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*Please note that this is a review that I wrote a few days ago. I have not used the template and also the date at the bottom is wrong. Thanks*

The following is a review of Derren Brown’s Brilliant publication-Pure Effect. I would appreciate if you went into this review with an open mind and please remember that this is my personal opinion on this book and you are free to agree or disagree.

Before we even begin I must point out that this book is not for the majority of ‘magicians’. I will quote from the back of the book:

“This is a book for the serious thinker who would normally disregard 99% of a magic-book’s content.”


Now if you think you are ready, please continue with the review:

One thing that you must know and will probably put off the majority of you ‘tricksters’ is the way the book is written. It is written in a highly informative way, sprinkled with Derren’s unique humour and full of advanced vocabulary. It is (as you will see form the first page of the book) an extremely rich read and is probably not what one would refer to as ‘Bed time reading’. You will read the book through the first time, then read it again and again and again. Each time you will pick up something new, something (even a small detail) that you may of over looked last time.

The book is more of an experience, than a book you would buy to learn tricks form. I would think that even the most advanced magician would not perform more than one or two tricks form this book. They would probably not perform any. If you plan on buying this book it is not because you want to be the next ‘Derren Brown’ I would highly suggest that you stop reading this review now and also do not buy the book, if this is the case. However if you are looking for a brilliant read and a look through one of our most talented performers eyes, do please continue.

There are 3 parts to this book; I will now go over each part in turn:

Part One- (practical) Talks about Derren’s personal priorities and also how he combines magic and mentalism. It has a brilliant few pages on Anchoring, which has proven to be something I use a lot of the time when performing. This was personally hugely valuable, as it helps me in all of my work. It also has a sort of sub-chapter which details Risk and Delight. It points out a very nice way of doing things where the ‘risk’ pays of for the ‘delight’ you receive. There are many versions of different scenarios and also a few ‘outs’ if all goes pear-shaped. They are ones for cards, a Zippo and also one that happens across the telephone. Do not take these as finished tricks; these are merely examples by Derren and if you chose you could stem your own ideas from them. The first part is something that you will need to read several times, to even stand a chance of understanding what Derren is trying to put across.
As I mentioned earlier, you will gain something each time you read it.

Part Two- (Magical Artistry) This part of the book is purely tricks. I will go over what they do and simply describe them.

Zamiel’s Card: Now this is really a beautiful trick. You have someone choose a card. Then you make the entire deck vanish and leave but a single card. It is however the wrong card. You then proceed to make an endless stream of cards come for that one single card. Then finally after dozens of cards, there is there card! The whole trick relies on Derren’s own sleight the Figaro Transfer. If anyone is interested Figaro was the name of Derren’s Parrot. Also there is a much more polished version of this (entitled Zamiel’s Rose) that can be found on his DVD-The Devil’s Picture book.

A Three Card Routine: This is as Derren describes it a Marathon of a card trick. It is quite complicated but has good pacing and has the advantage that it can be cut and almost any point. I shall not describe the trick in its entirety, as I see no point. I will however give you an overview. The trick is basically a bit of everything. Spelling to a card, under the box, single productions, and so on. Derren has strung them all together as one single trick. He feels that on their own, none of the tricks are worth performing. However when they are all put together, they justify themselves. This is also the first trick on the Devil’s Picture Book, if you need to see it performed or taught visually.

Magicall: I don’t really like this trick and think it is the weakest in the book. However in Derren’s defence he does say at the start that it is just a piece of nonsense that may amuse you. It is how to perform you own version of the now marketed Faked mobile phones. You can’t find a spectators card, so instead pretend to ring a help line by dialling the number into the pack of cards. Then a telephone call (that can clearly be heard by all) takes place between you and the person on the other end. Finally you find the card, but only because the person on the other end of the ‘playing cards’ tells you.

Magno Conatu Mahnas Nugas: This is just a small section of a few sleights and moves. This contains a move called the Velvet Turnover, which is Derren’s equivalent of the DL. It is quite a useful move and I have used it a few times.

Part Three- (Direct Mind Reading) I you do chose to buy this book, you will get the most form this section. It contains some brilliant ‘outside the box’ thinking. I will go over everything important in this chapter:

Communicative Subtleties: This is great! It tells you amongst other things how to tell when someone is lying. It goes much deeper than that and explains that whatever way a person looks, you can tell what they are thinking. I don’t want to ruin this for anyone who is going to buy the book so I will just tell you that this, above all, is one of the most useful few pages in the book.

Smoke: This is one of the most talked about effects that Derren Brown does. You spread out a deck of cards and ask a spectator to merely think of anyone they like. You then light up a cigarette and tell them what their card is. They are very impressed that you have done this. You then proceed to show them that there card is now gone, vanished from the deck! Then in an almightily coughing fit, you splutter, and as they look up, there is the card. The card they just thought off, is now rolled up, burnt and in your mouth! For anyone that is interested, this is taught in detail in the Devil’s Picture Book also.

