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Post by dmikester on Feb 12, 2019 13:48:36 GMT -5
unbound.com/books/cains-jawbone/This looks both fascinating and extremely intimidating. A reprinting of an epic puzzle from Edward Powys Mathers, the crossword writer of The Observer from 1926-1939. From the description of the book: In 1934, The Observer’s crossword writer, Edward Powys Mathers, wrote a unique novel Cain’s Jawbone. The title, referring to the first recorded murder weapon, was written under his pen name Torquemada. The story was not only a murder mystery but one of the hardest and most beguiling word puzzles ever published. The 100 pages of the book were printed and bound out of order and the reader was invited to re-order the pages, solve the mysteries and reveal the murderer(s). There were over 32 million possible combinations of pages but only one order was correct. The puzzle was extremely difficult and was only solved by two puzzlers whose names were revealed in The Observer - but the solution to the problem remained a secret. To share the complexities, red-herrings and literary adventures hidden in the puzzle, Unbound are republishing the book in a custom-made box so that readers can physically reorder the pages for themselves and then get down to identifying the characters behind the fiendish crimes.
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gchu
Adjunct
Posts: 21
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Post by gchu on Feb 14, 2019 13:09:42 GMT -5
This looks so tempting to purchase. The publisher is also giving out $1000 to the first person to solve it.
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gchu
Adjunct
Posts: 21
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Post by gchu on Feb 14, 2019 14:54:25 GMT -5
I decided to back this book since it's hard to find a used copy or a library copy of the original book. I found a discount code for 10% off only for today - love10.
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Post by dmikester on Feb 14, 2019 15:53:44 GMT -5
Awesome! Yeah, I'm really tempted to try it out. I have a feeling that in addition to the general challenge of something like this that it will also be extremely difficult because of the time period that it was written in. There may be a lot of archaic references that are important to the solve that could go way over my head, not to mention a lot of cultural references that I'll miss. Still, it seems like a wild and unique experience that would be a shame to miss out on.
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Post by minamurray on Feb 14, 2019 21:17:09 GMT -5
The discount code decided me. I'm in!
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Post by VPPlayer on May 12, 2019 16:45:45 GMT -5
Ordered as well. Unbound website is projecting Sep 2019 publication.
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Post by minamurray on Sept 7, 2019 8:50:16 GMT -5
My copy arrived yesterday. It's going to be, um, challenging. to say the least.
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Post by phraca on Sept 7, 2019 12:25:55 GMT -5
It looks like it is sold out on unbound.com, but it is available for pre-order on amazon for US$25 and on Wordery for US$18. I just ordered from Wordery. Says it will be shipped on 9/19/19.
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gchu
Adjunct
Posts: 21
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Post by gchu on Sept 8, 2019 1:42:03 GMT -5
I got mine two days ago and I have to say it's going to be challenging because you have no idea what to look for. The way it's written is like reading a stream of consciousness, with random literary references thrown in.
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Post by minamurray on Sept 8, 2019 7:50:30 GMT -5
I got mine two days ago and I have to say it's going to be challenging because you have no idea what to look for. The way it's written is like reading a stream of consciousness, with random literary references thrown in. Exactly! Almost an page could follow any other page and still make sense (as much as this story makes any sense at all).
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Post by phraca on Sept 29, 2019 10:02:03 GMT -5
Curious if anyone is actively working on this? I have started and find it fascinating. It seems less intimidating the more I work on it.
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Post by minamurray on Sept 29, 2019 22:05:09 GMT -5
I've started but had to set it aside for the moment.
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Post by dmikester on Sept 29, 2019 22:42:48 GMT -5
I’ll finally be getting to this next month. I’ve been away from my house for months but am now finally moved back in and ready to tackle this along with I think three Kickstarters that also arrived.
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Post by Todd on Nov 7, 2020 16:58:37 GMT -5
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Post by thegingerbarrister on Jan 10, 2023 13:00:16 GMT -5
I just got my copy in the post. Any suggestions for a first step on this monstrosity?
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