Becker, Larry: STUNNERS
©1996 Edition, Aplar Magical Creations
1st. Edition
Paper, 464 pages

Table of Comments

Foreword - Page 15

Preface - Page 19

Introduction - Page 21

Life On The Wrong Side Of The Brain - Page 25

Monte Crispo - Page 39
An initialed $100 bill is sealed in one of several envelopes. After a spectator eliminates all but one, the discarded envelopes are destroyed in a paper shredder. The remaining envelope is opened and the $100 bill is NOT inside. The initialed bill is discovered in an insurance policy under the spectator's arm.

Digitellus - Page 47
Two freely selected digits are transformed into ten numbers, none of which are known to the performer. The spectator totals all ten numbers only to discover the performer had correctly predicted the answer.

Bear Minimum - Page 53
An entertaining game of chance is won by the performer, but the spectator takes home an adorable consolation prize.

The Berlin Bears - Page 57
Germany's Ted Lesley baffled some of the world's leading mentalists at the 1992 Psychic Entertainers Association convention with this clever effect.

Sneak 'Thief - Page 65
One of the boldest "Psychometric" routines ever created. Four spectators draw whatever they wish on blank file cards. The performer correctly identifies who drew what, and brings the demonstration to an exciting climax by duplicating the final drawing while it is still laying face down on the table. Also included is "Sneaky Too", a devastating card routine that goes one up on the original.

Intuition - Page 79
An invisible "hold-out" that enables you to perform a myriad of puzzling effects. Included are two routines, one for close-up and the other presentation for stage use.

Get The Picture - Page 83
Larry White's "X-ray vision" design duplication using two opaque manila envelopes. Also included are variations by Larry's friends; Steve Dusheck (Playing Cards & Book Test), Alan Wassilak (Brain Wave), Dan Tong (Prediction) and Larry Becker (Wordarama & Stand-up).

The $99.95 Miracle - Page 91
A high-tech miracle revolving around a "Dick Tracy" type pen/corder and some of Chester Gould's dastardly villains.

All-Star Miracle - Page 97
Larry Becker's commercial hit. A spectator freely selects one of eight Baseball trading cards. Believe it or not, the chosen player's autograph is found on a regulation baseball that's been in full view throughout. Also included is an entertaining presentation by Roger L. Omanson.

Gaff-Free Duo - Page 109
Two great mental effects, Ned Rutledge's "Minding the Store" and Don Wayne's "Room Service", are simplified and practically duplicated using a clever principle.

Hypnotic - Page 115
Two spectator's are laughingly "hypnotized" into believing they are the world's greatest losers. Despite some very fair mixing and dealing, the performer wins every hand and correctly predicts the outcome of the final hand.

Midnight Miracle - Page 121
The ingenious principle of Larry's early commercial success, "Hare Mail" is transformed into one of mentalism's most lethal weapons. Two outstanding uses are included, "Pre-Vue" and "Switcheroo."

Becker Bevel - Page 131
An unpublished, easily executed sleight that enables you to cleanly force a playing card even though the spectator's choice is extremely fair.

Revenger - Page - 135
An entertaining routine using the well known sound effects device widely sold in variety and novelty shops.

Bank Nite Baffler Page 139
Lee Earle modernizes "Bank Nite" with an ingenious method you'll love to use.

Casino Caper - Page 145
The performer correctly (and cleanly) predicts the outcome of three games of chance, Roulette, Black Jack and Craps.

Casino Royale - Page 153
An unpublished effect inspired by David Copperfield's "Blackboard Illusion." The performer without ever touching a large, covered display board, correctly predicts which casino a spectator will visit, how much he'll wager on a game of chance, and the outcome of a Black Jack hand freely dealt by the spectator.

Some Total Radio - Page 165
Richard Osterlind's clever adaptation of Larry Becker's "Some Total" designed for radio talk show use.

Borgia Bash - Page 171
A zany prediction woven into a tale about the deadly Borgia family.

Shuffler 2 - Pag- 175
A sneaky update to the original "Shuffler" that enables you to maintain a card stack despite repeated mixing in an electric card shuffler.

The RothBeck Test - Page 181
Larry Becker and Roy Roth combine their talents to produce a die divination box that duplicates everything the expensive electronic models can do, without the use of electronics.

X-The Unknown - Page 185
Leo Boudreau's ingenious close-up mental effect complete with the artwork you need to do-it-yourself.

Triple Threat - Page 191
"Laser Gazer" is a devilishly clever effect. Also included are two additional and different climaxes entitled, "Crystal-Eyes" and "Witch-Watch."

Flushed & Headliner - Page 199
Two highly entertaining presentations that share a not-so-common principle. One of Larry Becker's most diabolic ideas
.
Power of Suggestion - Page 205
A second look at one of the finest mental card effects ever to appear in the International Brotherhood of Magician's fine publication, "Linking Ring."

Howard Hughes Headline Prediction - Page 211
An outrageous concept for the "Headline Prediction" effect with more twists, turns, and laughs than you can imagine.

