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666 Mentalism
by Howard Adams
Howard Adams has been around for a LONG time, and his specialty is self working and mathematical magic and mentalism effects. I have no idea how his mind can generate these kinds of effect with this much variety, but create he does.
Howard's books and booklets have been released in series (Such as OICUFESP and MINDESPA) and in books by a variety of publishers. The commercial effect "Will the card match" is based on one of Howard's principles. Look at any list of creators of easy to do, self-working card effects and Howard's name will be high on the list. Howard's contributions can be seen in Simply Impromp2 by Aldo Colombini and Howard's book Mathcasts Aspellonu is often quoted as a resource for this kind of material.
In this book, Howard has created 66 self working packet effects using 6 cards each. (thus the title, get it, 666 Mentalism?) Each effect is explained in Howard's straight forward, no-nonsense and to the point fashion and we have left them as he wrote them word for word. You can read a sample here.
I think often, people ignorantly poo poo self working magic because they don't understand it. It is true that you will find NO sleight of hand, no finger flinging and no hard to do gaffs in this book. Instead you get 66 (Plus a few extra bonuses) simple effects and plot outlines that can be done 100% in the spectator's hands! Many of these do not require the performer to touch the cards at all. Some could be done over the phone or through the MAIL. I know of several performers who have used this kind of magic over the phone with radio DJ's heard by thousands and thousands of listeners! To the listening audience, you could read minds or predict an outcome that you have NO WAY OF INFLUENCING.
The material in this book is great stuff for brainstorming and workshops. Sure you can do it As-Is, and with a little thought and personalization, you can take a solid effect and turn it into a publicity making miracle!
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