The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Josh Zandman

Effect

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is part of Josh Zandman's Universal Monsters book test series. To the audience, it appears as a standard book. A spectator freely chooses any page, and the magician instantly knows the first word, last word, or even a specific word the spectator is thinking of on that page. The magician can reveal this information without looking at the book, even from across the room. Multiple spectators can participate, with the magician revealing words or mental images for each one.

Full Details

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a gimmicked book that works alongside Frankenstein and Dracula from the same series. All three books function together, allowing routines where one book reveals information from another. The system requires minimal memorization, as the books provide the necessary information to the performer.

Key methods included:

• Multi-Book Flashback: Knowing a sentence in one book based on a page selection in another.
• Super Flashback: Instantly revealing the first word on any chosen page.
• Reverse Book Test: Identifying a word in one book when a spectator stops at a page in another.
• Tossed Out Book Test: Multiple spectators choose pages, and the magician reveals their words.
• Pegasus Page: A missing page effect where a spectator’s chosen page physically vanishes from the book.

The books are lightly examinable—they appear normal at a glance but do not read coherently cover to cover. They can also be combined with ungimmicked books for expanded routines.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick suits magicians who perform mentalism or book tests. It is ideal for those who want a versatile, self-working system with multiple performance options. Since it requires little memorization, it is accessible to beginners but offers depth for advanced performers. Those who enjoy interactive, multi-spectator routines will find it particularly useful.

Information on How Difficult It Is to Perform

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is designed for ease of use. Most methods are self-working, requiring no complex sleight of hand. Performers only need to understand the book’s gimmick and follow the provided instructions. Michael O'Brien notes that even knowing just five words can enhance the performance, but memorization is optional. The system is built so that the books do the work for the magician.

What Magicians Say

Michael O'Brien praises the series for its versatility, stating, "You can have an entire 30-minute mind-reading session with just these books." He highlights the ability to perform for multiple spectators simultaneously, calling the tossed-out book test a "visual spectacle." Regarding difficulty, he says, "You don’t have to memorize anything... the books tell you everything you need to know."

He also emphasizes the realism of the gimmick, noting that while the books are not fully examinable, they pass casual inspection: "At a glance, they look like completely ordinary books." His strongest recommendation is to acquire the full series for maximum flexibility in performance.