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DesTROYers, is a year 2001 book released by Murphy’s Magic Supplies, written by Joshua Jay and Illustrated by Tony Dunn. As the subtitle suggests, it represents the magic of an Ohio underground magician, Troy Hooser. This book unearths Troy and brings his material aboveground. Superlative is an adjective that sets a very high standard. We shall see if Troy lives up to it.

This book releases many of Troy’s new routines, as well as several of his already published works. Some of his previously published effects have been revamped and refined into drastically different routines.

When I first received the book, the catchy, glossy cover designed by Apollo Robbins, and highly professional look immediately impressed me. I had only heard of Troy’s magic, mostly from his work with a flipper coin. What I heard was good, but had yet a chance to read or see any of his previous material, as this book represents new, as well as a culmination of his prior work, it is indeed a treat for me.

The book is 167 pages; the first 18 pages serve to introduce Troy Hooser and a bit of the philosophies and performance style of the man. Pages 19 through 78 present his coin magic, which will be the focus of this review. Pages 79 through 143 deal with card magic, with the remaining pages devoted to magic with different types of props (rubber bands, TTs, pad locks, napkins, wine bottles, even a miniature mime mask!)

The first paragraph in the coin section made me think right off the bat, “I am going to like this stuff”. It states, “Troy had several problems with what was considered the “industry standard” in coin magic. Coin magic has changed dramatically over the last decade. What was historically performed at a table, Troy prefers elevated to chest height. What was normally done with a large amount of coins (four, five, or six) Troy has tried to reduce to three or less. In his routines, he has replaced repetition with variation, and as a result, his work has a strikingly visual element.”

Good stuff, I agree with Troy’s view on this. I like coin magic that can be done standing, that is not over-complex as to lose the spectator, packs small, and plays big.

Coin routine #1: “A Charming Chinese Challenge”. Three Chinese coins are threaded onto a thin ribbon. One by one in very different ways, they visibly melt through the ribbon, one re-links to the ribbon, and a spectator holds the remaining two. Finally, the last coin completely vanishes from the ribbon to join the other two coins in the spectator’s hand.

I liked this routine very much. I currently don’t have a good ring and string routine. This 3-coin ribbon routine is not terribly difficult to learn, is well constructed, and utilizes the hands of a spectator. I especially liked his usage of a spellbound change in a very untraditional way. Two alternative handlings to re-link a coin to the ribbon are also provided. I plan on learning this routine.

Coin routine #2: “exTROYdinary”. Three coins are produced one by one from various parts of the body, and then vanish one by one from the fingertips, to once again return one at a time back to the fingertips.

I like coin flurries. The simplest form of a flurry is taking one coin and making it disappear and appear over and over. Add coins, you add complexity, so one would think. Not so with “exTROYdinary”. Troy teaches a workable, methodical way to perform this 3-coin production-vanish-production. He also presents two variations of the routine. I personally consider this an invaluable education constructing this type of stand up routine.

Coin routine #3: “Redirection Coins Across”. Three coins are held in a fan in the fingertips. The coins are rubbed against the shirtsleeve and visually vanish, to re-appear in the fingertips of the other hand. After they all vanish and re-appear one at a time, all the coins are rubbed against the shirt sleeve and vanish to appear all at once in the fingertips of the other hand.

This is one of Troy’s handlings of Jonathan Townsend’s Fingertip Coins Across. Also popularized by Chris Kenner’s Three Fly (Troy has another handling described later in this review). This routine has become ever so popular, with many published versions by a handful of big name performers. The premise is the same, 3 coins jump one at a time from one hand’s fingertips, to the other hand’s fingertips. Traditionally the routine is performed via the one ahead principle, or more recently via some type of gaffed coin. This version of Troy’s is not gaffed. Troy’s version of 3 Fly also occurs on an untraditional viewing path. Instead of holding his hands to the left and right, with spectator’s having to focus their attention back and forth, Troy has changed the viewing path to a linear vertical line that works up and down (background and foreground). Extend one of your arms fully, now put your other hand on that arm’s bicep. A spectator right in front of you will see both hands in the same viewing path. This is the major difference in this handling of 3 Fly. The mechanics of the routine may already be familiar to you if you are schooled in 3 Fly techniques. Personally, ever since Bob Kohler’s version of Ultimate 3 Fly, it is hard for me to find a superior method (many would validly argue that the comparison is ridiculous since your not spending $300 to do Troy’s version), but I can still appreciate the mechanics that go into Troy’s routine. It is a worthwhile handling to study.

