I wonder when the 3rd trick will be available from this series.

I'm one of those who likes to reverse engineer a trick before I purchase it. Not to steal the trick or anything...but just so that I can practice the background mechanics and figure out how I can put it into practice. Today I took out some jokers and two aces from different colored decks and tried out the bones of the effect on my gf and my mom. My gf chose black and the trick was as smooth as silk. Unfortunately I've been having trouble thinking up a good "answer" for someone who chooses red aces. I'm sure it's in the script. My Mom chose red and the trick kind of wobbled from then on because she felt she was being led on (plus she's pretty savvy and figured that if the cards were all set up the way they were in the end, it must have been some kind of "force").

My question is, to those who have the script, is the "answer" for red aces a strong one? It is the only part of the effect I am worried about.

For the record, I don't plan on using my fake Duplicity set anymore. In fact I'm wondering if I can get a discount on shipping if I buy both tricks in the Fractal Magic set at once. I'll have to ask Mr. Bannon about that.

The Equivoque is a very simple one. Smooth as silk and works like a charm.

John Bannon sells his Fractal Card Magic effects post-paid.

I know that...but if I bought both at the same time there would logically be a lower actual cost to him to ship them. Combined shipping discounts are a fairly common convention.

I performed Duplicity at the local magic store yesterday (no Elmsley, the one thing I disagree with John about) for several customers at once. Everyone who saw it bought it (for several dollars more than John ships it no less and knowing this but not wanting to wait). I think that speaks volumes about this effect (my performance was so-so).

I love getting such a great response for a trick where I basically don't have to do anything but talk! Thanks again, John. I can't believe I carry a packet trick with me after all these years but Duplicity is just that good.

Twisted Sisters is a GREAT trick. Duplicity is a SUPER GREAT trick. I have both and I doubt that I would do TW over Duplicity.

The fact that the magic happens in the spectators hands adds so much more to the performance. It's like comparing the reaction Sponge Balls gets to the reaction of Die Tunnel or Ball & Vase.

John's effects are relatively simple to do, reasonably priced and are very commercial with maximun impact.
Thanks, John!

The Elmsley works for me as John presents this as a cards across routine and not a mentalism routine.

I know Cameron, truly I understand the need to do an Elmsley as a magician. After all these years devoting myself strictly (well almost ) to mentalism, I'm tempted myself! But this is a near perfect example of a form of mental influence the way I'm presenting it, almost a hallucinatory experience.

To do a count just isn't necessary and I believe would detract from the experience I'm trying to impart. I love that I can honestly say I'm trying to influence the participant psychologically! It is so perfectly congruent.

Again I understand your and John's perspective and repsect it. I remember this same debate with Twisted Sisters. I feel even more strongly about eliminating the Elmsley with Duplicity because it is so perfectly clean and everything is left freely for examination at the end. Interestingly, in my experience performing Duplicity so far, hardly anyone, and of those only magicians, had any interest in looking at the cards afterwards.

By the way, I use jokers for the same reason John uses blanks. It is just, again, a different perspective and a different goal.

I am not a fan of packet tricks (never was, just not for me)...


BUT this is pure astonishment. I love this effect and it now goes everywhere with me.

Thanks Mr Bannon for such a devistating effect for such little effort,

I'm not a big card guy but I like good card effects that don't necessarily demand that I be a great card man to do them and look good doing them...This is most certainly one them IMHO.

Not sure why all the tit-for-tat BS! about this effect but I just received it and find it to be exceptional on a few levels.

First, it is at a tremendous value for the quality of Bannon's work. $15 bucks for this is very reasonable. It comes with a complete routine included on the disk as a pdf. It is clear and concise and walks you through everything easy enough. You don't actually need to review the dvd video portion of the instructions but you get them just the same and they are as well done.

You also get the cards for the effect, all in a neat little dvd box presentation box - I wish all effects came like this. It's all first rate stuff and a marvelous little presentation that absolutely amazes people. What else do you want?

To me it's pretty simple and I love the equivoque aspects of it. I've done the effect a few times now and it comes completely across as fair to the spec. It raises no eyebrows of any suspiscion. This is very well thought out, from the bowels really of a couple of other super effects, like his Twisted Sister and the Maven classic, B'wave. It's another aspect of those effects.

I have regularly done B'wave for years to break up all the coin stuff and will now look to do Duplicity as well, actually moreso. I think it's another winner by Bannon all the way around as the sheer simplicity of this is quite brilliant. Makes you think, "Hey, why didn't I think of that?" And hey why didn't any of you supposedly solid card guys think of this...it's pretty darn simple really I mean, I can see you not thinking of Twisted Sister as that's a bit more involved creatively. Actually this effect to me is right there with a great like B'wave, it's that good.

Anyway, like I said..."Duplicity" is a complete/powerful little package for a great price from an accomplished name in this aspect of magic. In just a small amount of time practicing this you will begin to develop a great new addition to any repetoire. Simply, two words - Get it! -Mb

I've just bought this and will be investigating the trick before reporting back here. Watch this space.

I do not see what makes you consider this a trick for Magic Hobbyist :
- That's not a stunt
- That's not dedicated to a specific public
- That's not a trick where the subtelty can only appreciated by geek magicians

Is it because it's a packet trick ?

You can reset it rapidly, it's something everybody can understand, you can write a patter that introduces the cards so it's not a packet trick anymore. Sorry, I'm sure you can make a good professionnal use of that one !
)maybe more than twisted sister, as the construction is progressive, there is a rythm, etc.)

Cheers,
Pierre-Emmanuel

Well said, Mb!

John has given us a lot of magic here for a very small cost. Thank you, John! Keep 'em coming, cause your stuff works!!! Jim

Frans, you think WRONG. People only want to see it if you try to hide it or you lack the ease of performance necessary to make what you do look natural. If you've ever seen Eugene Burger do B'wave you would understand the psychology of not running when you're not being chased. I use B'wave all the time and let the helper hold the cards and then deal the revelation into their hand. I can honestly say I have NEVER had someone ask or demand to see the cards after doing that. I also put other gaffs in peoples hands, I won't go into detail but ditto on those instances.

More on topic; the idea of having this effect gaffless is okay, but it's 8 cards vs. 4 and something that seems to need a table, but I just thought of a way to do this stand-up. It might be worth a look.

For those who have been asking:

The Dear Mr. Fantasy reprint is at the printers and I expect delivery in mid-November. This second printing is in dust-jacketed hardcover, just like the first printing. The price is the same, too.

The third of the Fractal Card Magic series, Spin Doctor, will also be available in November. Why twist when you can spin?

My website will now accept pre-orders for both of these products, if you are so inclined.

I've also added a downloadable. A self-working trick that will fool your significant other.

Thanks for your interest and support.

John

I do like the presentation, all seems so fair.

This is an awsum effect, definatly has the audiance thinking, 'how the hell did he do that'!

Now that some time has gone by since the release, Is anyone using Duplicity on a regular basis?

Hi Chris,

I use Duplicity all the time .. I like it ALOT better than TS.

- Steve