As I was looking through AoA I noticed a few linking card routines. It looked like there were about three of them in AoA 2 (or was it 3) Does anyone have opinions as to which are the most impressive, easy/difficult, etc...

Also, are there other (non AoA) card links that I should be aware of?

I think Immaculate Connection is the best. Bill Goldman published a version of this in his bar and grill series and it's worth checking out. You can buy it as his website http://www.bgmagic.com

Sixten Bemes: Complete Card Linking is my favourite.
Its very clean. The linked cards can be examined by the spectators.

Harris started the movement with Cardboard Connection. He followed with Immaculate connection. Sixten Beme released two versions of his card link, one of which was performed by Henning on TV. Lorayne has a version in Quantum Leaps which Simon Lovell has some nice touches on. (A version of this may also be in Trapdoor). Roger Crabtree came out with the Crabtree Connection which is excellent. John Riggs has a handling of that in the Trapdoor Magazine of Steve Beam (not to be confused with Sixten). I saw John perform this years ago and it fooled me BADLY. The most recent being Osmosis from AoA.

You might also wish to check out Ian Rowland's website. He makes FLinks cards which are permanent impossible objects. I have held these things in my hand and they are stunning. I think an enterprising performer could do something with these.

For those who are interested, I have a linking card routine, tenatively called 'The Linkage'.

I would like to release it one day this year, but I have to do some homework to ensure that the idea/principle/method is orignal/new enough to warrent publication.

Having said that, in the near future, I will need knowledgeable beta testers to help me with this research. I know the effect is powerful, as I have been using it a lot, for quite some time.

Please PM if interested in beta testing/researching.

Sean

It has come to my attention that Terry Lagerould and Bev Bergeron both had linking card effects prior to 1989. I have no information on either. Anyone have a source or info they can share?

Immaculate connection!!!

borrow three cards and blow them away (just that simple )

I also like Inmaculate connection. However, I find it ilogical to use three cards and only link one ( you know what I mean).
I also like osmosis, but it is kind of complicated.
If I had to choose, however, I'd probably choose Inmaculate Connection.
Just my $0.02,
Alex

I have immaculate connection by Paul Harris I think and it is great and cards can be borrowed.

Truthteller mentioned Harry Lorayne's version from Quantum Leaps. It's called, "The Best Gosh Darn Impromptu Linking Card Effect You'll Ever See." I have been doing it for years and it's terrific. It can be done anywhere, under any circumstances, with any cards from any deck - impromptu (no preparation). It looks like the real thing.
Richard

I use a lot Paul Harris "Inmaculate Connection". I think is a great and very clear effect.

But I read sometime ago a real good effect with only two linkend card, published in a booklet by El Duco (in Sweden?). It was a beautiful routine, involving only two card, that were real linked and can be give to spectators as a gift at the end of the routine real linked. It was a little hard routine for the movements, and for the gimmick (you must prepare it by yourself), but the effect was real great magic, very close to what Jose De La Torre knew as "real magic".

All the best magic,

Pablo Tejero

Sylvain Mirouf (french magician) published "Osmose" in a tape entirely devoted to it. Quite good. I guess it should be available from http://www.mayette.com or by himself.

Personally, I don't find a good reason to link cards... Rings, or rubberbands seem to have a "natural" propensity (?) to link to each others. But cards...

Jonathan.

The name of the effect:
The Complete Card Linking by Sixten Beme, Stockholm.

Mr Beme was a magic friend to me, we had some contacts over the years before he passed on... I meet him every year at swedens biggest convention every year and we chat vividly and he showed me some of his latest card tricks.

Bev Bergeron's linking card is the Lorayne effect with some nice shows, but it's still the Lorayne version.

This is the version I have used for years with great sucess.

Jeff