Reviews

Closer to the Original Curry Genius

For some reason there has been a flurry of Out of This World like effects recently. I am still a 30+ year performer of the classic by Paul Curry, and have looked at some of the new offerings. I was unimpressed with "A New World", since it uses a gimmicked deck and to me part of the beauty of the original was that you could do it anytime and anywhere with a borrowed deck.

So along comes Greg Rostami with his version called Cosmos. He offers a non-gimmicked version and a simple gimmicked version. There are times when you might want to perform the gimmicked version, but for the most part you should have no problems performing the impromptu version. What I like about Greg’s version is that it maintains the simiplicity of the original and at the same time enhances the fairness – with multiple shuffles, the ability to stop anywhere instead of going through the whole deck, and no pause in the middle to switch color cards. It does involve two people not one and is presented as a competition between them seeing who can get the most reds and blacks correct. This presentation works very well. There are no real moves, and just one simple piece of misdirection is required so mechanically it is almost as easy as the original. It does require a bit more nerve than the original – but if you follow Greg’s directions you’ll find it all very easy.

I am the first to admit that I have been happily performing Out of This World for so long that I am reluctant to change, but if I were to change this would be the version I would change too. I would like to see real printed instructions come with this effect, rather than just a video explanation – in fact one of the things that A New World does superbly is the instruction booklet that comes with the effect. But apart from the lack of printed directions this is a wonderful effect to have in your repotoire.

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I just really like this version.

There are so many card to wallet effects, why am I rebuying one I sold a few years ago? I just really like it. You can perform it precisely as described or streamline the handling a bit and make this a real miracle: where the spectator’s chosen and signed card appears insde the wallet attached to the back of a prediction.

It requires no sleights or palming and has some fun in their too which detracts from the work, but adds to the entertainment!

Highly recommended!

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This even amazes yourself when you perform it!

Nick Trost really has created some incredible card effects – this is one of my favorites.

Even when you practice it, it just looks so convincing! You show 8 or 10 cards – I found 10 a good number – and ask the spectator to name any card (no force). You place their card on the table and proceed to show the backs and fronts of each card. This uses Marlo’s wonderful "sleight": the Olram Subtlety. This is so easy to do it is a shame to call it a sleight – but I guess it is! Anyway, it looks like a miracle as when you have finished showing all the remaining cards you find that their chosen card is the only card that has a different color back.

I am honing in on my top 25 card miracles – and this would be one of them!

This can be found in Nick’s fabulous book: The Card Magic of Nick Trost which is a highly recommend read!

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Wow – so easy and yet so Powerful!

This is one of those effects that is really very startling to watch, and yet is almost embarrassingly easy!

In effect, you have a special deck that is made up of different cards from various casinos shuffled by the spectator. You then take the deck back and procceed to choose two cards from the deck as your predictions. You then hand the deck back to them and they are free to deal as many cards as they want (no force) in front of the first prediction card. Whey they are done the prediction is marked and the cards are dealt again into another pile for the second prediction card. Once the predictions have been laid on the table, the magician does not need to touch the cards.

Amazingly enough the first prediction is found in the deck and it is next to a card with the same colored back. The other prediction is found and it too has the same colored back. When each prediction is turned over it is found that the card predicted not only has the same back but the value is the mate: e.g. four of hearts and four of diamonds. Finally, when the rest of the deck is turned over all of the cards are the opposite color to the prediction cards!

This effect looks visiually stunning and is inredibly easy to do with everything examinable and freely shuffled.

Highly Recommended!

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Looks can be deceptive!

Run Rabbit Run and all of its copies is still one of the finest kids tricks around. This version looks almost the same as a metal one that I purchased from Ron MacMillan at International Magic in the UK back in the 70’s. I loved that version. It was the perfect size for kids parties. Most of the ones that I see today are much bigger which is great for larger audiences, but they are harder to manipulate.

Unfortunately, this version is so cheaply made that you have to really work with it to ensure the doors don’t jam, open unexpectedly, or the rabbit doesn’t get stuck.

This really looks fine on the web, but I would not recommend this particular version at all. Just too flimsy and frustrating!

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Great Idea, that looks good and Works!

This is a very clean way to force any of the 6 spots on a die, but unlike loaded dice the result is much more predictable. If you have ever used loaded dice, they quite frequently do not land on the number you hope.

Labco have produced a very nice package with dice that are beautifully and indetectably gimmicked to allow you to force any one of the 6 spots.

There are no electronics and thus far I have always forced the number I was expecting. The only downside is that you do need to use the cup and roll the die on the small board, but both look very innocent. The cup is in fact innocent, whilst the board is gimmicked.

Very nice indeed! Highly Recommended!

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Even better than you would imagine!

Ton Onosaka always makes very clever and fine quality magical miracles. This one is right up there with the best of his magic, and really is even better than I expected.

The routine is fun and when the change from Ace to Queen happens, no matter how close you are it looks totally amazing!

The props are first class and you will be very happy with this item. If you have not purchased any of Ton’s work before then this would be a great place to begin.

Highly Recommended!

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