talkmagic.co.uk

First let me say that this is the first of any of Ryan's work I have read and worked through but it won't be the last as long as he comes out with material, I will be interested in it. Second, these effects are workers. I tested all but two and they were all very well received by the people I performed for. I know that Ryan has put in a alot of hard work to get this book put out. He did the copying and binding himself because of some issues with his local printer, I'm not saying feel sorry for him but instead you should thank him for keeping the cost down on a quality book full of useful effects. My review of each effect is below, the first line is the title and description of the effect, taken straight from his website www.ryanmatney.com , the book has 16 effects that range from self working to advanced.


1. Primal Scheme -- Two thieves steal treasure from a spectator's hands.
The spectator will be hit in the face with the unpredictable climax of this effect. The effect is impromptu and the subtlety involved in it is great.

The next four effects use Peter Duffie's production called RifflePop. Ryan gives credit to Duffie and also directs the readers to Duffie's website so people can get the CD-ROM that it is on originality can buy it direct from Peter. He does give a brief description but also says that the CD-ROM is the best place to learn the move. He also gives an alternative to RifflePop, that he fully credits to Alex Elmsley.

2. Pop-Hoff! - A surprising trick inspired by the Hofzinser Ace Problem.
This effect is impromptu with clean and clever work to it. You do the work under the spectator's nose without any chance of them reconstructing the how's and when. This effect has gone into my "Show me a trick" file.

3. The Joker Comes Through- After proving his magical powers, the joker comes through in finding a selected card in a very surprising way.
This one isn't impromptu, unless you want to use an alternate card (other than the Joker), but I feel it would lose something without the the Joker by play. Even though I mention that its not impromptu, it wouldn't be too hard to get the Joker in the "ready" position if you wanted to put in the work. It is a good effect with nice misdirection built into it and played very well with the audiences I performed it for. It does require a little more mechanics than the previous effects but is worth the work put in to get it down.

4. Riffle * Think * Pop!- The spectator thinks of any card in a group of five. The mental selection suddenly jumps from the deck. No questions asked.
There is some preparation involved in this effect and that's not a bad thing but I probably won't use this too often. I can say though that this would play very well in a small parlor show. The effect is good and don't think that because I say I won't use it that it isn't. Its just that I try to work FASDIU, I did perform this one though and it play well. The amazement in this effect is not only the correctly picked selection but the way it is produced and the kicker that follows.

5. Draw Back Your Bow - Cupid makes a match in this entertaining effect.
I know I just said I like to work from a shuffled deck and some people will get this book and say this effect isn't impromptu but I think this one can be (with sleight work). With that said this is a great effect and while I don't work restaurants or walk around, if I did this would be in one of my sets. You can set this up, perform it and instantly reset it for your next group or table. It requires some work but is well explained by Ryan and is entertaining for your spectators. There is a great subtlety built into this effect that elimates all doubts from your spectator's mind.

--That is the last of the effects that se the Duffie RifflePop. I just wanted to say again that in all of the effects that Ryan gives alternatives to the RifflePop that work just as well as it does in the routines.

6. Chang and Eng - A self-working matching effect.
This effect involves a stack and is virtually sleight free. The presentation is great and tells a nice story that spectators seem to really get into. The thing that stands out to me about this effect is that even though you're working your way through a story its not drawn out. Its to the point, flows and is over with the spectator amazed that there are two matching sets of cards on the table.

7. Now it's Now Again- Back in time with an extra twist.
OK, you may read the description and said to yourself 'I don't need another Triumph effect'. Well after reading this one and giving it a try, you'll be glad that you came across another triumph effect. I'm not going to lie and say this is easy but its well in the scope of any reader. It has a little something of everything and keeps the spectators involved and engaged.

8. Blackstone's Ghost- A very direct self-working effect that uses a memorized deck. Use any stack you already know.
I can't really say much about this one honestly. It is one of two effects in the book that I can't perform. Not because it too difficult or not explained well but because it uses a memorized deck and I don't currently use any memorized stacks. Plus it is a spelling effect and I don't know why but I just can't bring myself to use spelling effects (its just a personal reason). I did read over the effect and it is clear and direct and Ryan explains it well. It doesn't seem to be drawn out like most spelling effects seem to be (to me anyway). If I currently used a memorized stack I would surely try this effect out.

9. The Soldier's Bible- The deck's most famous bullet locates a selection in a magical way with a great kicker ending.
First let me say I almost passed this up after reading through it initially, there's a spelling aspect in the effect. But I reread it and gave it a try. It teaches a nice deceptive sleight (and gives credit) and again has great story presentation to it with a great unexpected kicker (well surprising) ending.

