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"Set to Stun" ebook by Jack Parker
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available direct from Jack Parker
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

I have to confess, I know little about Jack Parker. I know he's British, and I know he's been in Magic Magazine a couple of three times, and I know I like his stuff (one of my favorite routines in "The Cheetah's Handbook" was a creation of Parker's), and I know I like the way he puts together a good card trick.

Well, and I also know I fell in love with his ebook, "Set to Stun".

Yes, for the most part "Set to Stun" is a collection of card tricks (there's one coin trick at the end of the book which is creative, though cumbersome), but these are a step up from what is normally considered "good" card magic, thanks to Parker's unexpected endings and careful routining.

Take, for example, his "Cross Eyed Surprise". Essentially, it's a three-phase transposition of Aces after having been separated into two packets and sandwiched between Queens. Been there, done that, more than a few times. But Parker sets the stage perfectly, making the second phase an open repeat of the first transposition and concluding with the highly unlikely, and unexpected, transposition of the Aces with the Queens.

Notice I used the word "unexpected" a couple of times already? That's the hallmark of Parker's work: things happen which are definitely unexpected and that adds the power to his routines and makes all the difference in the world.

"100% Confidence" is another good example of that routining. Based heavily on David Solomon's "Three Indicators", three indicator cards change repeatedly to match both a selected card and three cards set aside as "indicators". In the process, one poker hand after the other is made. Already a twisted little routine, Parker's ending -- using the selected card along with the set-aside card to create a straight flush -- comes as a shock to an audience that has just seen it all.

For those concerned about such things, most of the book is devoted to non-gimmicked routines requiring nothing more than a deck of cards and a little practice. It's those same few that will shoot me for recommending this book more for what Parker does with a simple, common card gaff than anything else. Those three routines, including one I admittedly read and hated and then ended up loving, are worth the price of the book and highlight just how good Jack Parker is at constructing card routines.

Are there any drawbacks? Nope. Not a one. Parker does perfectly what he sets out to do: deliver a collection of commercial, entertaining, and, yes, stunning card tricks. That he does it with a sense of fun and style are bonuses. There will be some you like more than others, surely, but if you are looking for some outright creative card tricks, you don't have to look much further than Parker's "Set to Stun".

"Set to Stun" by Jack Parker
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Material: 10
Parker's card magic is unique. The routining is excellent, the handlings simple, the entire package streamlined... this is truly some excellent card magic with no expert card skills required. For the purist, Parker does have a small section of his book devoted to a certain common gaff, but for the most part, well, "have deck, will entertain".

Quality: 10
Parker's writing is superb, to say the least. Clear, concise, and very easy to follow, you'll have no problem learning any of the material. Plus, his writing is sometimes downright fun to read.

Illustrations: 10
Illustrations, in the form of full-color photos, are plentiful and excellently placed, making learning the more complicated pieces of the routines a breeze.

Presentation: 10
For the most part, Parker's presentations are narrative (with a side-jaunt to the old "burglars" story) but the appearance is what saves the day here: the tricks look both magical and clean, resulting in some powerful stuff.

Originality: 10
Parker has a wonderful habit of starting things off normally, that is, as per an existing routine, then going off the beaten path. This is either apparent from the presentation or the methodology, but both wanderings are striking.

Shane