Review by Andy Martin for Marker Epic by Eduardo Kozuch
4 out of 5
Great Idea, Ok Props.
This is a really great idea for doing the standard Mental Epic with nothing more than the 3 pens and some cards. It works well and is convincing.
However, my pens could have been gimmicked better … I ended up gluing them myself when they arrived. On talking to the inventor I think I had an isolated case and in fact the pens that are used are good quality markers and once you play with them a while they work fine.
If you love Mental Epic, but want to travel light these are perfect for you!
Review by George Guerra for Mind Chips by Mikame Craft
4 out of 5
Another interesting item by Mikame
This is nice piece. The wood work on the cup is classic Mikame workmanship and very well done. However, my main disappointment are the chips–I would have preferred the chips to have been made in wood rather than the cheaper looking plastic…oh, well. The effect is well described by any dealer on the web.
Review by Andy Martin for Psychic Sword by Collectors' Workshop
4 out of 5
A Beautiful Box and Routine!
This is the Viking version of this effect and is certainly better than the original. Although, it comes with a clean prediction of any card that the spectator chooses using the sword it has many other uses where a card box is required. It has a unique release mechanism for the transformation which means the box can be handled by the spectator before the transformation if so desired.
The only real downside with this effect as it arrives from the dealer is that the sword it comes with does not fit in the box! This is quite annoying because one of the real justifications of having the box in the first place is to store the knife, deck of cards, and prediction.
However, after a quick look on ebay I found this great little 6" sword that looks the part and fits the box perfectly. If you look at the original version of this box you’ll see how the knob on the lid has this big wide brass ring where the knob is, and on the newer version that does not exist. It’s this sort of attention to detail that makes George Robinson such a fine craftsman!
Review by Andy Martin for Ping Pong Fantasy by Trickery
4 out of 5
Good old Howie!
Well this is something I have only see advertised on the site of the cuddly and honest dealer: to check this out and other exclusives that Howie is carrying. You won’t be dissappointed with what you find!
Review by Anonymous for Close-up Card Magic by Harry Lorayne
4 out of 5
Review for Close-up Card Magic
This book is simply one of the most influential book in my magic learning – and it’ll remain in the magic library for many years to come. However, it’ll mainly benefit newcomers of card magic. If you dabble at card conjuring then you will want to take a look at this. It contains a lot of beautiful routines that are very easy to do. This is the genuine ‘easy to master’ card miracles. If you know your basic sleight-of-hand (hindu shuffles, double lift, glide – to give you a rough idea of what level) you’ll have no problems learning the routines in here. Even if you don’t, it’ll only require a little practice before you’ll be entertaining your friends and family with a deck of cards. What I love most from this book is some of the routines end with a beautiful layout. There are some routines I relearn once in a while because they are so effective. The downside is the description is very wordy at times and the routines have too many unnecessary actions from an effect standpoint. You’ll also have to accept the fact that names to moves like the bluff pass will not be given because Harry Lorayne wrote the book way back in the 1960s. Otherwise, it’s a great classic!!!
Review by Anonymous for The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings by Mike Maxwell
4 out of 5
Review for The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings
This rather large book contains lots of routines that are real gems. It covers coins, cups and balls, and cards. However, more on cards than the previous two. I won’t comment on the coins and cups and balls as I don’t have any experience with them, but I will give you an idea about how I feel concerning the card routines.
There are definitely strong card routines you’ll find in this book. The sleights are so devious that makes it worth your buy. You’ll find a lot of useful sleights that will fool the audience. However, a drawback is that it contain many unwanted ideas that make the learning process difficult (some of them are based on opportunity). Perhaps if you have all the time in the world, but we magic aficionados want only the best material – in which is embedded within these pages but it is diffused among other less satisfying ones. You’ll have to plow into these pages and find great ideas here and there.
You will also run into the problem of finding some routines so great except for that 1 or 2 parts you know you don’t want to do in front of people. Perhaps it’s more about practice however I personally felt even with practice I wouldn’t be able to fool people with certain moves – only a person with strong presentational control can do it. In such a case then great, get this book. It has lots of great ideas. However, don’t expect every routine to be intellectually gratifying.
I have to give this book an B+. While this book contains a great amount of sleights for use, it’s bogged down with information we don’t want to know as well. I believe it is worth your time to look through this book because you’ll get a lot of sleights you won’t know through magic fad.
Review by Andy Martin for By Choice and By Chance by Paul Richards
4 out of 5
Simple is normally the Best!
As I wean myself from high priced electronic miracles, it becomes obvious that so many seemingly impossible effects are possible with very simple props, that don’t require eight batteries and two transmitters!
Paul Richards has a real winner here for the casual or strolling performer, it is simple to do, easy to remember, and reset, and works every time. There is even a presentation that doesn’t require a table or the dice. All in the mind.
Review by Andy Martin for Deja-Zoo by Samuel Patrick Smith
4 out of 5
Great Trick with Comedy and Magic Potential
This trick has great potential to play well for kids. There is some byplay to be had with making up funny names for the two animals chosen and showing the animals in the first place, some laughs to be had as you show your sketches as predictions, and some killer magic as you do in fact successfully predict both choices without any funny business.
I knew how this effect was going to work when I ordered it and was hoping for a nice stand to spin around. The makers credit the idea to Burling Hull’s Radar Vision, I am not familiar with that effect but would say that this effect is exactly like Ultissimo – I am not sure which came first.
For $39 don’t expect the best props in the world – note to self if its less than $100 don’t expect too much! However, these props are certainly workable and as long as you’re not trying to impress the local Magic Collector’s club you’ll be fine. The stand, unlike Ultissimo does not spin around but its a big stand so that maybe just as well. There is a smaller version of this effect and I think for most performances the smaller one would be better. But if you’re doing big shows to 100’s of kids then this will be perfect for you.
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