10. Royal Rising- The four tens perform some magic before producing a royal flush of the spectator's choice.
This effect screams skill. The spectator will be blown away and it isn't extremely sleight heavy. I'm an ambitious fan but the funny thing is, I just don't perform a ambitious routine, I love reading them but won't perform them. The reason is, everyone knows that you will make that card rise to the top. Well this is a good one and I will continue to use this one. It works so good because there are 4 cards involved and Ryan gives some really clear ways to get you in the position you need to be in to continue. The royal flush ending is a nice way to end with a second thought of card coming into play.

11. Standing Royal Rising- You hold the four tens at your finger tips, the spectator chooses one. You instantly change the remaining tens into a matching royal flush. No palming; nothing difficult.
A standing version of the above effect, not much to add to the above comments but to say thanks to Ryan for including a stand up, strolling version for us.

12. No Name on the Bullet- One by one, you call the order the aces will turn up from a deck that is repeatedly shuffled by the spectator. The ending comes as a big surprise. Gain a reputation as a card expert with an almost self-working routine
I have a rather small magic library but Karl Fulves Self Working Card tricks was the second magic book I ever bought and Naming the Aces was an effect I learned and performed for a long time. I loved it but had to stop performing it because of the repeat audiences I perform for so when I read this variation (with some added to it) of that effect, I immediately liked it. It moves, no stalling and doesn't have that self working feel to it. It also puts the deck into the spectators hands more than once and leaves them with a bit of knowledge about gamblers.

13. Conjure, Wife- The witches are back.
This effect is real good. Again it has a great story line and the people I performed for were really got into this one. The misdirection is great and when you come to the end of the effect the spectators may think you are as evil as the witches used in it.

14. To Wake the Dead- A streamlined, impromptu, self-working playlet based on some of my earlier ideas.
This is an impromptu effect. It does have the potential to be a little long if you're unlucky to pick a slow spectator but keeping that in mind when the effect begins and controling your spectator will make this effect a stunner. Other than the beginning it is sleight free, gets the spectator involved and has great presentation.

15. The Man From Planet X- One spectator reads the others mind.
I really like this effect. It uses prepared material (a card box) and Ryan credits and tells where to find how to make the gaff. The thing I like about this effect is that its quick, it involves 2 spectators and one thinks he is involved and a part of the trick all along but he also gets a surprise ending, without it turning a sucker type trick. I haven't performed this effect yet but I'm interested enough that I'm going to pick up the things needed to be able to. I think this would play well for a small stage or platform show as well as something that restaurant guys could break out on larger tables.


16. Final Curtain- A famous magician takes his final bow.
Here is another effect using the set up and memorized deck that was used in 'Blackstone's Ghost'. I didn't perform this effect, you can refer back to my notes on 'Blackstone's Ghost' but I do think that this effect is direct and again Ryan leaves nothing for the reader to have figure out.

Well that's it for the effects and my thoughts on Gris Gris. Overall I think this is more than a valuable addition to my library. Since getting the book(in the middle of December), I have perform at least one to two effects from it everyday to people I work with and the responses have been great. The presentations that Ryan have come up with for the effects in this book leave the spectator with a story as well as some magic and I think that the presentation also takes some heat off you as the magician. The spectators are so into the patter that the moves that are to be made are made without fear. The effects are constructed very well also and are well within the range of a beginner but an advanced worker will like what he reads as well. If I had to give a one line sentence summing up my thoughts about this book it would read like this...
"That Gris Gris is filled with clear, cleverly constructed effects that work to amaze spectators."
For the price of this book, (only $15!!!) I think its a steal. Everyone should support this guy, this book is what the magic world needs..fresh scripting with good effects behind them.

I know it was a long this review come in, but just wanted to say this. Gris gris, as what has been reviewed here. Now, the word "gris", means in sweden the animal "pig". Thats true....

Oink oink!!!!!

I'm beginning to wonder if Scudge actually wrote this review.

The site that is linked to is no longer available, and upon searching for it, I found this exact review on another site - a few days before this was posted, by someone in Iowa. Odd....

Indeed!

Link does not work.

Try this : Ryan@foocan.com

Piers.

Demitri wrote:I'm beginning to wonder if Scudge actually wrote this review

For reasons which I'm sure you will guess, it's significant that Scudge hasn't posted since March 7th .