Symmetry, Parity and the Chimera Deck - Ben Harris
$75.00
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/card-magic/symmetry-parity-and-the-chimera-deck/

The Hype:

Ben Harris is a creative force that regularly astounds our entire Vanishing Inc. team. He has created some of the best-selling effects in magic. But, Symmetry & Parity might just be his most ambitious and impressive project ever.

This innovative kit is dedicated to one versatile idea: how to elevate the principles of the classic Svengali Deck into something 10,000 times more amazing. Ben has rebuilt the concept from the ground up to unlock powerful new applications that transform the classic trick deck into one of the most powerful gimmicked decks available today.

Symmetry & Parity is a one-of-a-kind project that combines a stunning 130-page hardcover book with everything you need to start performing immediately. This includes three custom-made gimmicked decks that can’t be purchased anywhere else, as well as a handmade gimmicked card box specially designed by Ben with its own sneaky principles.

This is so much more than just slapping a new coat of paint on an old magic shop deck. Ben Harris has created a:

Revolutionary way to seemingly allow your spectator to shuffle the gimmicked deck

A color-changing deck routine with three different changes that takes advantage of a new style of Svengali deck

The cleanest full-deck Oil & Water routine imaginable

And so much more…

Symmetry & Parity is a masterclass in stripping an effect to its bare bones and rebuilding it in a way that offers the same clarity, but with just enough added complexity to prevent the audience from ever deconstructing it. In essence, by offering no plausible solution, a simple magic trick becomes a true miracle in the eyes of your spectators.

The ingenious discovery that allows participants to seemingly shuffle the gimmicked deck is worth the price of the book alone. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are a variety of new applications for this powerful principle ranging from magician-foolers to a string of impressive effects that can be done one right after the other.

You can learn as you read without every building a single gimmick. The three included gimmicked decks are specially-printed by the United States Playing Card Company and Ben’s ingenious, handmade Tardian Case comes ready to use. Everything is packed in a gorgeous box set that you will display proudly in your library or on your shelf.

My Take:

Long ago, when I was but a lad, I was a paperboy delivering the Omaha World Herald seven days a week for which I received the princely sum of around $5.00 per week. To both keep the carriers happy and increase circulation, they sometimes had a contest where you had to go out and solicit new customers on your route. If you were successful, they took you on a road trip. This particular year. it was to see the rodeo in Sidney, Iowa. After riding in the back of a small panel truck for an hour, we got out for a fabulous evening of equestrian artistry but what we all were waiting for was the special guest star, Pat Brady of the Roy Rogers Show along with his trusty jeep, NellyBelle, but the best was yet to come. The midway. every kid's favorite part of the rodeo. I had my money in my pocket looking to buy cotton candy or go on a ride. Twas not to be. for in the middle of the midway was a man demonstrating the most marvelous deck of cards I had ever seen. He showed the deck to be all different cards, had someone pick one, he shuffled the deck and cut right to the chosen card. Not only that, each and every card now matched the selection. He then let us in on a little secret. The company that manufactured the deck has allowed him to sell just a few decks and if I wanted one, I had better make my purchase quickly before he ran out. I couldn't get my money out fast enough and even though I no longer had the money for a sweet treat or exciting ride, I did not care. I was going home with a miracle in my pocket.

Since then, I have owned many different Svengali decks (as I'm sure you have, too). All the way from Roger Dreyer's one buck deck from the Dollar Store (which you had to assemble yourself but what the hey! It was only a buck) to the real fooler. A deck with a genuine Bicycle back. And I became legendary (at least in my own eyes).

So, when Vanishing Inc announced they were releasing a new book by Ben Harris on the Svengali deck promising new things that you had never seen or even thought of before, it had to be mine. "Symmetry & Parity" is a beautifully printed book (as is everything published by Vanishing Inc) but it comes in a box (perfect size for your bookshelf) along with 3 specially made decks. I quickly discovered an added benefit to owning this book and I learned it even before I opened the book up). Walk around carrying your copy of "Symmetry & Parity" holding it so the title is visible. People see a title like that and right away assume that you appear much smarter than you actually may be.

