very same 5 of Spades!
It's surprising how easy this effect is, it takes very little to master yet the impact is extremely nice. A lovely little trick and a nice bit of "mind reading" too.
Dawn Patrol::
Effect:
Click here for a quick performance.
Bannon devised such a cunning plan for this one, ladies and gentlemen. This has to be my second favorite routine in the book, it is completely badass and the method is jaw dropping. For those who have taken the time to master the perfect Faro/weave shuffle, will love how Bannon has come up with this ingenius routine. Another work of art from the mind of Mr John Bannon.
CHAPTER FOUR:DEGREES OF FREEDOM-:
Degrees Of Freedom:
Effect:
From a shuffled deck, the performer removes all high cards, the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, of each of the four suits. The spectator shuffles the twenty-card packet thouroughly. At the direction of the spectator, the cards are mixed face up and face down. The cards are then dealt into a four-by-five matrix - now a random mix of face-up and face-down cards. Once more at the direction of the spectator, the grid is folded in upon itself over and over until the cards are again in a single packet.
Apparently, the performer has no control over the location or orientation of the cards. Nevertheless, when the packet is spread, all of the cards are face down except for the five Royal Flush cards of the spectator's favorite suit!
John states that this effect was inspired by the use of an effect by Lennart Green, in which mathematical proceedures concures the surprising ending. The effect itself is very easy to perform, the hard part comes when remembering how and where the cards should be placed. Either way, once you hjave this effect down it is a nice routine for the unexpecting laymen.
Origami Poker:
Effect:
From a spectator-shuffled deck, the performer spreads off a small packet of cards (sixteen to be exact). The packet is shuffled and then truly mixed face-up into face-down. The packet is dealt into a four-by-four grid. At the spectator's direction, the grid is "folded" in upon itself until the cards are reconstituted into a single packet. In the process, the cards are flipped over, face-up to face-down, and the face down to face up, numerous times out of the control of the permformer. Nevertheless, when the packet is spread, only five cards are reversed comprising a Royal Flush in Spades!
This is pretty much a 'meaner' version of "Degrees of Freedom". Personally, this is much better than the previous version, and packs the same (if not more) of a punch. Great routine to perform for laymen, hard-hitting and fairly easy to do.
Perfect Strangers:
Effect:
From an envolope (or wallet) the performer removes a packet off sixteen different cards each with a different back design and colour. The cards are shuffled and mixed face up and face down at the direction of the spectator. At the conclusion of the spectator's mixing, it is seen that all but three cards are face up.
The three face-down cards 0 each with a different back - are removed. The performer now removes some more cards from the wallet, calling them a prediction. the wallet is otherwise empty.
The performer's prediction concists of three cards which match the backs of the three face-down cards. Further, the three face-down cards are turned face up and the performer's predictions also match the faces of the cards as well. Remarkable coincidences.
If you have the props to do this routine, DO IT. Using similar methods to the two previous effects, in the eys of a already-bewildered spectator, this routine is very much "impossible" and defies all laws of humanity... Well, not really but it's a great effect that you can try out on your audience!
"The Works":
This is for those who wish to understand the principles behind the whole "folding" phases, and why it works. BAnnon has taken the time to write deep descriptions regarding how these mathematics works. This part of the Chapter, is not a trick, but rather something for the curious who would like to understand some of these ideas, and possibly help you create your own "twist" on this.
CHAPTER FIVE:IMPOSSIBILIA BAG-:
Wait Until Dark: (Control):
Effect:
The performer explains to his audience, as hard as it may be for them to believe, sometimes tricks just don't work. And seen as he is about to try a particularly difficult experiment, the performer sets aside a business card that he describes as a device to be used only in emergancies.
That being said, he proceeds with the effect. The spectator cuts the deck into a number of piles and is asked to turn some of them face up, and is in fact instructed to shuffle these together. The result is a mixed deck of face up and face down cards, all shuffled by the spectator. The performer has not touched the cards during this shuffling and cutting.
The performer states that he will attempt an experiment in clairvoyance, the ability to see what cannot be seen. Another spectator is asked to step behind the performer an cover his eyes. Now the performer truly cannot see.
The deck is handed to the performer and he spreads through them breifly, closes the spread and places them back down. He announces that, if his impressions were correct, the deck now contains twenty-two face-down cards. The spectator removes all the face-down cards from the deck, and sure enough, there are twenty-two of them.