The next four routines all deal with Troy’s work on the Flipper Coin. As I mentioned earlier in this review, I had heard of Troy Hooser mainly from his work with the Flipper Coin gimmick. I greatly anticipated this section as I really have underutilized this gaff. While we are on the topic of Flipper Coins, the best Flippers on the market can be purchased from the famed expert gaff coin craftsman, Todd Lassen. I own quite a few of Todd’s gaff coins and I echo the highest praises for his work. Troy himself uses Todd’s Flipper coins.

The first few pages cover an in depth study of the Flipper Coin and its basic handlings (construction, attributes, opening, closing, and displaying.)

Coin routine #4: “Table Flipper”. 3 coins, one at a time penetrate through a table very fairly.

As written in the book, “The flipper coin eliminates much of the difficult handling without sacrificing the magic.” I found this to be true. This routine can be performed standing, with no sleeves, and without a tablecloth. It makes use of a flipper and one other utility prop that can be acquired at any office supply store. There is some quick setup that must take place, but the routine is very straightforward, very magical, and apparently very clean (even though you are not). I really enjoyed this great use of the flipper coin.

Coin routine #5: “Squeezed Away”. Three coins are shown at the fingertips. They all vanish one at a time.

This is thus far the shortest coin routine in Troy’s book. It is a one handed triple vanish. The method to vanish the coins can be used within another routine, like coins across or coins through the table. The next two routines utilize this Squeezed Away technique.

Coin routine #6: “A Touch of Brass”. Three half dollars are shown in a fan. One at a time each coin turns into a brass Chinese coin.

This is a very straightforward way to transform three silver coins into another type. Good logical handling. The final change could be iffy for audible reasons if you are in a very close, quiet, environment. I will leave it at that as to not reveal any methods.

Coin routine #7: “Hooked on Coins”. Three half dollars are shown in a fan. One at a time they are hung invisibly on transparent hooks. After all three coins have vanished, the magician reaches into the air to produce a real hook! With the other hand, the invisible coins are scooped out of the air and are thrown toward the hook. Immediately the coins turn visible and are threaded onto the hook!

This is an adaptation of Larry Jenning’s “The Hook”. Again, the “Squeeze Away” vanishes are used to vanish all the coins. You will need a hook (bought at any hardware store) and some unconventionally gaffed coins (which most people could make themselves). You also need to wear a jacket to perform this routine. If you perform with a jacket and have the room to carry a hook and 3 extra coins, this looks like a very solid routine.

Coin routine #8: “Coin Melange”. 3 coins vanish and reproduce a few times, to completely vanishing, and then all returning.

Somewhat similar to “exTROYdinary” above, three coins through various means are vanished and reproduced. A cleverly prepared coin is needed (which is very easy to make). You do need to be wearing a wristwatch. I personally preferred “exTROYdinary” over “Coin Melange”, but like “exTROYdinary”, this routine provides a nice education on different places to ditch and retrieve coins, and how to make the whole thing flow. The methodology used for this routine is not very demanding sleight of hand, but rather more remembering what goes where and when. If you take the knowledge taught in “exTROYdinary” and “Coin Melange”, you could quite feasibly come up with your own unique 3-coin-flurry-vanish-reproduction sequence if you so desired.

