"Bits and Bytes" by Dale Hildebrandt
Suggested Retail USD$7.77
Available direct from Lybrary.com
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

This wonderful book of more than 80 pages doesn't get a deserved 10 out of 10 for two reasons, one point for each (and the first one is strictly my own choice; it may not bother you):

First, some of the effects can only be done sitting down at a table.

Secondly, every effect is not for every person.

Okay, that said, let's point out what's good - nay, great - about this book (and that's plenty!)

This is the second book in Hildebrandt's Right-Hand Path series and much of the material was inspired by Liam Montier, who writes the introduction and to whom the book is dedicated.

There are more than 50 routines here, using everything from computers, to cell phones to cards. In short, something for everyone. And you will use something out of this book!

The Fortune Telling Card Fish is a great bit and, if I weren't already using another version of the fish, I would use this one.

Another favorite of mine is Greetings from the Other Side, a Living and Dead test that is SO simple you may skip over it. Don't!

And that's the case with almost all the routines in this book (most of which are confined to a page or page and a half at the most!)

Simplicity is the byword here. No knuckle-busting sleights, no "peculiar" boxes with strange Chinese characters, no nonsense at all; just good, solid magic.

But, like all good stuff, this is going to require work on the presentation. (Hey, Dale isn't going to do it ALL for you!)

It's almost impossible to open this book - at any page - and not find something you will use. I just tried that and it opened to The Perfume Test, an elegantly simple routine in which the spectator picks the bottle with the perfume. Sounds like and ideal anniversary trick, to me!

Trying that again, I opened the book to Kind of Sketchy, a card revelation with a miniature Etch-A-Sketch; only, instead of complicated handling, this uses special, but simple, wording. This whole routine, including credits and variations, runs just over one page, much like all the routines.This book is highly recommended.

"Bits and Bytes" by Dale Hildebrandt
In A Blink:9 Out of 10

Material: 10
This stuff is usable almost anywhere and anytime.

Quality: 9
Solid material, all workable (and one of which I have already done up and am using very effectively.)

Illustrations: n/a
There aren't any, nor are they needed.

Presentation: 10
Well put together and organized and, as a downloadable book, available right now.

Peter Marucci