He is now handed the packet of face-down cards, he gets another impression and states that there's twelve red cards among them, yet again he is correct.
The performer asks the spectator to hold out the remaining black cards. He waves his hand over them and announces that they are all Clubs. As this is the last impression, the other spectator's hands are removed from his eyes.
Surprisingly, the spectator announces that the performer's last impression was wrong! The black cards are not all Clubs - one card is the Two of Spades. The performer summarizes the descrepency and calls attention to the business card that has been in full view the whole time - the card that was for "emergancies". The spectator reads aloud what is written on the back: "EXCEPT FOR THE TWO OF SPADES"
Excellent effect! I believe it was inspired by Lennart Green's "Rainman" effect, but nevertheless, superb routine that is pretty much self-working! The fact that this is a sucker trick hits the spectators between the eyes when the last card is turned over. The trick is extremely great, and requires very little skill.
Last Man Standing:
Effect:
A classic Triumph effect. A selected card is lost in the deck. The deck is clearly shuffled face-up cards into face-down cards. Yet, the deck suddenly straightens out. All of the cards are the same way, except for one - the selected card!
The way the effect is explained in the book makes it very much a magician fooler. I love the handeling to this routine and it really shows how you can bring out most of your magic in a very simple change of handeling - great stuff, Bannon!
Trait Secrets:
Effect:
Two spectators are given a face-up card and the performer sets one face-down card for himself. Each of the spectators place their card face-up in the deck at positions of their own choosing. The deck is spread and each face-up card and the card directly next to it are removed from the spread.
In the course of action, the spread is naturally broken into three sections. Each section is casually and loosely squared.
The spectators now examine their pairs of cards. Each spectator has found the mate of their original cards! The performer now shows his card - it is an Ace. He turns over each of the three sections of the deck and there is an Ace on the face of each packet!
I LOVE this idea. I truly love it! It's a superb twist on the Gemini Twins routine, which past used no sleight of hand. But with this little variation, you create an extremely superb routine that blows the original out of the water! It's worth the practice, incredible effect.
LAGNIAPPE:THE POWER OF POKER-:
The Power of Poker:
Effect:
Ten cards are removed from the deck and are used a s a demonstration about a type of Poker named Texas Hold'em. The performer deals two cards face down onto the table, and the spectator chooses one, this is his "hole card". The performer gets the remaining. The performer tells the audience member that he can peak at his hole card, as he has quite a disadvantage, being that he is playing against a magician. Another two cards are dealt onto the table, the performer states whichever he touches he can have - no forcing here throughout the routine. He does so, and keeps it for his pile. This continues again, until the spectator has three cards. This happens once more, except the spectator now chooses a card for the performer. Again, this happens in a fair manner, the spectator chooses another one for the performer.
They each have now three cards each. Another two are dealt, and the spectator chooses the one he wants to have. Another two are dealt, and the spectator chooses what the performer wants - each player has four cards now.
The final 2 are tabled face-up, and the magician states that he can have whichever he thinks best fits his hand. He chooses it, and the performer has the remaining.
Both players show each other the hands they were given, and the magician shows a Royal Flush in Spades - even thought the spectator chose that cards go where!
This effect RULES. I'm serious. No switches need to be done, no 'fishy' moves are to be used. This is completely self working. Bannon removed all "magician forces", making this routine one killer and magician fooler. This is mind boggeling and excellently thought out.
Aftertoughts
First of all I would like to thank you for reading this review and actually getting through it in one piece lol. I hope when writing this review I have helped you on your quest with questions and other things regarding this book. Even if you dislike reading, this book is for you. Most Chapters are even written up as a "story form" to keep you interested. The book contains so much extrodinary material, most impromptu, some even magician foolers(!) that will keep you performing for years. Take it from me, they are truly amazing effects. Thank you once again.
Dear MR Fantasy:
Jordan James David Lapping 17.07.2006
Pretoughts
I had heard SO MUCH great things about this product, that I literally said "Damn, I need to get this for sure" So I payed for the book and I waited for the arrival. So, there I was, half-asleep, just woken up, when I saw a package in the doorway. DAMN!!! It turns out to be the book I longly awaited for! It was at that moment that I really thought it was surely going to be a blast, and boi was a right..
