"Utopian Prediction and Other Mysteries" booklet by Alex Blade
Suggested Retail USD$24.95
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 4 Out of 10

"Utopian Prediction and Other Mysteries", a booklet of three effects by Alex Blade, sounds promising but have been done better elsewhere and has a hard problem justifying the lavish price tag.

Let's start as we usually do, with the effects.

"Utopian Prediction" is a postal-prediction of a word from the inside of a newspaper. Okay, so we've been here before -- a few dozen times. The claim in the ads made this sound interesting to say the least: no stooges, no switching, no gimmicks, using any newspaper, predict any part of the newspaper and -- the big kicker -- the performer doesn't touch the newspaper or the envelope during the performance. Yep, that'll get anyone's antennae up. Unfortunately, you can't use any part of the newspaper (Blade goes into detail on which sections to use and the most obvious part -- the front page -- is off limits), the newspaper is gaffed, and you've got to figure out a way of getting the newspaper into play without looking like you're getting the newspaper into play. Blade's idea is interesting but it won't be replacing another such routine in an act anytime soon (check out Mann/Knight for some great ways of doing a newpaper prediction).

"Shy" is next. In this one, five ESP cards are shown and placed face-up on the table. A spectator is asked to choose three of the five cards and push them forward on the table. The performer shows a blank card and writes something on one side. The spectator is instructed to touch two of the cards. The performer turns the card over showing that drawn on it are the same two symbols chosen by the spectator. The performer picks up another blank card and writes something on it again. The spectator is asked to choose one of the two remaining symbols, the performer turns the card over and shows the chosen symbol is written on the card. Now, this is an intriguing idea, but with a bit too much handling that could give away things to an overly-attentive spectator; Docc Hilford used the same idea with his "Cards of Cairo" which is much more deceptive. For that matter, just use a Swami and call it a day.

"Polaroid", a three-way prediction, is the weirdest of the lot when it comes to method. A spectator is given an envelope to hold. The performer pulls out five business cards with the numerals 1 through 5 written on them and puts them on the table face down. The spectator is asked to touch one and it's turned over to reveal the number 3. The performer then pulls out a handful of change and the spectator picks either heads or tails. The coins are tossed on the table and all the coins that land tails-up are removed. This is repeated until only one coin is left, say a quarter. Finally, a deck of cards is brought out and spread face down on the table and the spectator chooses one, the Nine of Spades. The envelope is opened and inside is a Polaroid photo of the number three, a quarter, and the Nine of Spades. I won't even go into the hype of this one: it doesn't live up to it to say the least. As to the method, it's exactly what you think it is but with the most bizarre structure I've seen for this kind of effect, and ends with a Sankey-esque touch (check out Sankey's "Photo Finish" for the way to do this much better).

So there you have it: three effects that, in the end, are just sub-par. The methods are weak and the presentations non-existant (Blade tells you to be theatrical and all of that to sell these, but it would have been nice to see exactly how he presents these items and overcomes the problems). The result is a booklet that just isn't worth the price tag except maybe to the completist who absolutely has to have every idea on newspaper predictions, but for folks looking for mental effects they can do regularly in the real world, this is a definite pass.

"Utopian Prediction and Other Mysteries" booklet by Alex Blade
In a Blink: 4 Out of 10

Material: 3
The only interesting idea here is the newspaper prediction, but it suffers from a presentational hole that will keep it from finding its way into many an act. This is one booklet filled with ideas, but they've been done better elsewhere. Definitely for completists only.

Quality: 5
The writing style is fine, but it would have been nice to see the theatrical presentations Blade uses (and urges others to use).

Illustrations: 5
The illustrations are minimal and work well, though some added ones during the titled effect would have been nice.

Presentation: 3
There are a number of presentational problems in these effects which can, and according to Blade, have been overcome. A little instruction there would have been helpful. Better would have been methods that didn't have the problems in the first place.


Shane