The Effect: from the webpage
Ninja Mind-Reading Secrets of the Cold War Psychic Spies is a 56 page PDF comprising of routines, ideas and thoughts. The reader is taken on a journey from the Victorian London of Scotland Yard to the CIA & Soviet psychic spy initiatives to the Psychic Shadowlands of the Shinobi Ninja. The reader is also introduced to a variety of real life psychic spies and the adventures they undertook!
The book is broken down into three parts: Scotland Yard, the CIA, and the Ninja. The book features the following routines: The Hangman's Noose*, The Baker Street Tarot, Past Life Pendulum, Unknown Caller*, Remote Viewing with Cards and Own the Future. The book also outlines the techniques by which the Ninja both practiced psychic phenomena and allowed legends of the supernatural to surround them. This is a fascinating book full of more than just routines.
* The Hangman's Noose previously appeared in a compilation entitled 'Pendulum Magic: Routines for Mystery Entertainers' and Unknown Caller was a guest contribution in Rob Chapman's 'Arts Notorious'.
Cost
£18 from
http://www.readerofminds.co.uk/page_39.html" target="_blank
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)
In terms of the mechanisms of the tricks there all simple, but they all require a decent level of competence with audiences, many require the skills of a reader and the ability to adapt to the different directions the routines an go.
Review
Another excellent read from Paul. The book covers the use of psychics in governments. The book is split into three areas Scotland Yard, The CIA and the ninja. The book covers background to these, obviously a lot of it is tongue in cheek, but there all entertaining stories. There are a number of routines as well as examples of psychic spies from history.
The effects:
The hangman's noose: This is a wonderful piece of theatre. The trick has simple workings but maximum impact. Very dark piece, not for the faint hearted.
The Baker Street tarot: A nice system of divination through playing cards with links to Mr Holmes.
Past life pendulum: A great technique for exploring past lives, well worth the price of admission on its own.
Unknown caller: An up to date version of spirit communication through your mobile.
Remote viewing: A nice presentation for mentalism with playing cards. This followed by owning the future a routine that builds on this.
Weaved through all these routines there is background on Scotland Yards use of psychics the CIA's psychic experiments and Ninja psychic techniques. It makes for good fun reading and will probably spark ideas of other routines you could link to these themes.
Overall
A nice collection of routines on an interesting theme. Some top notch story telling and some some nice effects. If you've enjoyed Paul's previous work you'll probably find something in here you'll enjoy.