The Contents
WOW! Nice design, beautifully set out! Great quality pictures and illustrations, too! The paper quality is superb, it wasn't that cheap ol' recycled crap that fades and goes yellow after a few years, this stuff looks like it'll last forever! :shock: Damn, I was really hyped up about this now. So, let's get onto the actual content of the book;
The Foreword
In these few paragraphs, John really gives you an insight to why he created this book, it's actually quite inspiring to read and it shows how he was inspired aswell. Great little introduction to such a fantastic book!
CHAPTER ONE:BULLET TRAIN -:
Inconoclastic Aces, Syncopated Aces, Interrobang Aces:
Effect:
The classic all-at-once Ace Assembly with a twist. This three-phase routine begins in the usual manner, but the instant the cards are laid down in the classic "T" formation, the four Aces unexpectedly appear and assemble in the leader packet.
This is Bannon's take on the classic "Ace Assembly" plot, but this time with a twist of handling and presentation! His usage to use 3 different timings to show 3 climaxes completely hightens the effect and brings out much surprise to the audience. He even takes the time to first begin explaining why and what made him strive to create this routine, which from my point of view, is a really nice touch.
CHAPTER TWO:SECRETS AND MYSTERIES OF THE FOUR ACES -:
Line Of Sight (Control):
Effect:
Having set the stage, the performer has an audience member shuffle a deck of cards. The cards are fanned before the spectator's eyes and she is asked to stare at one card in the spread of cards. Looking into the spectator's eyes (he cannot see and has not looked at the faces of the cards), the performer discerns the identity of the card the spectator is thinking of.
The cards are again shuffled by the spectator and the experiment is immediatly repeated.
A great little control that is, dare I say, diguised as an effect! This simple yet affective method uses "a diabolical peek glimpse and a lot of blowing smoke" (as a quote from the book). This effect simply sets you up for the next routines to follow in this Chapter.
Final Verdict:
Effect:
From a shuffled deck, a spectator cuts off four packets of cards. The spectator then turns over the top card of each packet and discovers the four Aces.
Oh, no! Damn! This one's HOT! This is purely and simply exactly how the effect is described. It's just that. THAT simple. The spectator cuts four packets, cutting to each of the four Aces. It really is a kicker of an effect, a super-easy Ace production that involves the spectator to do all the work - something that most Ace productions don't have! This is also the perfect opener to the following effects described in Chapter Two.
Cull De Stack (Control):
This is an easy, yet ellegant and natural way to casually cull a number or group of cards to the top of the deck is a great little control that you can use in any situation when you wish to set up numbers of cards on top of the deck.
INTERLUDE: Two Classics:
Effect:
After the spectator has cut to the four Aces, the magician asks the spectator to cross her arms, and open out her hands flat. He places one of the red Aces in her left hand, and the other in her right, and tells her to un-cross her arms. He says, "in doing so, the two Aces actually switched places. Not with each other, but with the black Aces" - and the two colours switch places, the audience member is now holding the two black Aces and the performer the red Aces.
This is John's personal presentation and handeling for "The Last Trick of Dr. Jacob Daley" or "Daley's Aces" which I now love; thanks to his work and handeling. Bannon includes patter ideas what will keep the spectator more focused and more alarmed by the effects that just occured right in front of them. Great little variation.
Beyond Fabulous:
Effect:
After fooling the audience member with the last phase, he swiftly moves onto another mystery concerning once again, the four Aces. The performer fairly distributes the aces in the deck via placing four packets of cards behind each Ace and loosing them completely. The packets containing each one Ace are re-assembled to one 52-card deck, and the performer procceeds to produce the Aces in a number of different ways.
First, a 7 appears reversed in the deck, "surpringly" not an Ace. He says it's a locator card, and that 7 cards down from the locator, is the Ace of Clubs - which it is, the first Ace is found. The Second, by snaping the fingers over the tabled face-down deck, the second Ace - the Ace of Diamonds appears reversed in the centre, that's two Aces. The third by mearly spelling to it; A-C-E-O-F-H-E-A-R-T-S; the third Ace is found. The fourth Ace is found by the spectator, and is asked to cut off a pile of cards from the deck. A process of elmination is conducted at the spectator's descretion. At the conclusion, there are four piles of discards and a single card left in the performer's hand - the final Ace of Spades!
