Spellbinder

Type: Close-up, Walk-around

Skill Level:

Retail Price: $35

Effect:Hand a pack of alphabet cards to a spectator. He can examine and shuffle the cards to his heart's content. Next, show him a list of about 30 different words. Ask the spectator to mentally choose any word from the list. While your back is turned, the spectator uses the alphabet cards to spell his word. The cards are dealt out face down on the table. You turn around and instantly are able to name the selected word!

Performance Time: About two minutes

Reset Time: None

Angles:

Quality: Comes with the alphabet cards (nicely printed on plastic stock), the list of words and full instructions.

Mike Maione: This is a pretty good trick. The method is impossible to detect. And, you can repeat it to your heart's content. Everything can be examined. I admit to being enchanted with it when it was first presented to me. But, I picked up a little, "so what" attitude the few times I presented it to lay people. I think because the method is so new and different it actually entertains magicians more than it does anyone else. Still I think it is worth taking a look at.

Dr. Mitch: Hmmmm...this one struck me as a puzzler. As a spectator it blew me away. But as a magician my first thoughts were..."the cards gotta be marked". After examining the cards, I did discover the markings but did not understand how they could be read. After learning how to read them...I was disappointed. In my opinion it would show better if the performer could INSTANTLY name the word...without hesitation. Of course this is possible, but it requires PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE...oh...and a good head for numbers. This really is a stunner...but the high cost would make me think twice about purchasing it. If you do this type of magic...make the investment.

M&M Magic Review © 1997