The Safwan Papers by Bryn Reynolds

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The Safwan Papers by Bryn Reynolds

Postby Vanderbelt » Jul 18th, '10, 17:06



The Effects

SEVEN - A one-card variant of the Kilossal Killer genre of effect…with one big difference: there are NO outs. NONE. The one-and-only prediction you place on the table before the routine begins will match the card the spectator envisions. Bold, raw, and almost always works. And in the rare occasions it doesn’t, you still get credit!

BCK - By using real psychometry (and a clever subtlety) you, and perhaps a participant, will be able to determine the outcome of an experiment of several runs of “object placed under one of several items.” And if you want, you may show you predicted in writing the exact results. NO gimmicks at all, and everything is borrowed.

YOUR LUCKY NITE - Hopefully, all are worth more than the price of admission, but this one seems to shine with a little more luster: an anytime-anyplace routine with a Bank Night flavor.

BOHT - A subtle cultural difference has been refined & exploited to make the “Which Hand” type of effect a perfect success…but only once per performance…..THE perfect out for when mechanical, physical, or psychological outs and tells may fail….and it stands as a methodology all on its own!

$4 Billet Index – It is what it is…The least you will ever spend on an invisible 8/16 billet index that renders all specialty Predator-type wallets unnecessary. Complete with photos on how to build one!

******STRING
: Figure out the “asterisks,” if you will, but you will still enjoy the storyline and thinking behind it: A participant is brought back in time to an ancient carnival scam in which an entertaining story is told. By eliminating 4 out of 5 colored strings, she wins a very nice prize for the performer through her own FREE choices. No Equivique at all. NONE. In the interest of full-disclosure, SOME of you may have to buy a $20 prop, but most already have it. It is perfect.

Cost
$30 for ebook from either Bryn himself or via Outlaw Effects
$35 for printed format


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)
1. These effects are pretty much self-working, with the exception of one which has one simple 'move'.


Review
From the outset Bryn writes in a very personal, direct manner. I think it's a wonderful touch for a creator of effects to explain where he's coming from in a mentalism point of view and Bryn does this eloquently, describing his history and reason d'etre in the art.

The effects themselves are, quite frankly, brilliant. Each of them is immediately 'do-able' straigh off the page if you were the kind of performer who did that. But you wouldn't do that, would you? Like most people, I want to stamp my signature on any effect I perform and Bryn's effects are perfection itself for this, each one is so elegent in its simplicity that you can't help but just 'run with it'.

So, the individual effects....

Seven - I cannot fault this and as soon as I read it I was performing it. Truly impromptu mentalism of this calibre is hard to find. No props and no setup beyond writing down a quick note on the back of your business card. Of course, you could carry around the one playing card in your wallet, I personally prefer to write a prediction down as it plays more personal. As Bryn states in his blurb, this isn't a 100% hit effect, though I've performed it countless times and have missed just once. You could still take some credit, I personally prefer to credit the spec as being very difficult to influence and that it's something they should be proud of. Bryn also introduces a beautiful little nuance in the form of a 'new' word which I guarantee you'll use in your own effects too.

BCK - Probably my least favourite of the effects that I've performed, it just comes across as a bit too 'contrived' for my style. Sadly, it's hard to explain just why without coming close to exposure. That said, I can well imagine other people doing perfectly ok with this. The ending prediction is genuinely a mind blower though, as is the added little kicker.

Your Lucky Nite - Another stunner, absolute stunner. The method is alarmingly simple and the performance in itself leaves you clean and impossible for a spec to backtrack. My only gripe with Bryn's delivery is there's no justification for the envelopes to be numbered but you shouldn't have any trouble into reworking it so that it works. I know I didn't and I'm the least creative guy I know!! ;)

BOHT - This effect, above all others, demonstrates Bryn's brilliant thinking. It's an alarminly clever and EVER so bold method.

******STRING - This is one effect that I'm yet to perform because I don't own the prop required, but I'm sure many of you do. That said, I'll be buying one sooner rather than later, just so that I can perform this effect. Like all of Bryn's effects, it's simple yet absolutely devestating.