Before the applause becomes too out of control, the magician recaptures their attention. "Wait! The secret is control, but do you know what the mystery is?" The performer reminds the audience that his game is Poker, and that while four Aces are a good hand, a Royal Flush always beats four aces. The top card of each of the discard piles is turned over to reveal the King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of Spades that, with the Ace, comprise a Royal Flush!
OMG. This effect is one KILLER routine for sure! Not only have the spectators cut to the four Aces, but they have seen so many miracles along with them, making a combined effect SO STRONG that it will leave their jaws on the floor. This routine in itself is also extremely powerful; but the fact that the audience themselves have shuffled the deck numerous times beforehand, can only hit the applause further. Wonderfully easy and a nice little magician fooler too!
CHAPTER THREE:DEAD RECKONING -:
Dead Reckoning: (Control):
Effect:
The spectator cuts a pile of cards off the deck and shuffles them in his hand. He is asked to remember the top card, and keep the identity to himself. The performer asks them to bury their card by further cutting more cards onto the pile in their hand. The packets are then re-assembled and the magician explains what will occure. After going through what he wishes to happen, the spectator is to silently spell out in their head the name of their card , but as they do so, to deal one card for each letter. For example, "N-I-N-E-O-F-D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S". The magician stops them dealing, which is stopped at the last letter of their spelling sequence, which is odd as the spectator was the only person to know the card, and was spelling it out silently in their head. Either way, the audience member names their card and right where they stopped dealing, the magician tells them to turn over the top card of the deck... it IS their very card!
Wowerz! This is one of those effects that make you think, "WOW! How in the world can he come up with this?!" It truely is a work of art, one of the best routines in this book. I cannot stress how powerful this is to a magician, a complete fooler. The 'SD Location' is completely undetectable, yet appears so impossible. Gotta love this routine, excellent work and presentation!
Out Of Touch: (Control):
Effect:
The deck is shuffled and 5 cards are outjogged in a spread. These are held up to the audience and they are to remember one of them. The mechanic pushes these flush with the deck and faily cuts the cards. The audience member is asked to think of her card as she is to touch one card from the now face-down in-the-hands-spread deck. She does so, and is asked, for the first time, to name her thought of card. For instance let's say the 5 of Spades. The magician shows that the card she mearly touched before she named it happens to be that very same 5 of Spades!
It's surprising how easy this effect is, it takes very little to master yet the impact is extremely nice. A lovely little trick and a nice bit of "mind reading" too.
Dawn Patrol::
Effect:
Click here for a quick performance.
Bannon devised such a cunning plan for this one, ladies and gentlemen. This has to be my second favorite routine in the book, it is completely badass and the method is jaw dropping. For those who have taken the time to master the perfect Faro/weave shuffle, will love how Bannon has come up with this ingenius routine. Another work of art from the mind of Mr John Bannon.
CHAPTER FOUR:DEGREES OF FREEDOM-:
Degrees Of Freedom:
Effect:
From a shuffled deck, the performer removes all high cards, the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, of each of the four suits. The spectator shuffles the twenty-card packet thouroughly. At the direction of the spectator, the cards are mixed face up and face down. The cards are then dealt into a four-by-five matrix - now a random mix of face-up and face-down cards. Once more at the direction of the spectator, the grid is folded in upon itself over and over until the cards are again in a single packet.
Apparently, the performer has no control over the location or orientation of the cards. Nevertheless, when the packet is spread, all of the cards are face down except for the five Royal Flush cards of the spectator's favorite suit!
John states that this effect was inspired by the use of an effect by Lennart Green, in which mathematical proceedures concures the surprising ending. The effect itself is very easy to perform, the hard part comes when remembering how and where the cards should be placed. Either way, once you hjave this effect down it is a nice routine for the unexpecting laymen.
Origami Poker:
Effect:
From a spectator-shuffled deck, the performer spreads off a small packet of cards (sixteen to be exact). The packet is shuffled and then truly mixed face-up into face-down. The packet is dealt into a four-by-four grid. At the spectator's direction, the grid is "folded" in upon itself until the cards are reconstituted into a single packet. In the process, the cards are flipped over, face-up to face-down, and the face down to face up, numerous times out of the control of the permformer. Nevertheless, when the packet is spread, only five cards are reversed comprising a Royal Flush in Spades!
This is pretty much a 'meaner' version of "Degrees of Freedom". Personally, this is much better than the previous version, and packs the same (if not more) of a punch. Great routine to perform for laymen, hard-hitting and fairly easy to do.
