Marlo's Bluff Ace Assembly (4/5):
It's a standard Ace Assembly with the typical
ace-of-spades-is-the-leader patter. There are no set-ups, and the very end has a nice kicker that
makes this routine different from others: Once the four Aces are shown to have gathered together,
The Ace of Spades is placed back in one of the non-ace piles and it, again, reappears back with the
ace pile while the spectator holds the packet. This is a nice way to clean up the end of the effect.
I really liked this idea.
Homing Card (3/5):
This is basically "The world famous five
card trick" where you keep screwing up how many cards you are counting or holding. The difference in
this case is that rather than the number of cards being in question, a black card amongst a group of
red keeps appearing. It's not my favorite plot, but this is a decent version with a nice ending.
Repeater Card To Pocket (4/5):
In the card-to-pocket plot, this is one of the better
ones. There's a nice subtlety at the beginning that really makes for a clean card to pocket. You
also learn a couple of great moves in this routine, the Misdirection Palm which is a killer top
palm, and the Crimpless Card Control. One of the things I really admire about Bill Malone is that,
even as a magician, I really feel like the cards are lost in the deck when he shuffles. The
Crimpless Card Control is yet another move in his arsenal that really sells that illusion of lost
cards
A Simple Ace Routine (2/5):
The effect is decent and the card control (Marlo's
Simple Shift) is nice, but there's really no climax. It's just the same effect four times in a row .
. . name a number . . . count to it . . . add the two digits of the named number . . . count to it .
. . there's an ace . . . four times in a row.
Have Another Sandwich (5/5):
I may be
biased on this one. I love this effect and have been doing it for about 15 years. It's a super
visual sandwich effect that looks impossible. It's a little angley, but it's a beautiful effect in
the right setting. Additionally, Malone added a couple of lines and gags that justify parts of the
routine making it a wee bit better. This is one of those effects where you have to take your time
and do a deliberate and slow delivery. Malone was a little rushed which took away part of the
effect, in my opinion. However, it's still an incredible effect.
One Hand Ace Cutting:
(With Double Surprise) - Aces Over Kings (3/5)
This is an impossible looking and beautiful
effect from the "Spades" book. However, it requires an extensive set up which renders the deck
virtually untouchable until performing the effect. The deck actually has to be set up and sitting on
the table (it can't be in the card box) in preparation for this effect. The effect itself is a 5 out
of 5. However, because of the slightly impractical set-up required I docked it two points; thus the
3/5 rating.
Collectors (4/5):
I'm not a huge fan of the Collectors plot (sorry guys).
However, if I were to perform it, this is a version I would definitely consider. It's very direct,
clean and fast. The technique is very simple and deceptive. Also, as a bonus, Malone teaches another
Marlo Collectors effect (Collect Double) that is guaranteed to fool your fellow magi at the next
club meeting.
Startling Climax (4/5):
This is a super simple surprise card change.
Included, you get some good pointers on some of Marlo's peak-control work.
Devilish Miracle
(4/5):
This is another one of those take-the-spectator-by-surprise effects where what seems to
be just a gag turns out to be a frickin' miracle. You also learn a nice little move (Slider Card
Control) by David Solomon.
Bluff Call To Colors (3/5):
This requires some heavy-duty
false (2nd) dealing. Second dealing's hard enough, but add to it the time of when you do and when
you don't do the move on this effect, and you can easily screw yourself up. This is, in my opinion,
one of the most technically demanding effects in the entire series. I'm not entirely sure that the
effect is worth the work. It also require an entire deck stack. However, the stack is one that the
audience is aware of.
So that's it. Most of the stuff on this volume can be done with a
borrowed and shuffled deck. The only exceptions are One Hand Ace Cutting, One Hand Ace Cutting:
(With Double Surprise) - Aces Over Kings and Bluff Call To Colors
10 of 11 magicians found this helpful.
Great set on card magic of one of the top card men ever taught by a an who may be the greatest card
man out there what could be better easy to learn teaching recommend all six of them
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.