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The Effect

Actually two books in one (Out of Control and Totally Out of Control): a collection of effects, mainly cards and coins.


Cost

It was bought for me for Christmas, but it's on ww.magicbox.uk.com for £28.

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)

Variable, but 3-4. The odd 5 (the ability to work with coins whilst holding out 3 in CP is required in one effect).


Review

There's plenty of material in here, but much of the card work can be achieved by easier means. I've come up with alternate handlings for a couple of the card tricks in there (because I loved the plot, but figured that if there's an easier handling possible - why not use it!?).

The coin work is fantastic, although there's a bit of repetition - lots of coins across effects! The 3 fly is ok, but I've seen better methods. Everything is well explained, and I really did enjoy the coin effects in it.

The lack of gimmicks is nice to see - I think an ex*****d s**ll is the only required gimmick.

The first routine 'Missing Link' is absolutely fantastic. It's a linking rubber band trick - and the best I've seen. You can literally hold one band with just the index fingers of each hand and allow the other to DANGLE from it. It's fantastic. Again, no gimmicks.

The writing style is great. And there's some magical dingbats to help you through it!

Overall

7/10. The material is great, but there seems to be a bit of filler unfortunately.

I'd thoroughly recommend it - particularly for the rubber band effect. However, beginners should stay away - there's a lot of finger-flingy moves.

I also have this book and like it. I have been doing two effects from this book for years! It is one of those books that you don;t want to sell.

From what I have heard, a DVD set is being made for this!


ray

Can I ask which two?

I'd lay money on one being Missing Link.

Josh.

Didn't Chris Kenner invent Threefly? Interesting that other people have come up with better handling for it.

Chris has took some of the tricks from these books and is selling instructional vids of them on Theory 11 if you need to see any of them from the man himself. Obviously don't pay for them, you know how they're done now, just watch him doing them.

I really rate Chris Kenner, and this book, he's a funny guy. Didn't know he worked with Copperfield for years but apparently so.

Josh wrote:Can I ask which two?

I'd lay money on one being Missing Link.

Josh.

I used to do three fly but I now use U3F which is a little better. LOL

I don’t want to start a debate but I believe that Jon Townsend was the first to create an effect where coins held at the fingertips jumped to the other hand.

I also liked ‘Long Gone Sliver’ but I no longer do it.

I wished that I would have betted you because I don’t do any rubber band effects from this book. The only rubber band effects that I do are Crazy Man Handcuffs and Pinnacle.

The two effects that I have chosen to be a staple of my card routines are; Poker in the Eyes page 147 and Twister page 107.

Twister rates a 10 out of 10. This is a very magical looking effect and never fails to take the breath out of my spectators when I do it.


Ray

Fantastic book IMO, also worth noting that if you prefer learning from video, alot of the stuff there is on theory11.

I have this book as well..USA version. I really love the stuff in the book. It is well thought out, and very well delivered. Chris' stuff is off-beat, which I really like. The approaches to the elements is really novel! His sense of humor is great.

The book is excellent, however, it is not for the beginner. Most of the stuff in the book is 4-5 as far as a difficulty on a scale from 1-5 with 5 being difficult.

Hope this helps!

Scott