Perfect Strangers:
Effect:
From an envolope (or wallet) the performer removes a packet off sixteen different cards each with a different back design and colour. The cards are shuffled and mixed face up and face down at the direction of the spectator. At the conclusion of the spectator's mixing, it is seen that all but three cards are face up.
The three face-down cards 0 each with a different back - are removed. The performer now removes some more cards from the wallet, calling them a prediction. the wallet is otherwise empty.
The performer's prediction concists of three cards which match the backs of the three face-down cards. Further, the three face-down cards are turned face up and the performer's predictions also match the faces of the cards as well. Remarkable coincidences.
If you have the props to do this routine, DO IT. Using similar methods to the two previous effects, in the eys of a already-bewildered spectator, this routine is very much "impossible" and defies all laws of humanity... Well, not really but it's a great effect that you can try out on your audience!
"The Works":
This is for those who wish to understand the principles behind the whole "folding" phases, and why it works. BAnnon has taken the time to write deep descriptions regarding how these mathematics works. This part of the Chapter, is not a trick, but rather something for the curious who would like to understand some of these ideas, and possibly help you create your own "twist" on this.
CHAPTER FIVE:IMPOSSIBILIA BAG-:
Wait Until Dark: (Control):
Effect:
The performer explains to his audience, as hard as it may be for them to believe, sometimes tricks just don't work. And seen as he is about to try a particularly difficult experiment, the performer sets aside a business card that he describes as a device to be used only in emergancies.
That being said, he proceeds with the effect. The spectator cuts the deck into a number of piles and is asked to turn some of them face up, and is in fact instructed to shuffle these together. The result is a mixed deck of face up and face down cards, all shuffled by the spectator. The performer has not touched the cards during this shuffling and cutting.
The performer states that he will attempt an experiment in clairvoyance, the ability to see what cannot be seen. Another spectator is asked to step behind the performer an cover his eyes. Now the performer truly cannot see.
The deck is handed to the performer and he spreads through them breifly, closes the spread and places them back down. He announces that, if his impressions were correct, the deck now contains twenty-two face-down cards. The spectator removes all the face-down cards from the deck, and sure enough, there are twenty-two of them.
He is now handed the packet of face-down cards, he gets another impression and states that there's twelve red cards among them, yet again he is correct.
The performer asks the spectator to hold out the remaining black cards. He waves his hand over them and announces that they are all Clubs. As this is the last impression, the other spectator's hands are removed from his eyes.
Surprisingly, the spectator announces that the performer's last impression was wrong! The black cards are not all Clubs - one card is the Two of Spades. The performer summarizes the descrepency and calls attention to the business card that has been in full view the whole time - the card that was for "emergancies". The spectator reads aloud what is written on the back: "EXCEPT FOR THE TWO OF SPADES"
Excellent effect! I believe it was inspired by Lennart Green's "Rainman" effect, but nevertheless, superb routine that is pretty much self-working! The fact that this is a sucker trick hits the spectators between the eyes when the last card is turned over. The trick is extremely great, and requires very little skill.
Last Man Standing:
Effect:
A classic Triumph effect. A selected card is lost in the deck. The deck is clearly shuffled face-up cards into face-down cards. Yet, the deck suddenly straightens out. All of the cards are the same way, except for one - the selected card!
The way the effect is explained in the book makes it very much a magician fooler. I love the handeling to this routine and it really shows how you can bring out most of your magic in a very simple change of handeling - great stuff, Bannon!
Trait Secrets:
Effect:
Two spectators are given a face-up card and the performer sets one face-down card for himself. Each of the spectators place their card face-up in the deck at positions of their own choosing. The deck is spread and each face-up card and the card directly next to it are removed from the spread.
In the course of action, the spread is naturally broken into three sections. Each section is casually and loosely squared.
The spectators now examine their pairs of cards. Each spectator has found the mate of their original cards! The performer now shows his card - it is an Ace. He turns over each of the three sections of the deck and there is an Ace on the face of each packet!
I LOVE this idea. I truly love it! It's a superb twist on the Gemini Twins routine, which past used no sleight of hand. But with this little variation, you create an extremely superb routine that blows the original out of the water! It's worth the practice, incredible effect.
