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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Please keep this thread for reviews and comments only if you own the book or are contemplating its value before purchase. There are other threads for chatter and informing us you that you ordered it and are waiting for it's arrival. Thanks all.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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TEB3 Veteran user Texas 387 Posts |
It is a dark and dreary day here in the forest. Duncan, the weredog, just brought today's parcels into my office. The book is now before me. My eyes tell me it is full of un-earthly delights. Now, unless there is an emergency channel from MyM or someone, I will spend the evening absorbing, cogitating, and other stuff. I've already spoken with Magus and he seemed to be giggling. I especially approve of his last sentence on page 156. Hey, if it helps sell real estate........Now, that is a really weird thought, a subdivision of homes restricted for practitioners of bizarre/spooky/arcane/ghostly, etc. That ought to freak out Equal Opportunity housing lenders.
Anyway by dawn's early light, I'll try and post something more in depth BUT on first appearance, it's a killer! And the props don't look too shabby either (unless they're supposed to). Seriously, this is a winner. TEB3/Lary/Traveler (and whoever else appears in my mind) |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
YES YES YES..
GOT MINE....NICE WORK FELLAS........ what I've read while on the throne from the good mage has been enthralling...until my gal told me to get outta the can.... so much in this book.........eye can see many ideas, variations, creative juices flowing...... pictures are nice, Doug's cover RULES....... looking forward to delving deeper... and JIM-----THANX SO MUCH FOR THE OTHER GIFT......MEANS THE WORLD.......I NEVER KNEW SUCH A WORK EXISTED, LET ALONE BY THE LIKES OF YOU.....WOW WOW WOW...WILL BE IN TOUCH.... ah, my effect in the book rules too Baba |
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leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
While I had seen the manuscript months ago in an early proof, I wanted to wait to review it until it was officially out. That said, now I can say this:
If you own a Higley- you MUST buy this book! If you enjoy good bizarre magic- You MUST buy this book. If you like bizarre psychic entertainment- you MUST buy this book! If you have ever CONSIDERED owning a Higley- you must buy this book, and THEN order 4 or 5 creations! I LOVE collaborative efforts of this nature, it is an honor to have been asked to contribute something, and a greater honor to have been included! You have here a veritable who's who of the bizarre, magic and mentalism world. Many from the Café, and more are represented here. I would say that this joyful book, along with Hauntiques and Vo Du Magick, have made the last year and a month, HALLMARK for the genre! I think you will also find it a delightful idea starter for your own creative juices! Dean
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
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handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
I second Dean's statement that we have quite a trifecta of new Bizarre books. All three are on my nightstand, each having been read to various degrees of completion. I can honestly say that I will be using AT LEAST one thing from each book in future performances.
The thing that I'm finding most interesting about MIDNIGHT IN THE DARK MUSEUM is the versatility of the routines. So far, every routine I've read can be presented w/o Doug's props (but why would you want to do that?) and are taken to another level by the inclusion of that bit of "Higley Magic." The book is a good bizarre primer, and I'm amazed at the collective number of years of entertainment experience that the book represents (Doug and Jim inclusive, of course). I'm looking forward to reading Jim's own contributions to the tome, as well as those of "He Who Must Get His Own Chapter" (welcome to the Café, too!) as I delve into the book. I'm already enjoying the perspectives of EvilDan, Baba, R. Shane, and others as I'm hopping through the book like I need to take ritalin and haven't for the past week! Thanks again to Mr. Magus for including me in the project, and to Mr. Higley for his kind words about me not too long ago. Read and enjoy! Read again and learn! Chris |
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KOTAH Inner circle 2289 Posts |
Brother Handa,
"He who who MUST get his own chapter? More like he who was fortunate enough to be a part of the book, as were we all. KOTAH |
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TEB3 Veteran user Texas 387 Posts |
THE REVIEW
Why I like this book. This declarative statement is both a simple and yet complex. It is terrific from the standpoint of taking extremely unique props and giving them a reason for existing. The complex part is the thinking that the contributors had to go through to take both the props and then adapt their own twists and ideas to make them into performance pieces. Even better to my own warped taste is that someone won’t have to spend a fortune re-inventing the wheel to pull these off from a mechanical standpoint. A prime example is the small skull that turns around. You could have a lot of fun playing with little motors and a remote control all miniaturized for a chunk of change or do what this particular contributor did. Use a piece of thread – hey, it works, it’s clean and proves the old less is more concept very well. The whole book is like this! There are going to be a bunch that will say “but nothing is really new”. Wrong! Without exception the ideas take darn good basic effects, then the exceptional props and meld them into things that are very different. (That may be my understatement for 2007.) After reading the whole, then re-reading several things that really jumped out I know what I’d like to see as the next step. Many of these contributions have a natural flow from one to the next that begs for threading them together. It’s amazing how different people with different personalities and styles can create a whole. And this is where Jim’s talent really shows. Taking all of the wonderful bits and making them cohesive without destroying the personalities of the contributors is a real skill. Believe me, that is heavy-duty work. While the individual entries are labeled Exhibits as is appropriate for a Museum, they really scream to be tied together for a Ten in One. For those a bit younger, Ten Shows for the price of One. Yes, I long to walk down a Midway and suddenly see giant banners showing scenes of the marvels inside the tent. The sound of the drum pulsing as the Barker intrigues you with tales of the greatest exhibition of the unknown ever assembled. Plus this would all be politically correct since no one is taking someone’s misfortune and exploiting it. In the tent, the guide who escorts you from small stage to small stage revealing each new horror or oddity to your wondering eyes. He is both a lecturer and guardian to protect you from something going amiss. What a showman. This whole thing screams for somebody to make a killing financially with a “dark” attraction. I know down deep that reality says there may be no one who wants to take on the nomadic life that this would require. But boy does this book conjure up possibilities beyond just really good effects. Spend the money, get Jim’s book. Spend the money, buy Doug’s props. And most importantly think what you can do with what you read. TEB3/Lary (and Traveler tossed in his two cents worth) |
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handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
KOTAH,
Your humbleness would make Madame Grodznoya proud...or at least keep her rants to a minimum. I think that it is appropriate, fair, and right to have your body of submissions both in their own section and included in the chapters related to the use of DM props. I can only imagine the correspondence back and forth that just kept inspiring new ideas, each too good to not be included in this volume. I hope that the use of a modal verbal modifier in the imperative sense was taken as a complement. After all, some material just demands extra attention, and there is nothing wrong with that. At the very least, I do not think that it takes away from the contributions of anybody else on the project. Jim has done all of us a great service to include us among his own creations! TEB3, I agree that it is interesting to read each person's contribution that, while still in the author's own voice, flows as a part of a greater whole. There is definitely an opportunity to create longer routines by chaining together multiple effects, each from a different author. Chris |
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SeaDawg Special user The Lunatic Fringe 718 Posts |
I live at the far end of the Canadian Postal universe and my copy is probably stranded on a dogsled somewhere.... ARHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope spring boards others to great thoughts for great props...
