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Blaine’s Challenge!
———— —— —— —— —— — —— —— — —— —— — ——— —— ————
A never-before-attempted challenge to readers everywhere!
WIN $100,000.00
Hidden throughout the volume now in front of you are secret little signals, clues, and codes that,
once understood and deciphered, will lead to the discovery of a Treasure!!
Which has been hidden somewhere within the confines of the continental United States of America.
Where is it? Who Will find it?
We Can’t Say!
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This challenge has been created and sponsored by the world’s greatest mystifier . . .
DAVID BLAINE who was Buried Alive For Seven Days and Seven Nights.
The one and same who became the world’s ONLY LIVING ICE CUBE in world-famous Times Square and who . . .
stood as still as a statue
10 stories above Manhattan only to leap to his life below.
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The book in your hands now Reveals Some of David Blaine’s most closely guarded SECRETS. Such as WHO IS HE?
WHERE DID HE COME FROM?
HOW DOES HE DO IT?
The reader will also LEARN a multitude of inside SECRETS with which he or she too can mystify anyone.
THE MYSTERIOUS MR. BLAINE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY WILL READ YOUR THOUGHTS THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD
“A latter-day Houdini.” —The New York Times
“The hottest name in magic.”— USA Today
HIS SECRETS WILL BECOME YOURS
——————————————————————————————
For those who believe, no explanation is necessary.
For those who do not, none will suffice.
–Dunninger
CHAPTER I For Those Who Be
In the 1850s in the North African country of Algeria, a group of Muslim miracle men called the Marabouts were stirring up a revolt among the native tribes, encouraging them to sever their ties to France. The Marabouts accomplished this by doing simple pieces of magic that would whip the local tribesmen into a frenzy, convincing them that they possessed supernatural powers. To preserve order in their colony, the French government didn’t send troops to Algeria. They sent a retired magician named Robert-Houdin.
Robert-Houdin traveled around Algeria performing miracles. He produced cannonballs from a hat and money from his fingertips. He made a young native disappear. But he faced his most difficult challenge when he visited a small tribe in the desert. A Marabout sheikh who had heard of his previous feats pulled two guns from his robes and challenged him to a duel. Since Robert-Houdin claimed to be invincible, the Marabout would have the right to the first shot. Thinking on his feet, the French magician postponed the duel until eight o’clock the next morning, claiming that he needed six hours of prayer to refresh his powers.
He didn’t pray. He spent two hours preparing for this challenge and then fell asleep. The next morning, he met the Marabout and his entourage in the village square. The street was swarming with Algerians who hoped to see the Frenchman killed. The Marabout produced the guns and loaded them with powder. Then he offered Robert-Houdin a choice of bullets. The magician chose two bullets and, under the watchful eye of his adversary, loaded the guns.
The Frenchman walked fifteen paces from the sheikh and turned to face him without displaying the slightest emotion. The Marabout took careful aim, and pulled the trigger. The pistol fired, and Robert-Houdin smiled. He had caught the bullet between his teeth.
Robert-Houdin then lifted his gun and, instead of pointing it at the frightened Marabout, fired the pistol at one of the buildings on the square. Whitewash flew, and where the bullet had struck, a large patch of blood suddenly appeared and dripped down the masonry.
The Marabout rushed to the wall, dipped his finger in the red substance, and tasted it. It was blood all right. His arms fell to his sides, and his head bowed. The spectators in the square raised their eyes to the heavens and began muttering prayers. Convinced that the French sorcerer had powers far beyond their own, the Algerians lost faith in the Marabouts, and the uprising began to cease.
Over a hundred years later, a Russian magician was performing onstage as part of a circus. His wife, who was wearing a beautiful fur coat, stood next to him. The magician took out a gun and aimed it at his wife. The gun discharged, and her coat disintegrated into pieces. As each piece hit the ground, it turned into a living mink. Hundreds of frightened minks started running all over the stage.
