talkmagic.co.uk

Listed on Murphys Magic - "Hypnohole & Other Absurdities" by Dale A. Hildebrandt.

This new book, or more accurately, this spiral bound, laser printed, rather homemade looking 185 page collection of various effects is a weird effort indeed, and would appear to be recommended by none other than that most strangely dressed of American gentlemen, Kenton Knepper.

Mr. Knepper tells us, "Applying concepts such as my dual reality approach is not easy to do well. Dale Hildebrandt's work is a twisted tap dance along the spine of reason."

I think some of you will already have guessed the direction that this reveiw is about to take.

Let me start by saying that you can buy a heck of a lot of toilet paper for 30 quid, it's also a heck of a lot softer and neither is it covered in all that nasty black laser toner. The first "Absurdity" that struck me on opening the cover was the total lack of an index, or perhaps this is some special mentalism, memory training exercise and i should actually be really gratefull for not being charged extra. However it wasn't until i had fully read through the first few effects that i was aware of just how badly i had been taken. I must admit that i had always thought that SOME of Kenton Knepper's ideas were "a bit out there", however I'm afraid that Mr. Hidebrandt has totally lost the plot. That is unless you think that effects involving punching clowns and glueing your furniture to the ceiling is NORMAL. I kid you not people. This guy is nuts!!!

So, just in case you are still in any doubt, NO, i did not like this book and i hope this reveiw if nothing else, will save a few from a nasty bottom rash.

You know, it strikes me that there seems to be a recent trend developing, especially across the Atlantic in the good old U.S of A, where many well known and highly regarded members of the magic / mentalist fraternity, are apparently quite prepared to give their recommendation to each others writings or effects/packet tricks etc. when some of these products are quite obviously utter cr@p. Well i say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"!! And that goes for those FREQUENT totally over the top and highly misleading descriptions of some magic props, which I'm sure we have all been duped into buying AT LEAST ONCE. Several manufacturers in the industry would appear never to have heard of the trade descriptions act Well all i can say is, always pay by credit card, and if it doesn't do what it says it does on the box, SEND IT BACK. We will all benefit in the long run.

In closing, i wonder how many poor sods just like me, remember sat eagerly awaiting the arrival of the morning post and delivery of the ultimate in street levitation, "The Elevator". NEED I SAY MORE!!!