Magic Tricks

Random by Carl Irwin

Random is a pseudo-memorized deck masterclass. What I mean by pseudo memorized is that the stacks offered allow you to do memorized deck work, without the work of Mnemonica. Something unique about these stacks, especially the tetradistic one, is that going from card to number, number to card, and card to next card or previous card are all simple. With the easy stack systems I am aware of, like Joyal, Bart Harding, and Stebbins, either knowing the next card easily, or knowing the card’s position easily, are sacrificed.

“It is because of my irregularity in performing that I have investigated these solutions to the question of prepared deck magic. Without the regular attention that is required to maintain mental skill sets, I needed a system that was more intuitive and reliant on self-evident observations. This book contains the best answers to that problem that I have found to date. I also don’t want to be overly modest. I absolutely affirm that the approaches discussed here are adequate for professional work.”

Mr. Irwin encourages readers to find approaches that suit their natural thinking. His stacks all use memory techniques that don’t require learning a “system”. That’s good in my eyes.

After the stacks are explained, you are given tools to handle your deck. Ways of making calculation easier with manipulation, ways of adding optional gimmicks, and devious methods of false shuffling.

There is an updated streamlined version of Carl’s effect, Going Home, where a named card is found to be the only one in the position of new deck order. There is no manipulation of the deck after the card is named. This trick is not for me, but if you like the effect, you will like this method.

Commonicosis is a variant of Mnemonicosis, that gives the same basic effect as Mnemonicosis, but without any real jazzing, or fast calculations. Here’s what happens:
- The spectator names any card
- The spectator cuts the deck
- A small number of cards is dealt(The amount of cards is justified)
- They find their card.
- This can be repeated

Many magicians love the Mnemonicosis effect. But do they love it because it is a strong effect, or because performing it makes them feel like a ninja? Even though Carl's approach to memorized deck work eschews any notion of "Jazzing", I found that it is easier to do it with his tetradistic common stack, then with any other stack.

Selected Card Divination:The main method is standard, however, the handling and presentational ideas here are very valuable. This stack effect is the most well known, but often, magicians will not give it the respect it deserves.

4 of a Kind Production: Okay, let’s face it, a production of a named four of a kind with a random looking stack was never gonna be that simple. You are offered the choice between a difficult sleight or a DIY gimmick. While there is nothing that revolutionary about the handling offered, I am glad it is included for the less cyclical stacks, as I would not have figured that out.

Gambling Demo:I love this idea. It is easy. It works with almost any stack. You can make the spectator the star.

ACAAN: This method of ACAAN is designed to work with the stacks in the book. However, the method is totally useable with any memorized stack, without modification. It is easy to do. However, the lesson here is not just about the trick, but the theory behind it. Carl explains why we should NOT aim to satisfy conditions to make tricks more impossible. (And his alternative is not some mumbo jumbo, like getting the spectator in the mood to suspend critical thinking capabilities)

The rest of the tricks are simple plots with freely named cards, but each one gives a completely different feel to the card at number plot.


Instruction:
The ebook is long and detailed. There is a companion video that is over an hour long, however, there were still some gaps where I thought the teaching could have been better (and that I still hope is added). There is one trick that requires an equivoque of a couple items. It would have been one page maximum to include the equivoque lines for the people who don’t know them, or maybe are not skilled in equivoque. So I don’t know why he has not included these. And yes, I know he has talked about equivoque about length on his YouTube channel.

I also would like to see some demo videos of working out some of the stack “calculations” in real time (they are easy once you get it), I think that would make the learning process more streamlined. Also, I think not having a section about converting position number to card is an oversight. It’s not difficult to figure out, but still in my opinion something that should be at least mentioned. It is a bit harder than finding the position from the card. But we’re talking like a difference between 2nd grade math and 4th grade math.