Just so you know I received my copy of Coral Fang. It's interesting (though slightly off topic) - the entire manuscript is what I call "Advanced Mentalism." That doesn't mean that it's difficult. It means that it's so advanced hardly anyone will perform it. In my view there's two types of mentalism: Straightforward and Advanced.
Straightforward mentalism is mentalism that's either self working or requires memory systems or just plain hard practice.
Advanced mentalism (IMHO) is the kind of mentalism that when you read the method you say to yourself "NO XXXXXXX way is that gonna work" and you throw it in your 'never to be performed in a million years draw.' A good example would be 'Tervil' or 'A question and the answer' in PME. The swindels are so bold, so daring, so obvious once you know their secret, that no-one with a single brain cell would dare to perform them.
BUT...... There are some that realise they CAN be performed, and with great success. And it's those people that are the "advanced mentalists" in my view.
Coral Fang is just that, and I imagine 90% of people who bought it cried when they read some of the methods. I read, read, read and re-read Dangerous Opener. It annoyed me because it's a Dunninger subtlety I am aware of and it is explained in full in Psychological Subleties which I own, but Luke Jermay has simply employed the concept in a beautiful, elegant and effortless way. We all stand on the shoulders of giants I suppose.
Well, I have made a decision. I'm giving an after dinner speech at a Rotary Club on 21st November. This is going to be my closer. I'm using Luke Jermay's method. There's going to be approximately 50 people present. Anything less and I'd be too scared to use it. If it works then I'll let you know. I have a masonic Ladies night gig in February (approx 100 people) and I' m desperate to find a powerful closer for it. Hoping this is it.......... but......... it's advanced mentalism, so I'm scared!!!
Kevmundo the nervous