"Hatching" by Nefesch
Suggested Retail USD$25.00 (ebook available for USD$22.00)
Available from Leaping Lizards Magic
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Hatching", a book and an ebook by Nefesch, is one of those once-in-a-great-while pieces of stunningly visual magic that will drop jaws every time it gets shown.

The effect is simple: an egg is shown and marked, as is a borrowed coin. As visually as you can get, the coin slowly penetrates the egg, apparently going into the egg. A small hole is made in the egg and the coin is seen inside the egg. The spectator can then reach into the egg themselves, using their fingers, tweezers, or the like and retrieve the coin. There's no doubt the coin was truly inside the egg and it really is their coin.

And that description doesn't do this one justice. Take a look at the demo video and you'll probably be as blown away as I was.

Talking about some of the details of "Hatching" is a little tricky. Not that exposure is the problem, but Nefesch did an exemplary job of exploring different methods and handlings based on your personal preferences and performing conditions. Specifics therefore depend on which version you end up doing. For the most part, though, angles are slight, the egg can be examined ("borrowed", if you will), there is no switching of coins, and the effect can be done with other objects (finger rings, playing cards, bills... pretty much anything small enough to fit into an egg).

If there's any part of this which will send performer-types packing it's the set-up. I have to admit, I've a bit experienced when it comes to what Nefesch's basic idea is but it still instilled more than a little distaste. Oh, it's just us so I'll admit it: it intimidated me to no end. After three tries, I was more than ready to give up. On the fourth attempt it all came together. Now I'm whipping these things out in usually five minutes. I bring this up because there's no way you should disregard this one just because the set-up looks scary; it really isn't. I'd rather make Nefesch's gimmicks than rewind a thread reel any day.

But if you see what you have to do and still feel a twinge of discomfort, Nefesch, in an effort to please, even throws in a version done fairly impromptu that doesn't require the gimmick but still looks pretty good in its own right.

"Hatching" is my first exposure to Nefesch's work and I'm crazy about it all the way around. It's a devilish idea, with a slick handling, and with a lot of thought given to how to explain it. That last really won me over; Nefesch goes the extra mile here to make sure that there's some flavor of his thinking you'll enjoy and use.

"Use" being the operative word.

If you're looking for an absolutely impossible visual penetration of something into an egg, you don't have to look any further. This is as good as it gets and you'll be using it every chance you get. Me, I wasn't looking for such a thing but, being armed with it now, "Hatching" is one of those things I do way more often than I'd have thought.

"Hatching" is one great piece of work. Period.

"Hatching" by Nefesch
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Material: 9
The set-up looks intimidating -- moreso than it actually is -- but the visuals more than make up for headache. This is one of those things that just looks too incredible. The working is fairly easy, though you'll have to play with things a bit before you feel comfortable with it. In the end, this takes some work but is truly very good looking magic.

Quality: 10
The book is exceedingly well written and all the angles covered (no pun intended). Nefesch even includes a more impromptu handling for those wanting to get to the effect without dealing with the gimmick. An excellent job.

Illustrations: 10
Photos. Tons of photos. More photos than you could ask for. And all of them well-placed. They do wonders for learning the set-up and the handling of "Hatching".

Presentation: 10
The presentation is about as narrative as it gets, but it's all about the visuals here and they look, well, impressive would be an understatement. This is brilliant work.

Shane