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Joshua Jay's The Particle System

Erudite Magic

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Joshua Jay's Particle System book is the latest magic book released by Vanishing Inc, and it's all about memorized deck magic. This is a big step-change for memorized deck magic books, from boring and derivative to dynamic and exciting. These are my full thoughts about this book, both the standard and deluxe edition.

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⏳ Timestamps:
0:00 - Overview
0:39 - A warning
1:05 - Options available
1:30 - Particle Pack
1:56 - Deluxe edition overview
2:44 - Included with every edition
3:14 - Don's Magic & Books
4:09 - One of my favorite things
5:02 - The descriptions are phenomenal
6:19 - The stack is easy to learn
7:05 - Built in features
7:52 - The System vs. the Stack
8:29 - Adding the system to your stack
9:27 - Deeper dive into tricks
10:42 - The plots
11:42 - Not only tricks and sets
12:47 - Some cons
14:37 - Target audience
15:25 - Value proposition
16:06 - The Deluxe Edition
17:27 - Deluxe value prop
18:15 - Conclusion

20 Comments

@EruditeMagic Creator 1 year ago Pinned

📰 Can't get enough Erudite Magic on Sundays? Join my Newsletter and be part of the conversation as often as you'd like: https://eruditemagic.substack.com

@DamageIncBHS 2 months ago

Reporting back in after the better part of 2 years since switching to this stack and system. I have 0 regrets. As someone who started with Mnemonica and then switched to Redford, those stacks are better for any routine that requires you to be able to show the deck as shuffled, but otherwise, Particle System is what's in my pocket at all times. It's so practical and the tricks are so good for laymen in casual, walkaround, AND formal presentations. Josh really killed it. Between the book and the videos and the whole package here, this is probably the best single $100 purchase I've ever made in magic, and it's not even close. I leave this comment this far later because I wanted to really get a chance to test this system on real people for a while before judging it. It's pretty hard to beat this system that Josh created for real world card work.

@yyomandude 1 year ago

I'm a lifetime customer of Don’s Magic and Books. Don’s the best and so honest!

@SeanDevine 1 year ago

Great review, Jeff! I was already going to buy this. But now I’m twice as excited about it.

@kalvheps5973 1 year ago

I think this is actually a game changer for mem deck work.I am not a mem deck person but I think this really does need investigating and given a thoroughly good test drive.I am really excited about this project and I think as you say,it could be the standard go to,to learn mem deck work.I am definitely getting it.Its a no brainer.Looks gorgeous and I’m sure if the work is put in its going to deliver some miraculous routines.Wonderful and refreshing new material.Nice one Jeff.Thanks.

@dancee7692 1 year ago

Great review! I bought the book and read a lot of the ebook and watched many of the videos. It is Outstanding!

@rogergrant8865 1 year ago

A belated Hi from Nebraska. Another great review. Thanks for taking the time to do all these reviews now and in the past.

@stevenmills3507 1 year ago

This is a dynamite release. I am at the advanced age where I seldom add to my library. I’ve become pretty darn cranky about the products I purchase. VI is the only magic company that I’m willing to buy from sight unseen. To date, they have never mailed it in. There’s 4 hours of instruction in addition to shows and, of course, the book. It was a no brainer for me with the ebook included for Black Friday. I feel this s destined to be a true classic. Something I rarely feel.

@rickmckeithan651 1 year ago

I'm on vacation in Singapore from Colorado and waited until the wee hours of the morning for this to drop so I could order right away. I was really pleasantly surprised to get the PDF version included for free. It's great!

I was hoping the deluxe edition would be in my price range but couldn't justify an extra $150. I agree with your review.

@thegreglong 4 days ago

Ready to get into memdecks- was considering Mnemonica or Aronson stack. After this review, I think I'm going with Particle.

@pwcinla 1 year ago

Ugh, I have just nailed Mnemonica after months of practice and now there's a New Stack in Town? Having said that, this looks gorgeous and extremely tempting, especially for the effects that are not stack dependent. Adding to wishlist now!

@MagicWithAndy 1 year ago

Great review! Thanks Jeff.

@endgame64 1 year ago

As a long time fan of Joshua Jay, it was a no-brainer to opt for the deluxe edition. Thanks for the insights on the value his work on memdeck routines. Now I just need to forget everything I learned on previous memdeck methods.

@starg8sean 1 year ago

Thanks for the review!

@michaelkorabek1676 1 year ago

Thanks for the review. Definitely looking to get this book, I like all the little add ons included like video performances, a program to help you learn the stack and a marked deck. Great value in my opinion.

@MacMediaEnt 1 year ago

Collectors Edition is beautiful and totally worth it for me as a collector of fine books and unique packaging

@duanedow1261 1 year ago

Ordered it yesterday. Started with the first ten cards and have them down pretty well already. Looks great!!

@ThemagicofEd 1 year ago

After watching the Monday lecture and Josh's part on the particle system and then your review. I have to say I'm leaning toward making that purchase. I do not have a mem deck other than stebbins. So this might be what I need

@ZackFoster3829 1 year ago

Well, looks like I will be getting myself another book on Mem Deck work. Not sure if I would consider my interest in the Mem Deck an obsession or an addiction. And Jeff, if you ever need more Mem/Stack Deck ideas (as if you don’t have enough material already lol), I’ve collected 400+ pages worth of some personal Mem Deck Work I’ve created over the years. You never know when you need that spark of creativity.

@georgeyounts9391 1 year ago

Great Review but for my audience I got enough card magic. But thanks cause it is always good to know what is going on in the many rooms in the house of magic :)