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This may not be the correct forum to post this question so if it is wrong please excuse and advise. I have read a number of reviews on Deep Astonishment 2 and they have for the most part been very favorabale. It seems as though the big finale is the revealing of the name mentioned at the beginning of the effect by turning over cards in an envelope that has been lying on the table in plain sight from the beginning. It may be me but why is this such a strong effect? Is the revealing of the name the end of the effect? After the reading of three fortune telling cards and then going to an envelope and revealing a name by turning over cards while a sound effect does not seem to me to that astonishing. What am I missing here? Now before you jump all over me I must admit that I have not seen the effect performed. But the reviews here are quite detailed and it just seems to leave me asking myself "Is that it?" So why is this effect so strong? Most of the reviews here leave me with a very good idea of an effect and the reaction it will have on the spectator. This just leaves me asking "Is that it?" Thanking in advance all who respond to what may seem to be a very dumb question.

This may not be the correct forum to post this question so if it is wrong please excuse and advise.

Yes. You posted it in the review section, clearly meant only for reviews. Was it really so difficult to work out that this wasn't a review? Sorry to appear grumpy, and I don't want to put you off posting here, but if you knew it was in the wrong place, why didn't you look for somewhere better? [Also a few paragraphs breaks would have been nice.]

But I digress. to answer your question. I personally would think it VERY astonishing if a word I had been thinking of was already spelt out in a wallet that was on the table the whole time. I mean how the heck did the magician know I was going to say that word? I could have chosen any word in the world...

Seriously it goes down very well indeed. A thought of card in the wallet is one thing, I mean a 1 in 52 chance right? but a thought of word? what are the odds!

Frankly, I fail to see your point... perhaps not a dumb question, if you've not seen the effect performed.

'Is that it?'... Absolutely. That is it.

The effect is mightily strong, and eerie. In fact, it is almost such an impossible effect (when you weigh up the permutations) that your spectators will not forget it.

I'm not sure if you understood the effect correctly - what happens is that the spectator names a word which is used to find the mate of a selection (I think ). Then, as a kicker, the wallet which has been in play for a while is opened; and inside are some cards which spell the selected word...

Kati

Some people have, in their mind's eye, an image of an marketed trick as being the next best thing to life itself, an image no illusion can live up to. These people usually sell the effect without really trying it.

Others can have the next best thing to life itself described to them and imagine it as purely mundane and without passion. These people usually sell the effect without really trying it.

Is the glass half empty of half full? It doesn't matter if you refuse to really "look at the glass".

A realistic perspective on what "magic / illusion / mentalism" really is all about is needed. It is what it is, a means to an end. Tricks are pragmatic and logical ways to achieve the seemingly impossible or at least the extremely unlikely...they aren't real magic.

So given that fact which we all know...(ahem)... One needs an imagination that will guide you to the right way to preform any effect...in you own way. We MUST develope the ability to imagine and see an effect from both a technical point of view...but more importantly from the uninitiated spectators point of view.

OK banafish.

Little confession here. Reason I did not look further for the proper place is that I have been contemplating asking this question for about a month. For or one reason or another I kept putting it off. Having said that my usual procedure when I come to TalkMagic is to go right to the reviews section and check to see if anything peeks my interest. Well this morning (around 8 a.m. my time) was no different, except that I thought I would finally pose my question.

Without giving it any further thought I began typing when I noticed the time. Now don't laugh at this next sentence. I have not yet taken Chester (the most wonderful Pug in the world) out for his morning walk. Right after noting the time the phone rings and it is my wife reminding me of another matter that I had to do this morning. Now I am in a situation. I have almost completed asking my question but have two matters to handle in a very short period of time both of them having time constraints. So I took the easy way out. I did a quick proof read and made a few changes and added my apology as the first sentence in my post.

After reading the responses I now realize that I must purchase this effect. From all I have read and the comments to my question I believe this will be a great effect for me as I love to play act while performing.

I might add that all was accomplished. Chester had his walk, I handled the other matter and got my post done, but at the expense of having banafish do what I should have done in the first place and that is, place it in the "Support and Tips" section.

Thanks to all who responded.

Question: Is it OK to review an effect that has already been reviewed or would it be better to just add comments to someone elses review expressing my findings? I do not want to be chastised by bananafish again. Thank you for putting my post where it belongs.

I take my hat off to you for being so candid as to the ...unusual...nature of you post! LOL Fair dues to you.

Adding to an existing review is pretty good form so long as it isn't just rehashing the same points in the same detail...by all means, contribute away!