“Cinders” ebook by Dee Christopher
Suggested Retail BP£6.66
Available from Dee Christopher
In a Blink: 4 Out of 10

This effect is billed as: A completely impromptu method of setting a signed card alight and restoring it visually in just a wave, or even a blow. A new take on the Tear and Restore plot for the underground to ravish. No Gaffs, No Gimmicks, No difficult sleights.

This small e-book (10 pages, with 5 of them being stuff such as title page, credits, a blank page, etc) teaches Dee Christopher’s handling of the burnt and restored card. The effect is straightforward: a card is selected and signed and then set ablaze. When about half of it is burned, the fire is blown out, the ashes wiped away and with a wave of the hand the signed card is restored.

I have a few problems with the ad copy… First, while the effect is relatively impromptu, I completely disagree with the description “new take”. There’s nothing that was new to me in this manuscript, nor would there be for anyone at more than a rank beginner level. Further, the “no gaffs, no gimmicks” thing is VERY misleading. It is true in the sense that there isn’t some mechanical apparatus you need to purchase, but there IS in fact, a secret something at work which would qualify as a gaff or gimmick. It can be made quickly, secretly, and inexpensively, but there IS a secret something required.

While there is nothing new in either the effect or the method here, this version will play well enough for any reasonably skilled magician who doesn’t already have a method for the plot in his arsenal. Having said that, I felt that this version is rather generic and rather sparsely described. I was able to fill in the gaps, but a beginner might find himself asking some questions such as, “Wait, when did that get in my hand so I could do this?”

Thirteen photos accompany the text, most of which are helpful in clarifying the written instructions, but a few could be brighter and have more contrast.

In short, this is a passable version of this effect. However, if you already know one or more versions of the destroyed and restored card plot, this offers nothing you won’t already know, as the method is pretty standard stuff. Nor does it offer much in the way of presentation. I’m not convinced that five sparse pages explaining the generic method warrant the price tag of approximately $12 USD, either.

"Cinders" ebook by Dee Christopher
In a Blink: 4 Out of 10

Material: 4
I’m giving this a four only because the method is practical, and there’s no doubt the effect will play for the magi with good performance skills. My problem is there isn’t an iota of originality here as far as I can tell. The exact same method has been in the public domain of magicdom for a century or more, and it’s probably the first method you’d think of if you were to try to reconstruct it. Unless performed by a seasoned magician with good stage presence and presentation skills, I suspect many laymen likely would be able to reconstruct the method, too.

Quality: 3
The writing isn’t awful, but it’s not particularly good either, and it’s very bare bones.

Illustrations: 8
There are a few photos, and while some are a bit too dark, they adequately illustrate what should be going on. I felt a few more were in order, but the ones that are there are good enough and I’m not sure some readers could follow along without them, so I’m giving this category an eight.

Presentation: 1
Frankly, there just pretty much isn’t any presentation included, beyond, "If you could just sign your name right across here please."


Scott Guinn