In 1937 a magician named Rajah Raboid, whose real name was Ray Boyd, was performing in Maine. He chose a random woman from his audience to come to the stage. When she realized that she was to be sawed in half, she refused. Then Raboid found two willing male volunteers and brought them onstage. He told the audience that he was going to perform the classic Sawing a Woman in Half illusion, but this time he would use one of the male volunteers in place of a woman. Then he hypnotized one of the men. A box was rolled onstage. Two assistants helped lift the hypnotized volunteer into the receptacle. The doors of the box were closed, and Raboid began to saw the box containing the man in half.
Suddenly the other volunteer objected. “If you’re gonna cut him in half, why do you need a box? It must be a trick box,” he scoffed. Indignant, Raboid called for his assistants, and they began dismantling the box. All four sides were removed, so that the man was completely visible as he lay on a thin wooden plank.
Raboid got to work. Slowly and methodically, in full view of the audience, he sawed right through the man’s body. What happened next was magic at its best. The lower part of the now-severed man’s torso rolled off the plank and scurried offstage. The hapless volunteer looked down and realized that the bottom half of his body was missing. “My legs! My legs!” he screamed. “Where are my legs?” With that, the half-man hopped off the plank, landed on his hands, and slowly waddled toward the audience.
Pandemonium broke out.
For those who believe, no explanation
is necessary.
For those who do not, none will suffice.
–Dunninger
CHAPTER I
For Those Who Be
In the 1850s in the North African country of Algeria, a group of Muslim miracle men called the Marabouts were stirring up a revolt among the native tribes, encouraging them to sever their ties to France. The Marabouts accomplished this by doing simple pieces of magic that would whip the local tribesmen into a frenzy, convincing them that they possessed supernatural powers. To preserve order in their colony, the French government didn’t send troops to Algeria. They sent a retired magician named Robert-Houdin.
Robert-Houdin traveled around Algeria performing miracles. He produced cannonballs from a hat and money from his fingertips. He made a young native disappear. But he faced his most difficult challenge when he visited a small tribe in the desert. A Marabout sheikh who had heard of his previous feats pulled two guns from his robes and challenged him to a duel. Since Robert-Houdin claimed to be invincible, the Marabout would have the right to the first shot. Thinking on his feet, the French magician postponed the duel until eight o’clock the next morning, claiming that he needed six hours of prayer to refresh his powers.
He didn’t pray. He spent two hours preparing for this challenge and then fell asleep. The next morning, he met the Marabout and his entourage in the village square. The street was swarming with Algerians who hoped to see the Frenchman killed. The Marabout produced the guns and loaded them with powder. Then he offered Robert-Houdin a choice of bullets. Themagician chose two bullets and, under the watchful eye of his adversary, loaded the guns.
The Frenchman walked fifteen paces from the sheikh and turned to face him without displaying the slightest emotion. The Marabout took careful aim, and pulled the trigger. The pistol fired, and Robert-Houdin smiled. He had caught the bullet between his teeth.
Robert-Houdin then lifted his gun and, instead of pointing it at the frightened Marabout, fired the pistol at one of the buildings on the square. Whitewash flew, and where the bullet had struck, a large patch of blood suddenly appeared and dripped down the masonry.
The Marabout rushed to the wall, dipped his finger in the red substance, and tasted it. It was blood all right. His arms fell to his sides, and his head bowed. The spectators in the square raised their eyes to the heavens and began muttering prayers. Convinced that the French sorcerer had powers far beyond their own, the Algerians lost faith in the Marabouts, and the uprising began to cease.
Over a hundred years later, a Russian magician was performing onstage as part of a circus. His wife, who was wearing a beautiful fur coat, stood next to him. The magician took out a gun and aimed it at his wife. The gun discharged, and her coat disintegrated into pieces. As each piece hit the ground, it turned into a living mink. Hundreds of frightened minks started running all over the stage.
In 1937 a magician named Rajah Raboid, whose real name was Ray Boyd, was performing in Maine. He chose a random woman from his audience to come to the stage. When she realized that she was to be sawed in half, she refused. Then Raboid found two willing male volunteers and brought them onstage. He told the audience that he was going to perform the classic Sawing a Woman in Half illusion, but this time he would use one of the male volunteers in place of a woman. Then he hypnotized one of the men. A box was rolled onstage. Two assistants helped lift the hypnotized volunteer into the receptacle. The doors of the box were closed, and Raboid began to saw the box containing the man in half.