For one production, Troy uses a coin production from a wristwatch (I don’t think I’m tipping too much here, this has been done in many sources before). This is just a personal bugaboo for me. I don’t like producing a coin from under a wristwatch. To me it is akin to visibly producing a coin from your sleeve by letting it slide out in plain view. Everyone has heard the phrase “Nothing up my sleeve”. It has almost become expected that magicians throw things up their sleeves. I don’t think it is too much of a stretch of the imagination for people to suspect a wristwatch (something that happens to be so close to the hands as a place of concealment). Anyway if you feel the same way I do about watches, you will be changing a minor part of the handling.

Count-er Point is a false count with coins that Troy came up with. The book has two pages of discussion about Count-er Point then proceeds with the following two routines that utilize the count. Although not stated, the Count-er Point to me is somewhat reminiscent of the point production that originated from “Tenkai Pennies” in Bobo's pg.363. The actual hand positioning is very different as the count occurs with a coin held outside of a fist, instead if inside the hand. It is a unique count. I generally don’t care for coin false counts, but I have yet to play with it enough to form any final opinions about it. I did however find it new and intriguing.

Coin routine #9: “Copper-Silver Transmutation”. Three silver coins are taken from a coin purse and counted as they are dropped into the left hand. Magically, one of the 3 coins changes to a copper coin. The two silver coins are distributed in different spectators’ hands, to also change into copper coins.

This is one of Troy’s “coinfull” (to coin a word, pun intended) routines. Meaning you have to successfully work with six coins in the hand, only showing three at any time. Again this routine revolves around the Count-er Point count. If you master and enjoy Count-er Point, this effect appears very good use of the count. Two coins in two spectator’s hands changing colors…. not bad at all and you do get to end clean even with all those coins.

Coin routine #10: “Count-er Point Coins Across”. This is a coins across routine using Count-er Point.

When dealing with different versions of familiar classic routines (Coins thru the table, Three Fly, Coins Across, etc.). Those routines I would argue are sometimes the hardest ones to come up with something new that make it better than what has come before. Troy’s work with a flipper on his coins through the table in my opinion the best adaptation of the three above mentioned classics in this book. I also enjoyed Troy’s handlings of Three Fly. Count-er Point Coins Across honestly is a nice application of the count, and thus its reason to be included here, but quite honestly I think pales in comparison to other coins across routines. There are existing coins across routines that are so fair looking and easy to perform, I wouldn’t mess with it by having to false count coins. By and by, I like Troy’s coin work, this routine for me falls short.

Coin routine #12: “Coinfusion” is a specific type of gaffed three coin set. Many references are given for the gaff, as well as some handlings for it. I am including all of the following information not as separate routines, because Troy’s teaching on this gaff for the most part is not in the context of a routine. He simply shows how to produce, vanish, ring in, and transpose coins with the gaff.

Poor Man’s Production: This is a three-coin one at a time production from different parts of your body.

I could not help but chuckle on this. I think if I saw Troy do this in person, I would have probably been fooled pretty badly. The gaff is pretty limited in what you can do with it, but for what Troy demonstrates with it, its great. It’s one of those very simple concepts that can fool you J

Poor Man’s Vanish: This is a three-coin one at a time vanish.

This is simply the logical reversal of Poor Man’s Production. Not quite as strong in my mind as the production because of final ditching issues, but it is the logical vanishing use of the gaff.

Coinfusion Interlude: Troy demonstrates his way of ringing in the gimmick and ditching it to add a little flavor to any three-coin routine. You need a jacket for this. Again, some neat usage with a limited gaff.

Triple Transformation: Troy demonstrates a way to cause three coins to transform all at once to another type of coin using the Coinfusion gimmick. Not really much of a routine, simply a teaching on a gimmick.

Coin routine #13: “Three Fly Simplify”. Three coins one at a time vanish from one hand, and end up in the other.

This is Troy’s second handling of Three Fly in the book. It is a streamlined version that takes only 30 seconds to perform. There is no back and forth fly’s, it is very direct; one coin goes, than the next, and then the last. The hands do have to touch twice utilizing a similar type of steal. As with most un-gaffed Three Fly’s in the end you are left holding out. Not a bad handling. If you want a really quick un-gaffed, boom, boom, boom, the end, Three fly, this routine has merit for you.

