Price$0.00
Media TypeNot Listed
CategoryNot Listed
Date AddedJan 10, 2015
Sole Survivor
Martin Mercy
Mercy Me Magic
(Based on 1 review)
Sole Survivor by Martin Mercy
This effect has been taken from the book by Robert Neale and Eugene Burger entitled Magic and Meaning. Neale states in the book that the plot is from Albert Camus’ novel, The Plague. The method used is a force by Roy Baker referred to as PATEO (point out two, eliminate one). This effect comes with seven specially printed Tarot style cards.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Without You by Mariah Carey
Sole Survivor by Martin Mercy Reviewed
Seven custom made Tarot-looking cards, one sheet of paper (instructions) and $20 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
Based on a Eugene Burger and Bob Neale effect and published with their permission, 7 cards are placed face down and spread about on the table. A tale of death and the plague is spun. The spectator and you decide who lives and who dies. When all is said and done, 6 of the 7 "people" die. The one left over is the card of fate. No matter which cards your spectator chooses to "kill," fate will always be the last card remaining.
Method
As mentioned in the video trailer, this uses the PATEO technique. The method is practically self-working. Anyone can do this with very little effort. The method is completely doable.
Ad Copy Integrity
There really isn't any written ad copy to speak of. However, the video demo acts as the ad copy. There is one issue I had with the ad copy. In the performance, he let the spectator choose the final card to die. In reality, with the PATEO method, you cannot do this.
Any magician in the know will recognize what he did, and it's not a bad solution to the final phase of PATEO. However, the problem is that it is not taught in the instructions. So it's slightly (however unintentional) misleading. If you're new and/or not familiar with the way he ended it on the video demo, you won't be able to end it that way.
Product Quality
The cards that you receive are well made and have a nice finish on them that makes them spread easily. Also, I really like the fact that the non-fate cards (i.e., those who die in the plague) are bright colors, and the fate card is black. It gives a nice contrast to further drive home the point that this one card that is different survived the plague.
The instructions you receive are sparse at best. Also, if you hadn't seen the trailer, you might be a bit confused at the instructions. The effect isn't described until the method is taught. The method teaching is a bit confusing without the reference of the effect. Once you read the effect at the end and then go back to the method, it's a bit clearer.
Also, there is one typo that matters. I don't typically let a typo impact the star rating. However, when the typo affects the clarity of the instructions, it can impact the star rating. In this case, there was a sentence that referred to "the 2 card." There is no "2" card. This may confuse some upon reading it. What it should have said is "the 2 cards." This is not as obvious of a typo as you may think. Due to the context of the sentence, it could easily be confusing causing the reader to wonder what the "2 card" is. There's an "old maid" card and a "farmer card," etc., but what's the "two card?"
I know it sounds nit-picky, but it's not. Even though I knew the method in advance, reading the instructions was still a bit confusing. I imagine someone unfamiliar with PATEO might have an even harder time with it. However, all that said, two or three read-throughs along with watching the demo video should clear things right up.
Final Thoughts
With the following disclaimer, you may think that any criticisms above where out of jealousy or some other negative place. I assure you, however, they are not. The disclaimer is this: Years ago, I had the same idea as Martin Mercy (i.e., apply Tarot Cards to the Neale/Burger effect). My version uses 13 of the Major Arcana cards. It's been in my repertoire for years.
When I saw this product, I immediately contacted Martin to let him know that I liked the effect and that I had a similar idea. I mentioned that I might someday publish my version, script, handling, etc. in a future work. He was very kind and had no problems with me publishing my version (if I ever do). He also sent me a free copy of his version for review.
If I were rating this strictly on the effect, it would be 5 stars . . . easy. But as you know, I don't rate effects - I discuss them but I don't rate them. I rate method, ad copy and product quality.
Method: SOLID!
Ad Copy: A little misleading with the ending that is not taught in the instructions.
Product Quality: Cards - SOLID! Instructions - Confusing, Sparse and Incomplete.
This is the kind of effect where presentation is EVERYTHING. It's all about the scripting and timing. Martin's scripting is very good (and included in the instructions) for the most part. The presentation at the very beginning and the end are both smart and clever and you'll see that in the video. During the main part of the effect (i.e, choosing the victims), there really isn't much in the way of scripting. You'll see that on the demo video as well.
If you buy this, you'll get a great "in-line" and "out-line" for getting into and out of the effect. You'll also get some very well made cards that fit the theme and story quite well. Lastly, you'll receive (barely) the information you need to perform the effect. You may have to read it a couple of times to get "there." If you happen to be familiar with PATEO and similar equivocal techniques, you'll have no issues learning this effect.
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem