That sounds like a great improvement.

So, this is not in print anywhere else? Does anyone know?

No, it's not in print anywhere else. Some (many) have asked me to put it out (copied - updated? - from Personal Collection) as a separate manuscript (I've been asked to do the same for The Great Divide) - something for me to think about.

Harry, that's a real shame its not in print anywhere else, this sounds like a fantastic effect!.

Oh, and no, it's not "MESS," it's "M-E-S" which stands for Memory, Estimation, Sleight of Hand. HL.

Harry, you tease...!

Credit was given to Edward Marlo.

In the explanation of 'What A M-E-S!', Harry Lorayne writes :

"My starting point was an Ed Marlo item (an early issue of Ibidem) going back some decades. It was, in my opinion, a bit of a hodge podge".

Hideo Kato

Thanks, Harry, for clarification with the name. it was just a (wrong) guess and I looked it up on an online reference-site, but afterwards.

Axel

Did Marlo ever have it published anywhere else?.....

Doctor REvil: Not that I know of. If it had been, and if I knew about it, I'd certainly have mentioned it. HL.

Thanks Harry, just wanted to see if I could track down any other source(s) inspired or otherwise...seems like I'll have to wait for a copy (of your book) to be sold somewhere...unless you have a copy lying around for sale....

One of the best buys and deals I got last year was a copy Of Personal Collections from this website. Couldn't believe my luck when someone was willing to sell it.I ran a WTB in the books for sale column.

To bad tobis (TopHat) didn't have a copy to see that credit was given.

If you do have a copy of Personal Collection hanging around Harry, I too would be interested in the possibility of buying it from you. If not, I'll look around and maybe get my hands on the other books of yours that are long out of print that I don't already have.

I hope not. Some of us shelled out serious cash for this book under the impression -- the promise, really -- that the price was justified by the quality of the material and the limited print run. If this "last word" on Lorayne's "original card work" were to be republished than people who paid $150 were ripped off (and at that time the American dollar was still worth something). And I know, I know, the usual band of assorted butt-snorklers will claim they'd have happily paid $1500 knowing then what they know now. Listen to them at your own risk.

I thought the vast majority of the tricks included were obvious derivations of previously published work. What a M-E-S is one of the few tricks, if not the only trick, worth revisiting in my view. It's the last one included in the book, and Lorayne begins his entry as follows:



It's a strong trick that requires a sleight a lot of people still haven't mastered, and the memory practice that few will put in. Awesome. However, the crediting is vague at best. Lorayne describes Marlo as "our most prolific innovator," yet only references "an early issue of Ibidem." The title would have been useful.

We're assured the two are nothing alike:


Since there shouldn't be a reprint, people interested can look up Mexican Solitaire in the republished Ibidem, p. 159. Lorayne is on record as saying, if I may paraphrase: "go back to the original, it's always the best!"

I don't have the original. Yes, I mentioned this to TH and a couple others in PM/off site; I'm disappointed he immediately took it public without warning.

Aahh, good. I was wondering when this beauty would come in with his load of wit! The last copy of Personal Collection I had to sell, sold for $500.00, plus the inevitable postage/handlng. Let me repeat that so that you don't think it's a misprint - $500.00!. And this is after the book had been around for years, after this person had heard how terrific the book was, and is. And he wrote emailed to tell me how thrilled he was with the material. There've been so many testimonials from people who've sworn that they've put together up to twelve close-up card shows just from that book alone. There is marvelous stuff in that book - yes, I say so myself, as do hundreds of others. But, let's all listen to the man who really knows - Cain; he's so able -also seems as if he's a friend of the other beauty, TH. That figures. HL. (Because of the few lovelies I may just decide to do a re-print.)

I started the topic by asking a friendly, fun and civil question that I hoped would elicit friendly and fun responses.

Very sad!

Paul Gordon

It more that likely doesn't help Paul, that what we're talking about no-one can (or will) give a clear description of the effect in question, plus its from a very difficult to obtain out-of-print book, keeping it outta the hands of the many who would love to master such a difficult effect, that by all accounts gets reaction's above and beyond what you would normaly expect.......

I've already explained, in brief, the effect. My question was a simple: "Does anyone else use it and like it?" A polite "Yes" or "No" (with a bit of flowering) would have sufficed. My question didn't warrant a diatribe of abuse toward the trick or Harry.

And yes, of all the blockbuster card tricks - It's up there with the best.

Paul Gordon

Of course it didn't, but when it comes to trolls....

Yes. I like it very much.

As method of distributing cards into four piles in the beginning is difficult for me, I devised an easy method in which I can deal all cards smoothly.

I believe I will use this trick often.

Hideo Kato