Suddenly the other volunteer objected. “If you’re gonna cut him in half, why do you need a box? It must be a trick box,” he scoffed. Indignant, Raboid called for his assistants, and they began dismantling the box. All four sides were removed, so that the man was completely visible as he lay on a thin wooden plank.
Raboid got to work. Slowly and methodically, in full view of the audience, he sawed right through the man’s body. What happened next was magic at its best. The lower part of the now-severed man’s torso rolled off the plank and scurried offstage. The hapless volunteer looked down and realized that the bottom half of his body was missing. “My legs! My legs!” he screamed. “Where are my legs?” With that, the half-man hopped off the plank, landed on his hands, and slowly waddled toward the audience.
Pandemonium broke out.
Anonymous
Posted November 12, 2002
I started reading Blaine's book because I wanted to win the money. But I finished reading it because I really enjoyed the material. It was an intriguing look at Blane, a brief history of magic, and it contained information on several famous magicians. The subjects covered were interesting and I learned some things about the art that I haven't read before. I also found it interesting to "go inside Blane's head". He shared a lot of information about the stunts that he has performed and explains his motivation and determination to make it as a successful performer. I talked with a friend who also read the book and we agree that the text (or certian parts of it) were Ghost Written (ie written by someone other than Blaine). There were some poor transitions and obvious changes in writing style. Also certain parts of the "magic history" section seemed to be lifted from other texts. But on a brighter note, this is my only criticism of the book. I greatly enjoyed reading it, and would reccomend it to others.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 21, 2007
This is truly a great literary work. Our whole family has enjoyed reading it, and we have learned numerous card tricks that no one we show them to can really figure out. He is truly an intelligent person and a great author.He is open to all religious beliefs and to so many differing ideas and points of view. I hope that he will avoid the escapes that break himself down mentally and physically as he truly has so much more to offer the world both in the field of magic and in life.
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Posted August 1, 2005
amazing ive read it hundreds of times. vewry good and you get to learn magic
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 1, 2003
By far, this was the worst book on the subject of magic I have ever seen. It should not have been published or at least it should have told the truth, this is a book from a no talent, ego maniac. Give me Copperfield or Herbert Becker any day. This is not a magic book, it is pure junk and fiction.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 15, 2002
I finished this book in a little over 24 hours! I couldn't put it down. This VERY intriguing young man will wrap your thoughts and imaginations in a straight jacket and you won't be able to get out of it. He'll take you into his unigue magical mind and tell you of his reasons and his desires for doing his brand of magic. You'll also learn some of the "tricks" of his trade that could have you soon standing on a street corner pulling people in with your own wonderous feats of sleight of hand. This very attractive package of a book hits most of the important people in magic history as well as telling us about David Blaines own history from his own point of view. But that's not all! Inside of this book, David gives us clues to a $100,000.00 treasure that is hidden somewhere in the United States of America. This book alone is a TREASURE that any magic buff or fan of David Blaine will have to have in his or her library. DON'T MISS THE TREASURE OR THE MAGIC!!
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Posted November 17, 2002
This book offers something for everyone. Even if you are unfamiliar with the author's accomplishments as a magician and stunt artist, you will still be intrigued and entertained by Mysterious Stranger. The book takes you on a tour of the world through David's eyes by making you feel like you're reading his personal journal as he recounts his experiences abroad and gives behind the scenes details about his stunts. The book includes some secrets behind his illusions and step by step instructions so you can mystify your friends. It also includes information about historical magicians and how they influence magic today. The book introduces you to so many ideas, cultures, books, pictures, and people that will arouse your curiosity and send you on a quest to learn more about the world around you. I highly recommend this book.
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Posted November 12, 2002
hey this book was great i read it fom begining to end. i liked how it went into different things. i am a believer and i think that he is amazing and tha this should win something. every one should read this book and know that luil more about the man they call d.b david blaine
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Overview
Blaine’s Challenge!
———— —— —— —— —— — —— —— — —— —— — ——— —— ————
A never-before-attempted challenge to readers everywhere!
WIN $100,000.00
Hidden throughout the ...