"Card Cognition" by Rodger Lovins
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Card Cognition", the latest release by Rodger Lovins, is an update on an ancient trick deck that is as schizophrenic a thing as could be asked for yet a fine idea that makes it all worthwhile.

First, I should cover the whole "ancient trick deck" thing. You see, the "Card Cognition" deck is a take on a very old -- though little used or discussed -- trick deck that has been around pretty much since forever. Because the nature of that old thing is pretty much the blood and guts of "Card Cognition", I just don't feel right naming the thing outright. Besides, I plan on using "Card Cognition" and, well, you know how we get.

I'll just say that Lovins' ad copy is correct: there are no forces, the reset is instant (making repeating this a breeze), it's incredibly easy to do (no marks to remember or the like) and it functions exactly as advertised:

Second, this is deck will cause feelings of schizophrenia in you: you'll be of two minds on this one, just like the deck itself. You'll look at it and think, "What? That's it?" and be disappointed. Sorry, but that's a given. Then you'll likely think about it for a minute or two and you'll start seeing some possibilities. After a while, Lovins' "Card Cognition" deck will start growing on you a little and, when you check out one very devious idea in the instructions, you just may find yourself hooked on the thing.

That was the progression of events for me (minus the whole "stamping my feet in disgust" period). I have always loved Lovins' stuff and I just couldn't get how he could release a piece of garbage like this, I thought. Why, it's almost a direct rip-off of an ancient idea, I raged. Then the subtle change Lovins added began to dawn on me. And it is subtle -- well, as subtle as it is bold, to go back to the whole schizo thing.

Third, that's the idea that makes this whole thing worthwhile. I wish I could go into more detail and explain the thing, but I can't without tipping the whole working and I'm not going to do that. I will say it's a very slick way of making a spectator an instant stooge that doesn't disrupt the flow of the routine at all. A spectator stops you as you dribble cards and takes the card they stopped at. At that point, you know what the card is. Okay, so there's a million ways of doing this. But how about having another spectator name the card, without any indication from you? And how about doing it in such a way the spectator can't miss and doesn't even think they're being "stooged"?

That's the idea and Lovins gets a cookie for coming up with it. It's a good one.

Now comes the worse drawback: what I described to you, about "stooging without stooging"? That's not in the instructions. The presentation is obvious, though, to someone that's been around the block a time or two, but you won't find it detailed. Likewise, you won't find much in the way of effects (beyond the basic one) or handlings in the instructions, either. Lovins did his creation a disservice here: he treats the instructions for his deck as you would expect for a utility deck of sorts with sparse explanations and few ideas.

However, he does drop a neat one in there that takes the old antique to yet another level. You'll need to supply some stuff you've already got, but with the right routine in mind it just might be worth the work (it also allows the deck to be examined briefly if you like)..

For me, I really like this deck and I like the routines that can be done with it. It's clever enough that my outright hatred for the whole "stooging" technique is not just tempered but almost gone, an accomplishment in itself.

For you? That all depends. My simple recommendation is to get a routine in your head (built around the whole "any card the spectator picks I know and another spectator can know" idea) and then take the plunge. That'll weaken the initial disappointment you may feel and make the added stuff you can pull off with this icing on the cake and have you loving this one.

"Card Cognition" by Rodger Lovins
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
This is a weird one to think about in terms of practicality since it can be set up different ways. Worse case scenario? It's an unexaminable, one-trick deck that will eat up pocket space. Best case? It can be fairly examinable and can be used for other things. Regardless, it will likely end up with the greatest drawback for you being an extra deck you carry around.

Workmanship: 10
The deck is made from Bicycle stock and is very well made.

Documentation: 5
The documentation is pretty sparse, which is disappointing, but then this is pretty much a utility deck which can do more than a few things. You'll have problems if you're a neophyte, but the more advanced will be able to fill in the blanks quickly and easily.

Effect: 8
It's all in what you do with it -- like I said, this is a utility deck -- but the basic idea is a good one and plays very well.

Presentation: 8
See above, re: utility deck. Still, Lovins has done a good job of making the deck simultaneously innocuous and shocking, a clever idea that can do nothing but help sell this one. Wrap your personality and a good effect around it and you've got a good piece of magic in your hands.


Shane

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