Thomas Baxter
THE OPEN PREDICTION PROJECT
$55
Sorry, No Discounts on This Item
THE BLURB:
In 1949 magician Paul Curry proposed an effect with playing
cards that seemed impossible. Despite the best efforts of
the top minds of his day, the effect became known as The
Curry Unsolved Card Problem.
For almost 60 years mentalists and magicians have wracked
their brains trying to find the perfect solution for Curry's
challenge, now known as The Open Prediction.
The Open Prediction Project is the largest collection of its
kind in existence. It is a compilation of 51 unique and
creative solutions to the Open Prediction problem.
Performers such as Marc Paul, Michael Weber, Barrie
Richardson, Patrick Redford, Mick Ayres and Hector Chadwick
have offered their solutions for this 296 page hard-cover
book; and these are just a few in a long list of creative
and innovative contributors from around the globe.
In addition, The Open Prediction Project contains a detailed
history of the evolution of the Open Prediction effect;
commentary on the individuals who made this effect the
legend that it has become; and a comprehensive appendix,
listing variations of the Open Prediction that been
published in the past.
Written and Edited by Thomas Baxter, author of The Nail
Writer Anthology and A Card Merely Thought Of...
Pages: 296 - Hardcover
MY COMMENTS:
This is a fun and intriguing exploration of Paul Curry's classic Open Prediction challenge. Inexplicably, for those unfamiliar with the challenge, it's not described in the blurb, so here is a description of it from the book:
"In his challenge, Cury suggested an effect wherein a prediction of the name of a playing card is announced or shown openly at the start of the effect. A spectattor then shuffles a pack of cards and deals the cards face up onto the table, one at a time, until they choose to stop at a random point and deal the next card face down, without looking at its identity. They then continue dealing the remainder of the pack face up. Everyone who watches the deal, looking for the predicted card in the face up cards dealt. It does not appear. At the end, the participant turns up the sole face down card. It is the card that was openly predicted at the start."
Originally, this was an e-book and also a contest that was held in the Penny For Your Thoughts thread on the Magic Cafe. Because this challenge is also known as "51 Faces North," there are 51 entries, although there are some extra contributions included in this hardcover edition, such as a couple of entries from Colin McLeod.
Of course, that begs the question, "Did any of these contributors solve the challenge?" The only person who seems to have solved the challenge was Stewart James and, as the book explains in detail, he adamantly took his secret to the grave. The only thing I'll say is that I don't believe that anyone in the book came close to coming up with Stewart James' solution, but it's really up to you to decide if any entry in the book has a valid solution that satisfies you. As the saying goes, it's the journey that counts, not the destination. Personally, I had a lot of thought-provoking fun reading the possible solutions.
Obviously, if you're not a fan of card effects or mentalism with cards, this isn't for you. But if challenges like the Open Prediction Challenge, or simply mentalism effects with cards, intrigue you, then this book (hardcover with dustjacket, 6.5" x 9.5") is a worthy edition for your library to explore.
In 1949 magician Paul Curry proposed an effect with playing
cards that seemed impossible. Despite the best efforts of
the top minds of his day, the effect became known as The
Curry Unsolved Card Problem.
For almost 60 years mentalists and magicians have wracked
their brains trying to find the perfect solution for Curry's
challenge, now known as The Open Prediction.
The Open Prediction Project is the largest collection of its
kind in existence. It is a compilation of 51 unique and
creative solutions to the Open Prediction problem.
Performers such as Marc Paul, Michael Weber, Barrie
Richardson, Patrick Redford, Mick Ayres and Hector Chadwick
have offered their solutions for this 296 page hard-cover
book; and these are just a few in a long list of creative
and innovative contributors from around the globe.
In addition, The Open Prediction Project contains a detailed
history of the evolution of the Open Prediction effect;
commentary on the individuals who made this effect the
legend that it has become; and a comprehensive appendix,
listing variations of the Open Prediction that been
published in the past.
Written and Edited by Thomas Baxter, author of The Nail
Writer Anthology and A Card Merely Thought Of...
Pages: 296 - Hardcover
MY COMMENTS:
This is a fun and intriguing exploration of Paul Curry's classic Open Prediction challenge. Inexplicably, for those unfamiliar with the challenge, it's not described in the blurb, so here is a description of it from the book:
"In his challenge, Cury suggested an effect wherein a prediction of the name of a playing card is announced or shown openly at the start of the effect. A spectattor then shuffles a pack of cards and deals the cards face up onto the table, one at a time, until they choose to stop at a random point and deal the next card face down, without looking at its identity. They then continue dealing the remainder of the pack face up. Everyone who watches the deal, looking for the predicted card in the face up cards dealt. It does not appear. At the end, the participant turns up the sole face down card. It is the card that was openly predicted at the start."
Originally, this was an e-book and also a contest that was held in the Penny For Your Thoughts thread on the Magic Cafe. Because this challenge is also known as "51 Faces North," there are 51 entries, although there are some extra contributions included in this hardcover edition, such as a couple of entries from Colin McLeod.
Of course, that begs the question, "Did any of these contributors solve the challenge?" The only person who seems to have solved the challenge was Stewart James and, as the book explains in detail, he adamantly took his secret to the grave. The only thing I'll say is that I don't believe that anyone in the book came close to coming up with Stewart James' solution, but it's really up to you to decide if any entry in the book has a valid solution that satisfies you. As the saying goes, it's the journey that counts, not the destination. Personally, I had a lot of thought-provoking fun reading the possible solutions.
Obviously, if you're not a fan of card effects or mentalism with cards, this isn't for you. But if challenges like the Open Prediction Challenge, or simply mentalism effects with cards, intrigue you, then this book (hardcover with dustjacket, 6.5" x 9.5") is a worthy edition for your library to explore.