LAGNIAPPE:THE POWER OF POKER-:
The Power of Poker:
Effect:
Ten cards are removed from the deck and are used a s a demonstration about a type of Poker named Texas Hold'em. The performer deals two cards face down onto the table, and the spectator chooses one, this is his "hole card". The performer gets the remaining. The performer tells the audience member that he can peak at his hole card, as he has quite a disadvantage, being that he is playing against a magician. Another two cards are dealt onto the table, the performer states whichever he touches he can have - no forcing here throughout the routine. He does so, and keeps it for his pile. This continues again, until the spectator has three cards. This happens once more, except the spectator now chooses a card for the performer. Again, this happens in a fair manner, the spectator chooses another one for the performer.
They each have now three cards each. Another two are dealt, and the spectator chooses the one he wants to have. Another two are dealt, and the spectator chooses what the performer wants - each player has four cards now.
The final 2 are tabled face-up, and the magician states that he can have whichever he thinks best fits his hand. He chooses it, and the performer has the remaining.
Both players show each other the hands they were given, and the magician shows a Royal Flush in Spades - even thought the spectator chose that cards go where!
This effect RULES. I'm serious. No switches need to be done, no 'fishy' moves are to be used. This is completely self working. Bannon removed all "magician forces", making this routine one killer and magician fooler. This is mind boggeling and excellently thought out.
Aftertoughts
First of all I would like to thank you for reading this review and actually getting through it in one piece lol. I hope when writing this review I have helped you on your quest with questions and other things regarding this book. Even if you dislike reading, this book is for you. Most Chapters are even written up as a "story form" to keep you interested. The book contains so much extrodinary material, most impromptu, some even magician foolers(!) that will keep you performing for years. Take it from me, they are truly amazing effects. Thank you once again.
Dear MR Fantasy:
Jordan James David Lapping 17.07.2006
Aloy - July 17, 2006 07:47 PM (GMT)
This review deserves an award man. :huh: Thanks for that! :!!:
Don't mind if I re-post it over at SMC? A review this good should be milked for all the readership it can get. :)
Don't mind if I re-post it over at SMC? A review this good should be milked for all the readership it can get. :)
Lapping - July 18, 2006 05:58 AM (GMT)
Thanks man. :)
Sure, no problem, thanks for the kind words. :)
- Lapping.
Sure, no problem, thanks for the kind words. :)
- Lapping.
Brendan Low - July 18, 2006 06:43 AM (GMT)
Bro! Wow what a review man! wow....
I'll have to get a copy of this book B)
I'll have to get a copy of this book B)
Jeff - July 18, 2006 07:23 AM (GMT)
You shouldn’t post this Jordan. :( Keep this book to yourself! Because I am!
Lapping - July 18, 2006 10:57 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Jeff @ Jul 18 2006, 03:23 PM) |
| You shouldn’t post this Jordan. :( Keep this book to yourself! Because I am! |
Jeff.. it's only fair if others get to check it out too, right? Besides, we're all magicians here, and it's not like the book is enitially "underground" or anything, is it?
I think it's only fair that other people get the chance to experience the greatness of this book. :)
Otherwise, it's just pure greedyness. :(
- Lapping.
Jeff - July 19, 2006 04:24 AM (GMT)
LOL... :!!: Jordan, I joke~ Honestly, the effects in this book are not something can learn from most of the DVDs available on the market. I can tell you almost ALL the routines are impromptu and very practical. However, I believe this book isn’t for beginners. ^_^
Brendan Low - July 19, 2006 06:30 AM (GMT)
Haha... yeah i know this book has some great stuff inside.
Too bad I wasnt the first few who got it so that i can fool some of u guys first haha. But hey... thanks for sharing with us ya thought Jordan.
Jeff also spoke great things to me abt the book. :)...
Card magic rules.
Too bad I wasnt the first few who got it so that i can fool some of u guys first haha. But hey... thanks for sharing with us ya thought Jordan.
Jeff also spoke great things to me abt the book. :)...
Card magic rules.
Lapping - July 19, 2006 09:46 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Brendan Low @ Jul 19 2006, 02:30 PM) |
| Card magic rules. |
Too right, bunny! ;)
lol thanks for the comments guys. Hope the review helped. :)
- Lapping.
Eric Liew - July 21, 2006 06:42 PM (GMT)
This is perhaps the best book i've bought so far. Simple & direct card magic inside. Power of Poker & Dead Reckoning are great foolers, particularly to magicians.
