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As the preface to this small tome states, "Larry is one of the few truly
original creators and innovators in the close-up magic field." To those of
us who were fortunate enough to watch Mr. Jennings perform and lecture,
truer words were never spoken. The material covered here, just as the title
suggests, is a healthy sampling of effects culled from his first two sets of
lecture notes on magic using cards and coins. There is also a bonus chapter
detailing Larry's magnificent Chop Cup routine.

The first, and most relevant chapter begins with the Twenty Two Cent Trick.
In it, the spectator is asked to hold on to two dimes while the performer
keeps two pennies. Magically, the two sets of coins transpose and the
spectator is left holding the pennies. As far as coin transposition effects
go, this is a quick yet effective routine. although for my money, I use
Michael Ammar's Bent Penny Transposition (Easy to Master Money Miracles,
Vol. 1) for higher impact. Jenning's handling of the Coins Thorugh the
table is outstanding. The first two phases are fairly standard, as he
suggests, but the climax is stunning. Almost worth the proverbial price of
the book is Vernon Ball Routine Done With Coins. What an imaginative
concept. The illusion created is that three coins travel magically from
hand to hand before finally disappearing in a very surprise ending. The
L.J. Four Coins Across introduces the basic effect of having the coins
travelling from hand to hand. In the end, all four coins appear in the
spectator's hand. This effect never fails to produce gasps of surprise, as
it did for Larry when he performed it. Although the illusion of finding a
coin in a deck next to a spectator's card is nothing new, Jennings' Coin Cut
is clean, easy to perform and looks impossible.

The second part of the book presents magic with cards. Challenge Cards to
Pocket is present with the kicker ending of having two different selections
appear in any pocket the spectator names. Look - An Illusion is also worth
mentioning here since the method employed is so diabolically clever yet
produces a wonderful effect. The magician shows four Jokers and an Ace of
Spades. Suddenly, the four Jokers change into Aces of Spades, leaving only
one Joker. Thinking they know how it's done, the magician turns all the
cards in his hand over and proves them wrong by showing only four Kings!
Also included is a version Everywhere and Nowhere that climaxes in producing
not two on or two, but four matching cards. A Handling of Between Your
Palms is also here, using a duplicate card. A classic. Where's the
Discrepancy is a card reversal along traditional lines, but the effect will
baffle laymen and zing other magicians good. In the most open and above
board demonstrations, you cause an entire deck of cards to change color
except for three selected cards in Transmutation. Larry's Leader is a very
clean and effective version of the "Follow the Leader" plot. How
refreshing. Impossible Countdown should be renamed Impossible To Watch for
its long and drawn selection and location process. This is the
short-attention span age, after all. Why Larry would choose to follow it up
with Recount (a variation) is beyond me. Add-On Move Aces is as Jennings
puts it, "a very clean and novel handling of the "Slow Motion Aces" plot.
If you think you don't need to know another slow motion Ace assembly, think
again. This one has fooled some magicians badly.

Finally, Larry Jennings offers up his Chop Cup routine. This is the one
that Doug Henning used on his TV special and that John Carney hails as one
of his favorites. Any magician worth his salt should make it their primary
goal to learn this wonderful routine. Having voiwed to keep its method a
secret, Jennings published for the first time in 1965 and created a
sensation.

We are all richer for having had Larry Jennings in our midsts for so many
years, benefiting from his tireless efforts at producing high-quality magic
and entertaining us all. This book is a must have for his fans and loyal
followers. Consider it a book of rare gems.