I have been aware of Ben Harris and his creations for many years. If you ever did the floating matchstick, you were either using his Cosmosis and one of the many ripoff versions that have come out over the years. This is definitely one of the most bootlegged tricks in magic. X-Ray (which he released with Steve Shufton) was a stunning revelation of a card your spectator picked and put back into the deck while you were out of the room. I once fried a former president of the Psychic Entertainers Association with this. And his previous release from Vanishing is Machinations, a treatise on the Trapdoor technique used in the Wonderland Bill along with many variations. So, you know I couldn't wait to dive into this one.

The one thing that is not included in the package was a regular Svengali deck as it was assumed that everyone had at least one in their magic drawer. However, if you don't already own one, place your order today as the first two routines use a regular Svengali. After taking a look at just these routines, you may never use a standard presentation again. You actually split the deck into two piles and give each to a volunteer who is free to shuffle their packet using any method they might like. The deck is reconstructed by the spectators without being touched by you and it is back in Svengali order. The two routines are basically Ben's take on a couple of regular routines. In "8.06e+67. The volunteer picks a number from 1-52 and that is where his card is. You might recognize the name of the routine as the formula showing the almost infinite ways in which a deck may be shuffled. The second will appeal to PBS watchers who are into science fiction. "A Note from Douglas Adams" reveals the position of the card using a line from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" while at the same time revealing the meaning of life, the universe, and everything which took the super computer Deep Thought 7.5 million years to compute. The good news is that you don't have to wait. The answer is right here. (Fans will know what I am talking about).

You also taught the Resurrection Shuffle which made me wonder why I didn't think of this myself. This is one shuffle you will use in a lot of Svengali routines. It is a shuffle done entirely by your volunteers. You do nothing and still get the result you want. A brilliant addition to your arsenal.

The first of the three decks that are included is the Parity deck. The definition of parity is basically equality. In the case of a deck of cards, the fact that there is 26 of each color demonstrates parity. In the Parity routine, a coin is tossed and the spectator calls heads or tail, in each case proving to be correct. The deck is divided into four face down packets and the volunteer points to any packet. It proves to be the selected color again and when all the top card of each is turned over, every packet has the same color on top plus the opposite color on the face. The four packets are reassembled in any order and cut. The deck is cut into two piles. One is shown to be all read and the other, all black. After reassembling the deck, it is shown to be in red, black order entirely through the deck. The section ends with an easy to do full deck oil and water.

The Chimera deck allows you to show three different backs instead of the usual two. For someone who is familiar with the Svengali, this is a real mind blower. In the Case of the Tardis  (Dr. Who!), a red deck is removed from a white case. A card is selected. You decide that you would rather be using a blue deck so the red deck is replaced into the case. The case is given a flip and a blue deck is removed. You find the card and ask if your volunteer thinks his card is red or blue. When the selected card is removed, it proves to have a different back that is neither red nor blue. The tuck case used in the routine is included in the set.There is also a pattern included in the book so you can make your own. Deft Dave is the story of a card mechanic who does two deck switches. Powerful and no sleights.

With the Imagination Deck, it is shown to be composed of all blank cards. The cards are dribbled from hand to hand until your volunteer says "Stop!". (No force). The volunteer is shown a drawn card and can name it while a little dual reality makes the audience thinks a blank card is being shown. The card is placed face down on the table and when it is turned face up, it is a real printed card. The deck is shown to be all faces and backs (ala traditional Svengali) The deck is described as being roughly drawn cards and I was afraid that I would have to use my very limited artistic skills but the work has already been done. At one point, you even show the entire deck as being composed of the drawn cards.

If (like me), you have always loved the Svengali, you need to have this set. It will change not only your thoughts about the deck but your performing style, If you like to trot out something powerful for a ring meeting, you will absolutely kill with any of these routines (including the two using the standard deck). With his previous releases, Ben already had me convinced that he was a genius and this release strengthened that opinion.

Yes, Vanishing has done it once again and this is highly recommended.

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