Review of Silent Running by Ben Harris

Reviewed by: John Teo

“Silent Running” evolved from the methodology employed in Ben Harris’ earlier blockbuster, “The Crossroads Deck”.  Peter Duffie suggested a “dodge” as an improvement to “Crossroads” and Ben Harris capitalized on it to bring out Silent Running.

 

Silent Running is a cunning method of acquiring a thought-of card from a spectator.  She merely thinks of any number between 1 to 10, and then a suit.  She combines both and imagines a particular playing card in her mind.  The performer will be able to know what it is!  There is no need for even a physical deck of cards to be involved.

 

Two other presentations are provided.  In “The Dissolving Card”, a spectator’s thought-of card dissolves away from a deck of cards placed on the table before the experiment begins.  The deck now contains 51 cards and her thought-of card has vanished.  “The Spirited Card Stab” is a dramatic way of presenting this effect.  A deck of cards is mixed up and spread out on the table.  Several sheets of newspapers cover the cards from sight.  A spectator thinks of a card and sends her thought to the knife held by the performer.  He uses the knife to stab at the newspapers and impale one card – this proves to be the very card thought-of by the spectator.

 

Such brilliant methodology is bound to attract further ideas from other magicians/mentalists.  In the bonus section, Bob Cassidy, Paolo Cavalla, Devin Knight and Steve Shufton all provide subtle psychological nuances to Silent Running.  In addition, Devin Knight offers a killer ending while Jason Messina applies Silent Running to other than playing cards for an interesting routine involving celebrities.

 

The effect comes in a 60 pages printed book illustrated with photographs.  Properly performed, people will be convinced you can really read minds.  The ideas from the bonus section are priceless.  (5/5 stars rating)