ONCE UPON A TIME there was a range of Book Tests called Facsimile that ticked every box. Well, hold onto your hats, because now that range just got a cheeky upgrade with Facsimile 2.0!
Facsimile (from Latin fac simile, "to make alike") is basically a fancy term for a copy or reproduction of a classic book, manuscript, or other historical artefact that’s as close to the original as you can get without a time machine.
According to the dictionary (that dusty old thing), Michael Daniels has whipped up a book test so authentic it’s practically begging to be mistaken for the real deal.
These world-famous tomes have been reproduced with such meticulous (and slightly diabolical) care that your audience will be convinced they’re holding an original edition.
Facsimile is straightforward: it’s a book test using an actual book! You can pull off MULTIPLE word revelations on ANY page. Yes, you heard me right—this is as fair and random as it gets (no dodgy business here).
The basic three-word effect goes a little something like this:
Flick through the book and tell them to say STOP whenever they fancy, then ask them to remember a word. Without any fishing or memory gymnastics, you’ll know exactly what word is swirling in their mind and reveal it however you fancy.
Think they’re onto you? Hand them the book and let them pick ANY page. Have them remember a word again, and, voila, you’ll know it too!
But wait, there’s more! You can divine a THIRD word from the same or a different page. Yup, you’ll pinpoint their chosen word like a pro.
The new 2.0 edition keeps all the classic features but now has larger text for superior visibility, an extra mid-page word reveal, and you can even tell how much speech is on a page or if it’s just plain old text, not to mention the number of paragraphs!
These new features give you endless options to spice up your routine.
In phases two or three, you can even predict their chosen word with an envelope that’s been hanging about long before they cracked open the book. Sneaky, right?
The book is examinable before, during, and after you’ve wowed the crowd.
You can read the whole novel from cover to cover!
No duplicate pages or Svengali tricks here—just good old-fashioned magic.
No forces—totally free choice of page!
No fishing—seriously, it’s not that kind of party.
No memory work required—thank goodness, right?
Can be performed without you even holding the book—talk about detached!
Learn this bad boy in minutes—easy peasy!
Perfect for both stand-up and close-up performances—no need to choose sides.
More advanced options are thrown in too, with minimal fishing and memory work for those who fancy a challenge.
Included in the package is the book and online instructions.
A Study in Scarlet, Turn of the Screw, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde measure approximately 107mm x 175mm. They fit snugly in your jacket pocket and are a dream for close-up workers and walk-around gigs.
If you fancy something a bit more stage-ready, we’ve got larger editions of Frankenstein, Invisible Man, and Hound of the Baskervilles, measuring about 152mm x 227mm in the original range.
Note from Saturn Magic
Facsimile: The Unabridged Book Test is a stunning creation and comes with our highest recommendation. It’s ideal for newbies who’ve been timid about this sort of effect, as well as seasoned mentalists looking to pull off multiple word revelations under the fairest conditions with minimal fuss, allowing you to focus on your performance. Once you discover Facsimile, you’ll be performing happily ever after.
