Good to know that it requires a prepared deck. Because of that, it is not something I'm interested in.

There are -prepared deck- effects that do not require the whole deck. One idea I enjoy is to remove some of the cards and replace them with packet trick cards. Now the deck is no longer a one trick deck. It's OK if I end up leaving the packet trick cards in the box while performing with the prepared deck. Those cards could be considered the -extra cards- in a deck or they may not even be made known.

Please don't attack me for asking this question, but I'm guessing you cannot shuffle the deck, correct?

I'm pretty sure you can't legitimately mix the deck or let the spectators shuffle.

Mike

Did Penguin just pull this? Links no longer working.

Not there anymore. I would hazard a guess that there are some issues - most likely with prior similar effects - that need to be resolved, if possible. Just my guess.

Jim

Yes, it's no longer available...

THE END.

Mike

I watched the trailer before it was taken down and I think it gave me cancer.

Thanks, Rick.

Mike

Gone?? It's #2 on their best sellers list. Is there a hidden link??

Can we change the thread title to .... The End OF Rick Lax?

Good thing. It was a pure rip off. I wondered why nobody reacted. Because it is a known name?
If somebody unknown had brought this out: poor him.

LOL!!!!!

I have to believe that the (very) close comparison to Richard Osterlind's magnificent "Hands Off" was enough to convince the marketing team at Penguin to remove this product. Richard is highly protective of his original creations as he rightly should be. I did not purchase "The End" but I cannot imagine any handling of this plot being stronger than Richard's masterpiece.

Other than his first releases BC and BC2 - haven't all of the Lax releases been poor [the ripping the card up one] or obvious copies [calendar]

I think there becomes a pressure to release stuff [both for money and because you want to add to your 'body of work']

I'd already thought of new Lax releases as likely being poor/or copies

I hope this release gives Osterlind a bump in sales

"Rick Lax has been refining THE END for over 6 years. "

Is that to try and pre date Osterlind [?]

Bit like Greg Wilson bringing stuff out and saying he's been doing it for 20 years - when what he means is, 20 minutes after seeing Cosmo [insert which ever creator he copied for that particular release] version

This looked exactly like 'Hands Off', but with a much worse presentation, logic and handling. Almost the perfect demonstration of how someone like Osterlind is operating on a much higher creative level.

Wow. That was brief.
I got a review copy. Ignoring the ownership rights for the moment, it’s a good effect, well taught and easy to perform.
Surprised to see the end to The End so soon. It if there are issues as stated above, that would make sense.

It's ashamed were seeing this happen. Same thing happened with Junky by Docc Hilford which was a complete ripoff of an old trick called Mental Stud.

[quote]On Dec 5, 2017, The Duster wrote:

I think there becomes a pressure to release stuff [both for money and because you want to add to your 'body of work']

This was a great observation...Remember back in the early days of Penguin when they had Jay Sankey creating for them. It started off well with a few good releases and then went horribly bad. The problem with creating is that you can't put a deadline on it. Inspiration often comes when you least expect it and there are plenty of dry spells in between.

Rick seems like a genuinely nice guy other than perhaps being a bit overly-sensitive to criticism at times. But I do like his teaching style and have praised several of his original releases. He also represents Penguin in a professional manner. Maybe the best solution is for Penguin to keep him on staff and have him "present" new releases from aspiring creators. Most amateur creator's home-made videos leave much to be desired, but if Rick presented these same effects they might translate into more sales for Penguin and happier customers.

Just one point of disagreement - I do not, and have never, thought that Rick Lax seemed like a "nice guy." He's a mean-spirited shill and thief, and this doesn't surprise me in the least.

Looks like it's back up.