Magic Review Dear Mr. Fantasy - John Bannon
Title: Dear Mr. Fantasy
Format: Book
Creator: John Bannon
Cost: $30.00
Skill Level: Intermediate
Run Time : N/A
Page Count: 197
http://johnbannonmagic.com (soft cover version)
Magician’s Choice Rating: 5/5
Let me make this review nice and easy for you. It’s Bannon…just buy it!
If I understand correctly, the book originally came out in either 2004, or 2005, and quickly sold out. A reprint was done around 2008, and it flew off the shelves as well. It’s a little difficult to find hard cover copies of this book right now. I have seen it pop up on eBay from time to time, and I’ll run across an online retailer with one is stock every now and then. The soft cover is available through John Bannon’s website so get one.
If card magic is your thing and you don’t already have this book then grab one as soon as you can. There is a lot of incredible material in this book that I’m sure you will use, because most of it is incredibly simple, and easy to do. It’s down to earth and leaves lots of room for sharing experiences with your audience.
No need to purchase any gimmicks for these routines. The one thing you need, is prepared with one card from your deck. It’s so minimal of a preparation that it is hardly worth mentioning. There are some clever, and hidden principles at work in some of these effects and the structure of the effects is incredible.
There are 19 effects in this all cards cult classic. The effects cover everything from ace assemblies, and triumph, to hard hitting direct effects like Dead Reckoning.
Everything is clearly explained, and some of the effects are shared in a narrative style that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Contents:
Bullet Train
Iconoclastic Aces
Syncopated Aces
Interrobang Aces
These ace assemblies play around with the internal timing on the reveal of the effect. They are simple to do and work well together as a routine.
Secrets and Mysteries of the Four Aces
I love how these effects fit together. I love all the material in this book, but these stand out for me.
Line of Sight (control)
This effect is simple and direct, and sets up for the next effect in this routine.
Final Verdict
The spectator cuts to the four aces.
Cull De Stack
This is the method for setting up for Beyond Fabulous.
Two Classics
This is John’s thoughts on Daley’s last trick, and twisting the aces.
Beyond Fabulous
While telling a magical anecdote, the magi demonstrates this version of the four-ace trick that ends with a royal flush.
Mark of the Fabulous
Alternate ending for Beyond Fabulous.
Dead Reckoning
Dead Reckoning
You are just going to have to read this. Pick a card, find a card, but the concept is incredible!
Out of Touch
A card is thought of, and remembered, and a second card is touched. The second card is the card that was previously thought of.
Dawn Patrol
A card is selected and buried in the deck. 2 queens are placed face up in the deck and are buried. One shuffle places the previously selected card between the 2 queens.
Degrees of Freedom
Degrees of Freedom
The spectators favorite suit is all that’s left after a series of spectator choices, that are out of the control of the magician. I keep fooling myself with this one.
Origami Poker
Simplified version of Degrees of Freedom, where the royal flush in spades is the uncontrollable result.
Perfect Strangers
A prediction matches the result of the result of uncontrollable choices.
The Works
This is a detailed explanation of the methods used in the effects used in this chapter.
Impossibilia Bag
Wait Until Dark
Blindfolded the magicians instructs the spectator in shuffling the cards face up and face down, and the magicians knows the results down to the last detail.
Last Man Standing
A card is selected and replaced in the deck. The cards are mixed face up and face down. In the end, all the cards face the same way but the selection.
Trait Secrets
Two spectators and the magician find the mates to selected cards. The magician finds the four of a kind.
Dave’s Game
A very different presentation for Trait Secrets.
Lagniappe
The Power of Poker
The spectator makes all the choices, but the magician always has the better hand, even when the spectator picks the cards for them in this bonus effect.