There was a lot of hype before it was released and I pre-ordered it, and was not dissapointed when I received it.
I quite like his introduction actually... he gives a different perspective regarding magic.
There was a lot of hype before it was released and I pre-ordered it, and was not dissapointed when I received it.
I quite like his introduction actually... he gives a different perspective regarding magic.
Daniel Yeong - July 23, 2006 04:31 PM (GMT)
Jeff is filled with pure sellfishness XD
Daniel Yeong - July 23, 2006 04:33 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Jeff @ Jul 19 2006, 04:24 AM) |
| LOL... :!!: Jordan, I joke~ Honestly, the effects in this book are not something can learn from most of the DVDs available on the market. I can tell you almost ALL the routines are impromptu and very practical. However, I believe this book isn’t for beginners. ^_^ |
i would be very interested in knowing what book do you recommend for beginners for i am one actually XD
Hoe - October 2, 2006 03:24 PM (GMT)
Where can I get this book huh ?
Any chance in malaysia ?
How much does this book cost?
If Malaysia don't sell it then where can I get online for a cheaper price ?
and what is the total cash spent via online pay ??
Hope any guru could give me a reply cuz I'm so wanting this book ^^"
Any chance in malaysia ?
How much does this book cost?
If Malaysia don't sell it then where can I get online for a cheaper price ?
and what is the total cash spent via online pay ??
Hope any guru could give me a reply cuz I'm so wanting this book ^^"
Brendan Low - October 3, 2006 04:35 AM (GMT)
I got this book a couple of months back.. and it is awesome!
There are various site that sells them. Go search :P.
It was voted the Best card magic book of 2005. You cant go wrong with it.
NOTE: It is not something for beginner though. You dont want to waste money on something you cant understand. -_-
There are various site that sells them. Go search :P.
It was voted the Best card magic book of 2005. You cant go wrong with it.
NOTE: It is not something for beginner though. You dont want to waste money on something you cant understand. -_-
Hoe - October 3, 2006 08:13 AM (GMT)
I hope 2 years learning card magic is enough for me to study this book xD
I wanna get this book cuz I really amazed by john's degree of freedom
Brendan, would u recommend me a good site ?
And how much does this book cost u ? including the book price,shiping and other taxes(if hav)
Brendan Low - October 3, 2006 09:39 AM (GMT)
Hi Cyclone,
I got mine from www.hocuspocus.com
Shipping cost me extra USD10.
No tax. For the price of the book, you can refer to the site.
It took abt 10days for the book to arrive.
I got mine from www.hocuspocus.com
Shipping cost me extra USD10.
No tax. For the price of the book, you can refer to the site.
It took abt 10days for the book to arrive.
Hoe - October 3, 2006 12:51 PM (GMT)
Ok..
I visited the site and they sell the book for $29.95
Book + ship = $39.95
= RM147.42
However, I found out that TLMS is quite popular,trusty and with many good feedbacks, so I'm considering to buy from them.
they sell the book for SGD52.50
And from others member feedback, they don't charge for shipping ,is that true ?
If it is indeed then I'm gonna grab the book from them
Book = SGD52.50
= RM122.28
So I need to pay them the money stated above ?
Any experienced buyer can correct me if I'm wrong ?
It is because this is the first time I shop via website, anything I have to know before I place my order ?
I visited the site and they sell the book for $29.95
Book + ship = $39.95
= RM147.42
However, I found out that TLMS is quite popular,trusty and with many good feedbacks, so I'm considering to buy from them.
they sell the book for SGD52.50
And from others member feedback, they don't charge for shipping ,is that true ?
If it is indeed then I'm gonna grab the book from them
Book = SGD52.50
= RM122.28
So I need to pay them the money stated above ?
Any experienced buyer can correct me if I'm wrong ?
It is because this is the first time I shop via website, anything I have to know before I place my order ?
Jeff Gan - October 3, 2006 04:58 PM (GMT)
I think the no shipping thing applies for buyers in Singapore, where TLMS is based.
Contact Ning (she runs TLMS) via email and get a quote from her and ask her about shipping the book from Singapore to where you are. Books are heavy.
Contact Ning (she runs TLMS) via email and get a quote from her and ask her about shipping the book from Singapore to where you are. Books are heavy.