Plerophoria: A deck is shuffled well by a spectator then given a single cut. A spectator is given a pen and paper and asked to write down a value and a suit on the paper. The cut to card is then shown and it is the written chosen card! Then the performer turns his back and starts to reel of the order of the deck that has just been shuffled by the spectator! Then the spectator is told to cut off a packet of cards, this is done while the performers back is turned. He then hands the spectator a packet and it has the same number of card as theirs. Then as a grand finale, he names every card in the spectator’s packet! Although I have never performed this trick, as I look back through the book as I am reading this, I can see the true power of this effect.

Perfect Coin Reading: There was a time where I used this very often, although it is now starting to wear of. You can predict the date of a coin without even looking at it. This will be of no interest to anyone outside of the U.K, as it will not work.

Transformation: I have never really looked at this trick. It is a way of telling a sort of fortune telling story, by setting up the cards and switching them. This may interest someone, however it does not me.

Two verbal card forces: Now we are nearing the end of the book and we come to what many would call the most important part of the book. It tells you two different ways of forcing cards using only your voice and gestures. The cards that are shown are the three of Diamonds and the Jack of Spades. They are so different to anyway of forcing a card with deck. This really is Derren at his best and truly ‘thinking outside the box’. If you had the skill I am sure you could create tour own way of doing this, for me though, I am just happy with these two.

There are finally a few pages of Final Thoughts and Thank-you’s. There are two joke adverts and a few pictures of Derren’s caricatures (Paintings) both in colour and black and white.

Conclusion: This is a brilliant book and I have greatly enjoyed it. I would not like to think that you are picking this book up to learn ‘tricks’, as I said earlier this is more of an experience.

I won’t say who should and shouldn’t buy it, but please have a good read of my review and then make that decision yourself.

Additional information: Both of Derren Brown’s books, Pure Effect and Absolute Magic, are now out of print. There are still a few copies available here and there. At the time of writing the Elusionist store has both in stock.

If you enjoy Derren’s work you may be interested to know that he also has a DVD available called The Devil’s Picture Book. There are also many topics you can study to learn more such as the areas of psychology and NLP (neuro-linguistic-programming). Derren also has a book in production for the layman audience, which should be available around November time.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my review and also hope that it has helped you make the decision if Pure Effect is right for you.

Thanks for reading, Craig McGregor, April 21st 2006.

Nice review. Pure Effect is a class book. There's some further discussion:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic8782.p ... ure+effect

and

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic1118.p ... ure+effect

But I don't think there's been a detailed review until now. I'm sure there will be people reading this in a few months wishing they'd read it earlier, or you'd written it earlier, or SOMEONE had written it earlier seeing as how this book has gone out of print, and stocks are probably running quite low now. Luckily I managed to get one before they disappeared.

I agree with all that you wrote - this is a brilliant book that both the magic (card) enthusiast and mentalist will enjoy, with thoughts on the art that will be appreciated by both. Perfect Coin reading is one of my faves as well as the two card forces, and the card effect's are great too. Then Derren has his handling on a few classic effects, and some nice ideas on taking risks in magic...I'm actually quite pleased this is going out of print.

Again, nice review, and one that I am sure will be seconded my many.

Hi cardza, I am glad you liked the review, it took me quite a long time to write as I am a very slow at typing.

Im not sure if you are aware but Derren sells a DVD callled the Devil's Picture Book through that magicians part of his website. If you liked his book I would highly recommend getting this.

As for the book going out of print, I will have to start being really careful with my singed copy

Thanks for the kind comments, Craig.

You're very welcome - oh, and welcome to the forums too!

Devil's Picture Book...ah yes. Something else to get this year...Pure Effect got priority though seeing as how it's gone out of print. I think there's quite a lengthy discussion somewhere on the forums about that, I don't think it's obscurely titled either so shouldn't be too hard to find .

My advice is if you already own copies, don't be tempted to sell them for a fast profit. in a few years time you will really miss them in your magic collection.

When the news got out that it was not going to be printed again, a few of the dealers brought up large batches of the final print run.

All the distributors have now sold out, so what's left is on dealers shelves (or possibly being stock piled to auction on ebay later in the year I guess)

We are down to our last few hundred copies of both books and it will a real shame when they have finally gone, as they are GREAT books.



Best wishes and good luck with your magic!
Dominic Reyes
The Merchant of Magic
www.MagicShop.co.uk

I've had this book for a while haven't had a chance to look at it but i'll give it a go. I also have absolute magic which one should I check out first.

magic8697 wrote:I've had this book for a while haven't had a chance to look at it but i'll give it a go. I also have absolute magic which one should I check out first.

Pure Effect first. Its somewhat easier on the brain. Absolute Magic deals primarily with performance practices, and as such can be a little intense at times. Start with Pure Effect, get used to Derren's unique writing style, and then work up to the essay-like Absolute Magic.