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Mine arrived this week, and it is absolutely beautiful. I haven't actually performed it yet as I really want to get the patter and moves down pat first, but I just KNOW I am going to have fun with this. It'll be well worth practicing.

The cards I think are beautiful. I would have taken then out the box and wrapped them in a silk (gypsy style), but the box plays quite an important role.

Another idea I am thinking about is for the spectator not to name the word out loud, but rather write it down on the back of a business card and use a stealth/suc/janus/centretear or whatever to acquire the info. This could of course be just guilding the lily, and adding one extra level of complexity to something that already works well. Having an extra object on the table like a wallet could actually serve to confuse and detract from the overall effect...

Just out of curiousity - has anyone tried it that way with either DA or DA2?

Once again - a great review Tom!

My biggest problem with DA1 was the 'searching for the soulmate' part. Going through the pack and picking out cards that are ultimately not needed (in the specs eyes) seemed a bit awkward.

One friend of mine mentioned that during that particular section of the trick, I must have been gathering up cards for the final kicker.

So my question is this - is the collection of cards for the ending a lot better thought out in this version - does the action of running through the pack seem more justifiable?

Thanks!

Yup...that's exactly what I was saying in the review. Everything is in context, everything has a solid reason for happening within the storyline of the effect.

DAII is one of the best effects out there in terms of having a story and method that are so well integrated.

Thanks Tom,

I thought that's what you were getting at.
I do really like DA1, but was never conviced about that part. I've tried adapting my own patter and routine, but I didn't ever feel 100% comfortable with it.

Right - off to Alakazam!

Thanks!

Ive recently just got my copy of this through.

I never had DA1 so not sure what changes have been made but I think its a great effect.

With regard to the discarding ive been toying with receving some kind of 'Sign from the dead' which will tell us whether to keep or discard the selected card. Ive been thinking about having three candles lit and as the correct card is picked up, one by one the candles will blow out (just gotta work out how best to go about doing this!!).

Alternatively, motivated by my recent reading of 'Shivers' I wonder if getting some IT involved to give the 'sign' might be good.

I just wanted add even more powerful stuff to this great effect.

Ive been thinking about having three candles lit and as the correct card is picked up, one by one the candles will blow out

That's a really nice idea...I get shivers up the spine just thinking about it. I will have to have a think with regards to method, although I'm sure if we all put our heads together we could brainstorm an idea...

You could use loose wick candle. All you have to do, is set up a gimick to "wind in" the candle wick towards the bass of the candle. Essentially the wick gets sucked into the candle, so it goes out...

Nice idea on the candles going out, mentalismuk..

~Sym~

Yeah that could definitely work, I might get making one soon!

Thanks

Grrr - sorry for resurrecting such an old post, but - really: GRRRRR!!!

Look what you guys made me do now (shakes fist); one conversation, from two years back no-less, has me breaking out in CUPS all over the place

Every review I've seen of DA 2 has just been so tantalising...

Will let you folks know how I find the effect when it arrives tomorrow (assuming my missus doesn't see my latest credit card bill, and kill me first )

Rob

"It's here...It's HERE!" (Rob does happy-dance).

Not a proper review just yet, because I haven't had much time to play...ermm...practise; so more of a quick first impression:

The props are GORGEOUS - beautifully-crafted, and really do look the part; sure, they may well benefit from some ageing work, to add a little more authenticity to the story, but they're equally fine as supplied.

The instructions seem pretty comprehensive too - very thoroughly put-together.

My full review will be here as soon as I've given this the attention it deserves

Righty-ho! As promised, I've now spent a good few hours in the company of Deep Astonishment 2, and have performed it a staggering 4 times to date, so here's a more in-depth review from my humble point-of-view:


The Effect
As per the first post on this thread - nothing more to add, really

Cost
I bought mine from MAGICmagic - with my TalkMagic Member's discount, it came to just over £22.00; the cheapest I've seen it in the UK by far.

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

2-3 - nothing really taxing, but a couple of moments need some serious attention, to ensure everything runs smoothly.

By far the most important area of the effect is the presentation, which will require some good skills to polish-sufficiently prior to performing.

Review
Absolutely stunning...From start-to-finish, the effect is woven together by the back-story, and - if enough emphasis is placed upon the spectator's freely-chosen word - it really helps to build quite an unusual atmosphere. (I've fallen into pattering about the power of words from the spectators own past...from their first girlfriend, to the name of their first teddy-bear, or even the very first object they recall seeing as being important in their childhood; something that's essentially personal to their early lives, which they've never told anybody about...and probably haven't even thought about in decades!).

The supplied wallet is a very classy bit of kit indeed, and certainly looks the part. My only quibble is that one of the inside 'parts' doesn't actually stay put, like it should, meaning that I have to check it's position's okay before performing.

The fortune-telling cards are pretty nice too (with the exception of the somewhat naff back-design), and all do exactly what they should

The supplied instructions and routine are very comprehensive indeed, and I can't see how they could be improved. That said, whilst the Fortune-telling cards obviously constrain the direction of the routine, it would have been nice to have several alternative types of presentation suggested, if only to get purchasers to think about how best to tailor the routine to their own performance-styles.

Overall
A truly unique effect, which really does set up a quite unusual vibe whilst it's playing-out...almost low-key, right up until the final revelation which - each and every time I've performed this - has absolutely smacked the spectators totally mute for a good 30 seconds

Without a doubt - this is simply THE most powerful effect I own -

10/10 easily (even with the few niggly points mentioned-above)

Rob

I totally agree with everything said, I was worried that this would be hard to perform or easy for the spectator to work out... Its not! This really is my strongest effect and blows people away.
One of the reasons it works so well is that you don't present it as a trick. I always show people some magic and then say " I have also been learning some fortune telling, would you like to see it?" And because of this its such a surprise when they see the name. People really are left speechless from this trick.

10/10

I think I may be the only person on the planet who just doesn’t like this one. Unusual looking props and a handling that just seemed to drag on. Maybe I just didn’t give it a proper chance. Like I said, I am probably the only one with this strange opinion.

ElliottB wrote:I think I may be the only person on the planet who just doesn’t like this one. Unusual looking props and a handling that just seemed to drag on. Maybe I just didn’t give it a proper chance. Like I said, I am probably the only one with this strange opinion.

I agree that they could have come up with a better back design for the cards, as it does look a bit cheesy. But then again I don't own DAII (yet!) so for all I know the back design could be an essential part of the effect or method.

ElliottB wrote:I think I may be the only person on the planet who just doesn’t like this one.

Nope. I think the props look really good and the presentation is interesting, but these factors combined severely limit the number of people who can make effective use of this. If it doesn't fit naturally into your performance personality and style then you're on to a loser because the presentation will just seem strange and out of place. And I don't think there are that many people who will find it a good fit. Not compared the original incarnation.

A friend of mine who's done the original version for quite a while performed this version for me. I said 'It looks beautiful, but erm.....Don't take this the wrong way but it is so not you.'
He looked a bit glum and just said 'Yeah, I know. I've already listed it.'