Mail Mental - Page 217
A baffling variation of the Koran Gold Medallion effect using a cardboard carton and a locked box.

Match Game - Page 221
It started with Larry's "Will The Cards Match." Now see where it all ended up with two previously unpublished routines including "Punch Lines", a very funny variation and the "Ultimate Match-Up" with a surprising and baffling climax.

Psycho II - Page 229
Larry Becker's umpteenth improvement on his first commercial success.

Terminal Psycho - Page 235
The definitive effort that finally puts an end to the "Psycho" saga.

Kliptomaniac - Page 239
A baffling mental coin effect with an extra added "attraction."

Game Show - Page 247
A very entertaining routine constructed around television's popular "The Price is Right" television show.

Clearly Predictable- Page 251
The unbelievable "Headline Prediction" that baffled over 2500 magicians and mentalists throughout England and Europe.

Nostradamus Prediction Chest - Page 265
A newspaper headline is predicted on a signed, audio cassette locked inside two nesting chests retained by a dignitary. No electronics or switching. The cassette the spectator removes from the chest is the one he actually signed and locked inside days or weeks earlier. Three different presentations are included.

Club Kicker - Page 285
A significant improvement to one of the strongest mental card effects in Book Two of Larry Becker's "World of Super Mentalism."

SloPsi-Turvy - Page 289
A common card "move" becomes an excellent and effective mental card force.

Mind Probe - Pag- 293
The improved version of Larry's original divination of a thought of digit in the serial number on a dollar bill.

2 0' Thoughts - Page 297
The age old "clock" principle is elevated to mental miracle status with two outstanding stand-up presentations, "Mind Mirror" and "Cardology."

Hour of Destiny - Page 305
The ingenious extension of the "2 0' Thoughts", now commercially sold and featured by Ted Lesley's Wonder Workshop in Germany. Two fabulous routines. One is light entertainment and the other a more serious presentation.
Stunners! The Mental Magic of Larry Becker

Boxxed - Page 317
The inside story of Larry's improvement to the "Spectramental" effect in Book Two of "World of Super Mentalism."

Serial Killer - Page 327
Originally sold for $135.00, this unbelievable effect uses a new principle in mentalism. Three volunteers randomly create a "phantom serial number" by calling off digits from three freely selected dollar bills. An absolute miracle.

The Diffusion Principle - Page 335
A unique principle that enables you to duplicate paper currency, legally, to achieve an uncanny display of "teleportation."

X-Rated Stuff - Page 341
One of the finest mentally selected card routines ever devised. Including an entertaining variation entitled, "My Favorite Card."

Becker Coin Purse Mysteries - Page 347
Larry Becker's great utilitarian mental device and the routines it spawned. Everything from the Bank Nite and Mental Safari routines to two "killers", "Descripto" and "Divination," disclosed here for the very first time.

Unbalanced - Page 363
A tricky Tarot routine using a well known card flourish.

Super Reflecta-Thot - Page 367
Richard Stride and Larry Becker team up to elevate a great effect to "miracle" status. A spectator freely selects one of 500 different words. Immediately, the performer reveals not only the word being thought of, but its definition as well.

What Goes Around - Page 385
After pioneering the zip-code principle in the July 1958 issue of "Genii," Larry reveals five of the many devastating routines and variations he's created over the ensuing years: "Mini-Deck", "Jeopardy Zip", "Zip Lock", "Lock-up" and "Emotional Zip."

Ultra Coinetic - Page 393
The original "Ultra-Coinetic" sold for $60 and required a specially constructed leather case. Now, Larry transforms it into a do-it-yourself project that can be made up in five minutes from a couple of manila pay envelopes.

Subliminal - Page 405
The performer demonstrates the persuasive power of subliminal suggestion using a portable tape recorder.

Transparen-See - Page 409
Obtaining a spectator's innermost thoughts has never been easier or more diabolical in concept. Describes Larry's brand new "Blockbuster Wallet" and how to perform the effect using something every mentalist is sure to have.

Ultimate Flashback - Page 419
A sneak preview of "Son of Flashback," the fastest, simplest Book Test ever created. Soon, if not already available, with exciting new improvements.

Test Conditions - Page 435
A close-up mental card effect. A spectator shuffles the deck. The performer makes a prediction. The spectator cuts the deck into three piles and freely selects any pile. The top three cards are shown to be different from one another. When the prediction is read, it correctly matches the freely selected card.

Russian Roulette - Page 439
One of the most baffling and sought after effects ever conceived. Featured on stage and TV throughout the world by Larry Becker. The ingenious secret is revealed at long last. A death-defying demonstration that is totally original and requires absolutely no gimmicks. More than an explanation, this is a chronology of the development of a spectacular mental illusion and the many close calls Larry experienced while performing it. This effect is worth ten times the cost of this book to an experienced, working professional mentalist.

Appendix I, The Double Undercut - Page 461

Appendix II, The Charlier Shuffle- Page 463