It’s with great pleasure that I received two of the latest booklets written by Patrick G. Redford:

MENDACITY and CONSECUTION

Those booklets are packed with good and great ideas and tips.

Mendacity is a booklet containing various effects and some brief essays. I loved to read what George had to express in his essays and I loved some of the effects more than others. The ones I particularly liked are:

Auspicious Coincidence, which is, from the performance point of view, a very neat Any Card, Any Number effect. It may not be the final word on this kind of effects but it really comes close to that.

The Forgotten in which a playing card is forgotten by a participant. I particularly liked the bold and new way in which a common card gaff is used here. Your script and presentation must do the rest.

Naughty Bits in which an object created in the minds of your audience is revealed by the performer in a physical, concrete form. This is one is really NAUGHTY... You will get what I mean when you read it.


And of course there are some other effects as well as a cell phone effect suitable for the stage and, as I mentioned above, some essays and other reflections…


Consequence is a booklet, which takes on from where Mendacity left off… Other effects, all very workable, and some other thoughts / essays on hidden secrets and on the art of metal bending.

My preferred effects in this book are:

Eidolon, is an effect in which the spectators hallucinate a card which does NOT exist.

The Sticky Spirit is an interesting take on the Add-A-No using a sticky notes pad. Simple and clever.

Fantasy Animal Divination is a clean and impromptu divination of a thought.

But there is much, much more…


Through those booklets permeate the sense that what you are reading is the labor of love of George who, is obvious to me, is skilled as a writer, as a narrator and certainly as a performer and who is clearly able to entertain and amaze his audiences with his creations.

However, I must warn the potential readers that some of those effects, especially the ones based on basic principles that should be familiar to experienced Mentalists, require that the performer is confident in his spectators’ management skills required to convert a modus operandi into a little miracle.

Both booklets are recommended without reserve to the discriminating performer.

Where are they available and how much are each...Are these ebooks?

Mike, try here.
http://www.magic-by-george.com/

Gavin D.

Thank you for the kind words, of course! Gavin is quite correct, http://www.magic-by-george.com is the place to go- simply follow the "for performers" link at the bottom of the opening page.

-Patrick G. Redford.

I'd like to hear more about Auspicious Coincidence. How does this compare to other any card at any numbers? Anyone else tried this?

Great news George!

I'm ordering my own copies as I write... you're an evil genius...

Cheers,

James

Auspicious Coincidence, my Any Card @ Any number, is something I use constantly. The cards remain boxed. Only after a card and a number are named (ANY card and ANY number may be used - no force of any kind - are the cards removed from the box - oh and get this, there are no sleights to be done when removing the cards and the cards are dumped into an audience members awaiting hands. There are no cards "accidentally" left behind in the box and there are no duplicate cards. This is a very strong piece that I use in my show. Also the script that is included with the effect is a slightly different approach to the Any Card @ Any Number plot.

In this version, I'm pleased to announce, DOES NOT use any of the following:

Complicated on the spot math problems to solve in your head
Estimation
Cutting the deck openly or secretively
Duplicate cards
Cards "accidentally" left behind in the box
Gimmicked Cards

Oh by the way, the cards are immediately dumped from the box into an awaiting subject’s hand.

If you have any other questions, please don't be afraid to ask!

-George Tait

I like the sound if that, George. Is the box gimmicked in any way, and if so, can it be handled by the spectators? I'm probably way off.
RGM is one of my favourite effects - are your effects the forgotten and eidolon possible after this, and can they be performed consecutively?

Thanks for your help,
Simon

My copies arrived today...

I look forward to spending the weekend delving into George's "Extremely Mental" Mind.

Congratulations on your work,

James

I am interested in how many decks are required for this ACAAN effect called auspicious coincidence. please pm me.

I'm just getting into both books and I really like what I see!

Both of them by the way are first rate in design and print quality and are a welcome relief from so many of the little photocopied booklets that we've all endured in Magic for so many years.

More to follow,

James

Yes, both books are fantastic. I will post a more thorough review once I've fully digested them. His ACAAN effect is worth the price of the book. It is diabolical. And you don't need a memorized deck!

Yeah Dave,

I agree and agree and agree...

George knows that while both of his books are full of practital stuff, I was especially interested in his FORGOTTEN and in his ACAN (Auspicious Coincidence).

Both those effects to me are worth the price of his book!

Sidenote: As a collector / creator / fan of Chair Routines I can't wait to get his ENSCONCED FUNDAMENT.

Simon,

Both the deck and the box may be examined by the audience at the end of the effect.

The Forgotten and Eidolon are both possible after this, however I personally wouldn't perform them together. This is, however, just my preference.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, don't be afraid to ask!

-George Tait

THank you James, Paolo and David for the kind words. I'm pleased that you're enjoying the books.

Magicbygeorge,

Is it possible to use an EL-DUO deck, instead of a regular bicycle cards, for the Auspicious Coincidence?


Peace.

Mr. Mystic,

Yes you may use any brand of playing cards for any of the effects in the books.

-George Tait

George,

Correction.

I meant the EL-DUCO Giant Anglo Deck. I had a special Giant Anglo Deck made for Marc Spelmann's Mind Control effect, for a stand up show, and needed an effect to ring in the deck. Is Auspicious Coincidence still able to be performed with this size deck?

The Anglo Deck-http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?client=55954532&action=detail&item=005912

NM

NM,

Yes you'd wouldn't have any trouble using these cards for the effect.

And the method may perhaps just supply an extra secret for you as well.

-George

George,

Thanks for the reply, I'll be getting your book real soon.


NM