Crazy people take the psycho-path thru the forest...
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Lets keep this thread for REVIEWS.
Canadian Wine goes in the other one.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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Clifford the Red Inner circle LA, California 1941 Posts |
Ok, I got very little sleep last night after getting it in the mail yesterday. I grinned evilly, laughed out loud and thoroughly enjoyed my reading. What a wonderful example of creativity in action. I loved seeing everyone's ideas with such wild variety. Reading it was like imagining I was in the room with all of these great minds and every interjecting "what about this!" before the thought gets away and Jim managing magically to take perfect notes of the mayhem - a creator's dream. It's tough to get a feel for different styles from a single book, but here you have numerous, very defined styles coming through loud and clear. I loved it! I think that diversity of artistic style really helps to stimulate our own thinking. For that alone, this book is WAY worth it. But if you have a Higley, then the combination will create legends.
If it means anything, I am buying another copy as a collector. PS, I love Doug's drawing on the back especially. It totally rocks!
"The universe is full of magical things, waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden Philpotts
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
ARGHHHHHHHHHH...CURS'D BE THIS TOME...
its driving me crazi(er) with all the ideas and inspiration......... |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
Not trying to rub it in...BUT THIS IS A GEM....and don'tcha wish you had one already
chalk fulla WONDERFUL ROUTINES... |
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Prof. Pabodie Veteran user 318 Posts |
The best books not only present great routines that you can perform, but get your own ideas wriggling around, keeping you awake at night. I've had the book for two days now and it's working its strange magick. It's also a bigger book than I expected -- not a slim pamphlet this. Great routine, Dr. Spektor, using a shrunken head. And Baba's Fah Tish Selim. Vincent's Ear is a routine perfect for my style of performance and I will be using it -- thanks for that one, Jim. I have not read the entire book, am going through it slowly and not in order, a bad reading habit I acquired, so I can't comment on every routine just yet.
I simply can't imagine anyone with a serious interest in bizarre magick who would not treasure this book, so pony up the dough or live to regret it! I know that I will never sell mine! |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
N I C E !!
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bosque Loyal user 279 Posts |
Of the three recently released masterpieces of bizarre magic (you know of what I speak), Midnight in the Dark Museum is the one I will be referring to most frequently. The fact that I own a number of Higleys plays no small part in this, but the great variety of effects is really why I will return to this book again and again. I'm using two routines already (adapted to fit my style) and have been inspired to create one or two original routines for my Higleys. The effects range from the standard story-telling type of bizarre routine we're all used to, to quick little pieces of eye candy, more commonly seen in garden variety magic (which is much-needed within the genre, if you ask me). There are elaborations on the classic Dark Museum presentation, and tips for adding enchantment to the presentation of Higley Zibits. I may be prejudiced, and not to knock the other two outstanding recent additions to the bizarre canon, but Midnight in the Dark Museum is my favorite book of magic at this point in time.
-- Steve Bosque |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THAT.
oh. wait. Im in that book too. well, gimme your toe then. |
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fraughton Veteran user of books 327 Posts |
This book is Genius. I feel that Doug Higley has created a vehicle for us, Jim Magus took the driver's seat, and we have all been invited along for the ride. This book is new proof that bizarre magic is quite performable and well worth the effort.
Beware of this and that.
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bosque Loyal user 279 Posts |
Gede-
I'd let you have my Big Foot Toe, but I'm getting too musch positive feedback from doing the Big Foot Toe under the Glorpy from Midnight in the Dark Museum. By the way, your inclusion in the book is part of the reason it's so good. Your book is equally awesome, it's just that I'll probably get more mileage out of Midnight due to my style. I'm telling you, your book, Hauntiques and Midnightin the Dark Museum are all in the same spot on my shelf- easily reached. Thanks for your incredible spirit and stories. -- Steve Bosque |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
Send me three strands of hair, and two toe nails...muhahahaha....
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