For 40 years, this has been Max Maven's legendary reputation-maker. Today, it's available for the first time ever.

Max Maven has created more usable magic than any other magician alive. His offerings are strong, direct and leave the participants speechless. This effect is no different in that respect. Strong, direct and the typical Max Maven experience.

"WTF... how!!" - Banachek

"Pocket Nightmare is a dream effect with a typically beautiful Max Maven construction and a perfect presentation for a killer effect." - R. Paul Wilson

"I have known Max most of our professional careers and I have never known anything he has done to be less than superb. As Max explains, Pocket Nightmare is actually about 40 years old. Both the presentation and secret of Pocket Nightmare made me smile at the typical Max cleverness and framework. This is a totally entertaining routine, incredibly clean, with a surprise ending that is astonishing beyond belief! There are no “moves” in this effect where a peeked at card instantly vanishes from the deck and reappears in your pocket. Did I mention you perform the routine one-handed!

Not only do you get Max’s brilliant performance, but the gimmick is professionally produced and is such that no one could ever suspect the working. Max’s explanation is exhaustive with the history of the effect, the detailed handling and what to do in every situation. There is nothing left to chance. Best of all, you can do this wonderful routine without any finger gymnastics or difficult sleights. If you can spread a deck, Pocket Nightmare is within your realm of skill.

I am not recommending this because Max is a friend, but rather because Max is, and always has been a force of nature in the world of magic and this effect is totally Maxian! Get this today!" - Richard Osterlind

"I've been waiting since the mid 90’s for Max to release this gem! Extremely well thought out and will be going directly into my act!" - Chris Korn

To say Max Maven is one of the most influential persons in the history of mentalism is to call water wet, the earth round, and time inevitable. This effect alone is a testament to his power. Pocket Nightmare was originally performed at the 1985 FISM in Madrid. It has often been imitated but never duplicated. Now for the first time, the complete instruction and gimmicks are available to you.

Here’s what happens:

The performer informs the audience that they will perform an effect with only one hand so as to make sure that everyone knows that sleight of hand is impossible. The other hand is placed in their pocket. The spectator peeks at a card in the deck. The magician then is able to divine the card that the spectator is only thinking of. The deck is then given to the spectator who is invited to search the deck for their card only to discover that it has completely vanished. The magician said they would do the trick with only one hand, but they did not specify which hand. The magician removes their other hand from the pocket holding the vanished card.

Taught in detail by Max Maven, including a complete history of the effect, Pocket Nightmare is ready to go right out of the box. This effect is devastating to an audience, especially because the gimmicks do all the work for you while hiding in plain sight. This is powerful magic from a legendary creator. Pocket Nightmare is nothing less than a thing of terrifying beauty.