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sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
I would be interested in any review/comments on the quality of material in this recent book. I have not seen it mentioned in the usual review sections of magazines (Genii, Magic). Have I overlooked something, or is the fact that has not been reviewed in the magazines or mentioned on this site a message in itself.
Thanks, Steve
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
bekralik Inner circle Canada 1349 Posts |
It has been mentioned on this site a few times. For example:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/searc......t=311068 It is only available from a few places in the UK so it is generally not widely available, which is why you don't hear a lot about it. I think it's a great book full of good ideas, and the authors are well-known. You will find it mentioned here and there in other posts. Brian |
John Pezzullo Veteran user Sydney AUSTRALIA 354 Posts |
Steve,
David Regal's review of "Ahead of the Pack" was published in the December 2002 issue of "Genii".
"One arrow. One life."
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sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
John,
Thanks - I've got it. Have it on the shelf, but must have missed it on first reading. After I look it over I'll post a few of my own comments here. Steve John, thanks again for the reference to the review in Genii. Some comments of my own: I've looked over the David Regal review in the December 2002 Genii. I wanted to track it down since I had looked over the book myself and made a decision not to buy it. This is unusual for me. I buy everything, or so it seems. Was I just getting cranky? Apparently not entirely, per Regal's review. Though he liked the book a lot, he still notes many of the factors that I ranked as negatives. Regal digs harder than I did and finds some things he likes. For the most part these are twists, variations on moves, and ideas for effects. They come from a session between Avis and Jones, and they read like a session. (The problem with trying to session with a book is when you bounce out an idea, there's no one there to bounce anything back.) With this book you have to dig and find the stuff that gives you new ideas and carries you forward. Regal is excellent at that, but I am more impatient. I am looking for some selectivity. This book doesn't have it. Some of Regal's words (and he liked the book): grab bag, variations on existing moves, twist on an old chestnut, similar effects already in print, inadvertently re-invented. Having said that, I'll probably get blown away by something in the book by someone with more patience to work it up, polish it, and present it right. For those looking for the one item that probably is worth the price of the book, the handling of the center tear, if done in a casual, off-hand manner, could be that item. Any other comments by those who have tried stuff in the book would be welcome. Steve
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Dave Regal's comments could so easily be about his OWN books, lol, and people like those.
I like this book, but like every book, I don't like everything in it. Because it was not mass marketed and available everywhere is probably why there are not many copies in the USA. As far as I'm aware it can only be obtained from Ian Rowland's web site. I've certainly been using something from it.Perhaps because the items are not overhyped, or some rely on subtle moves or actually having to "think" while working they don't read too well to some. One of my favourite routines is "Empathy". In fact occassionally I have the second spectator merely think of a card rather than select one! It's a great routine with an almost "hands off" appearance. I've certainly used "Paperchase" over the phone, even though I have come across similar things before, very well thought out. The mobile phone coding seems pretty original to me! A friend of mine raves over "Rack and bled" an "Out of This World variant with a shuffled deck, no leader cards and no stopping point at the half way mark. Steve said; "but I am more impatient. I am looking for some selectivity. This book doesn't have it." I'm not sure you can make that judgement after already admitting you didn't buy it? Also regarding; "They come from a session between Avis and Jones, and they read like a session. (The problem with trying to session with a book is when you bounce out an idea, there's no one there to bounce anything back.) ?? Not from "A" session, Lewis and Avis meet regularly and have had many sessions. On the back cover it says "-the result of long, all day, regular weekly meetings that have taken place over a matter of years." The ideas in the book may be the result of many sessions but the book itself is not intended as a "session" you are participating in, in any different way than any other magic book you read. Perhaps those that have this book are GLAD it is not widely advertised :) Paul. |
sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
Paul,
Thanks for the very thoughtful comments. You're probably the guy who's going to "smoke" me with one of the items someday. I probably buy too many books, and am on overload. Looking for the authors (or reviewers) to zero in on the gems for me. Your response will cause me to dig a little deeper next time. Steve
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
re;
"I probably buy too many books, and am on overload." lol. You can never buy too many books. The problem is that many people buy books and don't fully study them. Recently I've been guilty of that myself. Probably the most underated, unread books in recent years have been the Stewart James books. Paul. |
David Regal V.I.P. 828 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-09-06 11:04, Paul wrote: How did I manage to get slammed in a thread that isn't even about me? |
bekralik Inner circle Canada 1349 Posts |
David: *chortle* oh, the burden of being a celebrity ...
This book has an amazing bar bet with cards that I've never seen in print before. From my memory, a spectator freely chooses 3 cards of any colour, hiding one face-down. You make your 3-colour selection face-up, whereupon the spectator reveals her last card. Flipping up 3 of a kind for the rest of the deck, you are almost mathematically guaranteed to always have more matches to your 3-colour pattern than the spectators (your worst odds are 2:1 of winning). It may read confusing above, but it's really interesting to witness. Brian |
debaser Special user Boulder 557 Posts |
the book is for people who like card work and more card work. These are not full blown card routines, but more along the marlo vein. The book is written really interestingly and I enjoyed it.
Matt |
sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
Matt
From your comments, the comments of some others, and my own skimming of the book, I agree with you. Maybe for someone who loves to try everything with cards, but not for me at the present time. It was well written and well produced. The material was just not enough different from the many items already on the shelf. Thanks for your comments, Steve Brian wrote: This book has an amazing bar bet with cards that I've never seen in print before. ... <snip> ...you are almost mathematically guaranteed to always have more matches to your 3-colour pattern than the spectators. I recognized this as a proposition bet that I had seen before. Almost drove me crazy (its a short drive for me) trying to remember where I'd seen it. Surely in one of Martin Gardner's books. But so many to search!! Bingo. It is in Gardner's Time Travel and other Mathematical Bewilderments, in a chapter on nontransitive paradoxes. Given in the context of a coin tossing game (rather than card turning). A complete table for the sequence of three toss game is given on page 63. Other tables give the two and four toss game results. In the version given by Gardner you see all three of the marks choices. In the example cited by Brian you only see two. No problem, the best strategy is only determined by the first two choices made by the mark. Now I can get on with my life,
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
bblumen Special user Baltimore 987 Posts |
Also see "The Penney Paradox" in THE CARD MAGIC OF NICK TROST, pg. 89. You might never pay for a drink again!
Brian B
"Lulling the minds of your company is more important than dazzling their eyes." Ed Marlo
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sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
To: bblumen
You must have ESP. Earlier today (same day of your post) I was in fact looking at Nick Trost's book (I collect Trost write ups and packet tricks) to research the history of an item (X-Marks the Spot). I stumbled across the effect you mention and remembered this thread. Steve
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
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