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Like we always do around this time. Some holiday books for the puzzle person(s) in your life.
Top of the heap has to be “Matching Minds with Sondheim” by Barry Joseph. You probably wouldn’t expect BEQ to be promoting a book about a Broadway musical writer, but the reality is that Stephen Sondeim can lay a pretty solid claim that he help popularize the cryptic crossword in the States. Let me say that again for those in the back: Sondheim, the Broadway legend, helped popularize the British cryptic, in the States. He especially loved the Listener (an inscrutible variety cryptic that’s still going strong), and wrote his own versions of them for the New York magazine back in the day. Don’t believe me? print some out. This book covers that back story as well as other such wordy pursuits like scavenger hunts, board games, and other puzzle ephemera by Sondheim. It’s a really entertaining read, and yes, it has some puzzles that you can solve. Buy two.
Staying on the topic of cryptics, my man Liam Runnalls and his biz-ness partner Angas Tiernan are launching their Minute Cryptic book in the states later this month. (I’m sure there are independent bookstores who might have it on the shelf now, so …). Don’t know Minute Cryptic? Rectify that problem tout de suite by going here. Here’s the elevator pitch: daily cryptic clues, daily videos explaining how to untangle them. It’s the perfect gateway drug to the the Biz Quig’s puzzle of choice. Anyway, the book’s just like the site, only, you know on paper. Buy two of these as well.
The fun thing about these annual lists is that I get to mention books by friends, and lookee here, Natan Last just dropped “Across the Universe” a book about, what else?, The Beatles crosswords. Sure, it’s This Year’s Model of “where do things stand with regards to crosswords,” but Natan doesn’t disappoint. In fact, he leans into the more, shall we say, political side of puzzling. Becuase everything is political nowadays. Anyway, your boy is in there a couple two or three times. Although, my stomach did turn when Natan said my taste in music was “catholic.” Whatever, he’s a good egg and he’s written a good book. (Everybody, now) Buy two.
Two extremely good looking puzzle books for you. So good that you might be forgiven if you just want to look at them coffee table book-style. The New York Times anthology “Puzzle Mania” and Manuel Garand’s “Murdoku.” The former is a greatest hits collection from the annual Times Puzzle Mania supplement, of which, yours truly has contributed a handful of puzzles to. Only two of mine made the cut, but no matter. At it’s best, this book feels like a throw back to Games magazine in the ’80s/early ’90s. Quelle surprise as Will Shortz was involved with both of them. You know what I’m going to say, buy two. As for “Murdoku,” it’s a genuinely clever merging of sudoku variants and good old classic logic puzzles (with a murder mystery theme). Does it sound insane? Of course it is. Insane in a good way. But, if you’re like me, and find sudoku, and sudoku variants, fun (I’m talking things like these), then this book is for you. Francis Heaney and the mad scientists at Puzzlewright Press put it out, so you know it’s a good one. So get two of these as well.
Speaking of Francis Heaney, my man edited (and heck, wrote a bunch of) a book of “Squid Game” influenced puzzles. I loved that series. Like, truly, madly, deeply loved it. Did they fumble the plot at the goal line? That’s up for debate (hint: yes), but overall it captured my imaginiation. So if you’re like me, and buying a numbered green tracksuit or pink guard outfit is a step too far to show your fandom, why not consider this book? Buy at least two.
Let’s end with a few rapid-fire hits, shall we? For my money, the best daily 15x puzzle remains the Wall Street Journals, so get yourself an anthology of them. (I linked to the trickier ones. If you’re coming here, you like ’em spicy.) But if that’s a step too far, or you want to get that family member who likes ’em easy and breezy, “Jeopardy!” champ Paolo Pasco put out a book as did the punky and spunky Malaika Handa. Buy a couple and tell ’em Brendan sent ya.
As always, custom puzzles make great gifts. Get in touch sooner rather than later and we can give that special someone a gift of a lifetime.
Quick reminder that the end of the year drive is chugging along. The puzzles shall always remain free! Solve them guilt-free. However, please consider a couple throwing a couple of beans in the old tip jar if you’re in the spirit. Suggested donation of $20, please and thank you, through PayPal or Venmo preferred, but there’s always Zelle (to the email in the “get in touch” link coming up), checks, hell I’ll take crypto. Get in touch. Long form appeal is here.
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
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