$4 Billet Index – Obviously not an effect but instructions on how to make a rather cunning little billet index for your wallet. Suffice to say, being British it's not that much use for me, my equivelent would cost £20 to make! However, from the (very good quality) photos in the book you can see how brilliant it is. If I ever perform abroad then this will be getting another look.

Overall
Beautiful. If you're looking for some top class impromptu effects than this HAS to be your first port of call.

Disclaimer
Okay, so this is my first review and I've no idea if I've gone about it in the right way. Constructive criticism is encouraged! I wasn't entirely sure how 'in depth' I should get into each effect (avoiding exposure obviously) - I'm sure I haven't gone OTT but if I've left you wondering about anything then speak up!

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Postby philipsw » Jul 18th, '10, 21:15

Great review. Thank you very much. This has been on my 'to buy' list for some time...

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Postby PabloAmira » Jul 18th, '10, 21:56

Great Review

i have also this ebook, and my thoughts are very similar.

PabloAmira
 

Postby colster_ » Jul 21st, '10, 17:35

Nice review, i have also been meaning to pick this up.

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Postby Vanderbelt » Jul 21st, '10, 17:43

Thanks guys, glad to hear you're enjoying it too Pablo, any thoughts on performances you've done of these effects?

And for anyone else who has this on their 'to buy list' - if your list is anything like mine then it's quite large, however trust me... bump this one book up a few places nearer the top. You won't regret it. (Trust me, I'm psychic :wink: )

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Postby CalebWiles » Dec 16th, '10, 16:52

Thanks for the review. I really liked this as well. If anyone's interested, they can ready my full review on my blog

I tried out "Seven" for the first time last night. It worked like a charm. It's a great piece of impromptu mentalism that should stun any lay audience.

Caleb
http://www.CalebWilesMagic.com

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Re: The Safwan Papers by Bryn Reynolds

Postby ! KabLaM ! » Aug 3rd, '11, 19:05

Vanderbelt wrote:SEVEN - A one-card variant of the Kilossal Killer genre of effect…with one big difference: there are NO outs. NONE. The one-and-only prediction you place on the table before the routine begins will match the card the spectator envisions. Bold, raw, and almost always works. And in the rare occasions it doesn’t, you still get credit!


How does this effect compare to a mental card force, buddy?

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Re: The Safwan Papers by Bryn Reynolds

Postby magicmind » Aug 23rd, '11, 21:36

This is a wonderful review of a wonderful work by Bryn. I purchased this several months ago and this is at the top of my list for go to, strong effects. I look forward to another.

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Re: The Safwan Papers by Bryn Reynolds

Postby Vanderbelt » Aug 24th, '11, 10:18

! KabLaM ! wrote:
Vanderbelt wrote:SEVEN - A one-card variant of the Kilossal Killer genre of effect…with one big difference: there are NO outs. NONE. The one-and-only prediction you place on the table before the routine begins will match the card the spectator envisions. Bold, raw, and almost always works. And in the rare occasions it doesn’t, you still get credit!


How does this effect compare to a mental card force, buddy?


It IS a mental card force, there's no deck in play at all. You could choose to use the forced card as a reveal - ie have it in your wallet etc. but I prefer to simply write a prediction on the back of a blank card/business card along the lines of "You will deal to the..."

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Re: The Safwan Papers by Bryn Reynolds

Postby Beardy » Sep 14th, '11, 02:35

I was umming and arring over this e-book for over a month before purchasing, and can honestly say that this is one of the best, if not the best, mentalism e-books that I have ever purchased.

All of the routines are 100% workable, and BOHT is worth the e-book alone.

This is truly a milestone in mentalism, and all who release a mentalism product should try and match this quality.

With no filler or "bonus" effects, this is a true 10/10 from me, and I'm a hard man to please with relation to magic releases.

Love

Chris
xxx

"An amazing mind manipulator" - Uri Geller
"I hope to shake your hand before I die" - Derren Brown
"That was mightily impressive - I have absolutely no clue how you did that" - Tim Minchin
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