*A point of note: I just read that "Three Fly Simplify" will be printed in the October 2001 issue of MAGIC magazine. Joshua Jay, the author of "DesTROYers" is now in charge of the "Talk About Tricks" column in MAGIC.

Thus ends the coin section of “DesTROYers”. There is however one ditch called “A Dexterous Ditch” that is often referenced in many of the coin routines. This is taught in the Curiosities section of the book. It is a useful pocket ditch that requires a jacket. Be sure not to overlook it.

To conclude this review of the coin magic in “DesTROYers”, I like Troy’s thinking. He has a great wealth of coin material to digest. I think Troy’s best coin routines in the book were presented right at the beginning with “A Charming Chinese Challenge” and “exTROYdinary”. One thing I noticed about Troy’s coin magic is that it is not ridiculously hard knuckle busting stuff that will make your palms bleed. It is for the most part accessible to magicians with a modest level of coin magic ability. I can see Troy favors a Ramsay like style utilizing a lot of finger palms and ample use of the Ramsay subtlety. Troy also proves himself a thinker with the flipper coin as well as the ever so popular Three Fly routine. Just quickly browsing his brand new “Silver Surf II” lecture notes I see that Troy has published two new gaffed versions of Three Fly utilizing the Flipper Coin, combining two of his very apparent coin interests. I am sure it will prove to be an interesting read. Analyzing the book on its coin material alone, I would say it’s a definite worthwhile investment.

As I indicated, the rest of the book is a lot of card work. He has just as much card work in this book as he does coin material. Just by looking at Troy’s card work, I can tell he utilizes many flourishes that will require a good deal of sleight of hand ability with cards. Much more than I have at this time. I could not do a review of this section of the book that would do justice to the material. Hopefully some card flinger out there can pick up where I leave off. Let me know… I will link it from this review J

The last section of the book is called curiosities. It has some interesting bits of magic such as:

“Mask in Motion” which is a routine where little coin sized mime mask (yes I said mime mask) appears, vanishes, and magically jumps from place to place of its own accord; much like a coin flurry. It is a very interesting routine although I have no idea on earth where I am going to get a miniature mime mask, unless of course Gulliver has re-opened his prop store J.

“Nectar of the Cards” is a startling close up wine bottle production.

“A Dexterous Ditch” (described above).

“The Locker” is a logical ending to Dan Harlan’s “The Linking Rubber bands” to suddenly show that the two rubber bands are indeed locked together…..a small pad lock appears between the bands, permanently “locking” them together.

“In the Round” is a collection of sponge ball vanishes, productions, and changes. The hands can be shown empty before and after each application.

NOTICE
Todd Lassens website can be found in the links section of The Coin Purse

Blimey! What a great review!

Thanks for this - I've been wondering whether to get it or not for a while now.

Wow - that's some review and I agree that it's a good one at that!

Thanks

Amazing review, Murtagh!

The only problem I have is that I'm currently getting more interested in coin work - and you seem to be a coin magic specialist. Thus, it seems inevitable that this, and future reviews, will thin my wallet greatly.

Time to update my purchase list.

Welcome to TM, and I look forward to more reviews!

Sounds good but what about his DVD's?

Thanks for a very detailed and very good review. To make it perfect can you give some indication of where it is sold, price and most importantly difficulty (say out of 5)?
Thanks
Bob

I don't want to fling accusations around but surely this is exactly the same review by Dan Watkins that appears at

http://www.coinvanish.com/reviews3.html#DesTROYers

Check the date of the review - it was over 12 months ago and Murtagh55 is no longer an active member of TM.

Mandrake wrote:Check the date of the review - it was over 12 months ago and Murtagh55 is no longer an active member of TM.

Ah, saw the month of the last post but not the date!

Most of us have done the same thing at some point or another !