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by **DrTodd** » Nov 18th, '06, 19:22

The Stripper Deck

Researched and Written by Jon Thompson

$19.99 (about £11.00)

Available from http://www.cafepress.com/booksbytomo

This is a really great book that will revolutionise the way magicians look at the Stripper Deck.

Tomo has done a tremendous amount of research not only on the properties of the Stripper Deck, but cards more generally. For example, did you know that 22 cards in a deck are 'marker' cards (i.e. they have unique features that allow you to do some amazing effects even if using a normal deck)? Tomo tells you what they are, why they are, and what to do with them!

Tomo writes fluidly and lucidly about how a deck of cards can be thought of with the metaphor of the 'information model', which when combined with what we already know about the distribution of the numbers and suits of cards, can produce some really powerful effects.

He begins the book with two anecdotes about two different magicians using a Stripper Deck. The first magician creates a miracle, the second performs a pedestrian revelation. These anecdotes frame the discussion throughout the book, namely, how can we use the properties of the Stripper Deck and think laterally about presentation to produce powerful and completely baffling effects?

The book is best read in parallel with, or in sequence to, Royal Road to Card Magic. Tomo covers shuffles, cuts, and forces and how the properties of the Stripper Deck give us access to additional information.

The sleights are not difficult, but the combination of the discussion about the Stripper Deck and how it can be used alongside standard sleights found in Royal Road make this an invaluable addition to any serious magician's library.

Moreover, I find Tomo's analysis of any deck's properties refreshing and in many ways liberating. What he reveals in this book will raise the level of your magic and mentalism.

Overall, I think this represents tremendous value for money. It comes with additional sleights, advice on how to make a Stripper Deck, advice on what version is best to buy, and 18 effects that range from straight 'magic' to pure mentalism. The glossary and index are an added bonus.

10/10

by **Tomo** » Nov 19th, '06, 16:19

Thanks for the review. I'm really glad you like it, and deeply relieved someone else thinks it's good.

by **DrTodd** » Nov 19th, '06, 17:40

You are welcome!

The strength of the book is the use of the stripper properties along with other properties of a deck of cards. The mental effects are my favourite bits.

by **Mandrake** » Nov 21st, '06, 13:53

Having given this book a swift run through I can see it has a lot of very useful tips and information as well as solid routines using the SD on it's own as well as in conjunction with regular decks. I measured my book and you probably won’t believe this but at the top it's 123mm wide, and at the bottom it's 122mm. Subtle, very subtle indeed :wink:

!

by **Tomo** » Nov 21st, '06, 14:02

Mandrake wrote:I measured my book and you probably won’t believe this but at the top it's 123mm wide, and at the bottom it's 122mm. Subtle, very subtle indeed !

Oh yes, you see, that's why it takes so long to get here. The production process is very special

"Now, while I turn my back on the building, I just want you to return the book to anywhere in the the library..."

by **Farlsborough** » Nov 21st, '06, 14:34

This sounds excellent, I've been waiting for something on the stripper deck for a while.

Tomo, bit of an old chestnut for me but do you use hindu or belly cut, and if the latter, where do you get them from...?! I've never tried one but I'm sure it must be more natural to use...

But in terms of either stripper deck, do you have somewhere you know of which makes very good quality ones?

by **IAIN** » Nov 21st, '06, 14:41

I'm no Tomo on the matter, but i've bought some nice hindu and belly cut strippers on Bike stock from cards4magic.co.uk....

they even do 'em in fournier if you fancied a pretty change...lovely cards they are..

by **Tomo** » Nov 21st, '06, 14:53

Farlsborough wrote:Tomo, bit of an old chestnut for me but do you use hindu or belly cut, and if the latter, where do you get them from...?! I've never tried one but I'm sure it must be more natural to use...

But in terms of either stripper deck, do you have somewhere you know of which makes very good quality ones?

What people naturally refer to as a "stripper" deck is the Hindu stripper deck. I don't cover the belly stripper, but I did get one from NUMS in Ghost while ago to check it out. It's a nice bit of kit, but it never really lit my candle.

I never got into that whole bespoke deck thing, but I have made my own before now and it really is a pain in the harris. The best commercial ones (e.g subtlety v price) I've used are the USPCC ones. International Magic stocks them for £6.50 in red or blue here. They even come with both the cellophane and seal intact for total respectability.

by **Tomo** » Nov 21st, '06, 14:55

abraxus wrote:they even do 'em in fournier if you fancied a pretty change...lovely cards they are..

I've been resisting that particular attack of CUPS for over a week now. I can feel my will weakening as I type...

by **IAIN** » Nov 21st, '06, 15:01

the whole fournier range is quite frankly superb...

they even do a deck of short cards, so you can either make a red and a blue deck into a svengali, or just insert a lovely short card into a normal deck for various nefarious purposes...

i do love fournier...if they could put the tally-ho circle ontop of the fournier design i think i'd pass out in a wave of luxury...

go on Tomo, treat yourself! they're hindu cut...and they last alot longer than bikes...

by **Tomo** » Nov 21st, '06, 15:15

abraxus wrote:go on Tomo, treat yourself! they're hindu cut...and they last alot longer than bikes...

Argh!

by **IAIN** » Nov 21st, '06, 15:18

now that you've gone and enlarged this text (or squinted), the very least you can do is treat yourself to a lovely new stripper deck, AND with a classier back design...