Boatman - The Second 50: More Crosswords from the Guardian and the Stories Behind Them

The book "The Boatman: 50 More Puzzles from the Guardian" is a collection of puzzles from the Guardian newspaper, including five bonus puzzles previously only available online. The puzzles are designed by Dave Gorman, one of Britain's most challenging and innovative crossword compilers. The book offers insight into Gorman's thought process and the story behind the development of each puzzle, including talk of crosswords, coincidences, politics, and particle physics. Solvers are encouraged to relax, defocus, and enjoy the puzzles, which are best served with a cup of tea.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2023
Publisher: Boatman Cryptics

Boatman returns with fifty more puzzles from the Guardian, including the notorious Referendum Day puzzle that predicted the UK's vote over its membership of the European Union with complete confidence. Get inside the mind of one of Britain's most challenging and innovative crossword compilers, as he tells the story behind the development of each puzzle: how he thought of the theme, the ideas that didn't make it into print, and the odd connections that emerged afterwards. Expect talk of crosswords and coincidences, politics and particle physics. Solve extra clues and hear from solvers who enjoyed the puzzles when they were first published.

Dave Gorman writes: "Put the kettle on. That's my advice. Boatman's puzzles are best served with a cup of tea. If a crossword is painting pictures with words, then every setter has his or her own style. Some create clues that remind me of a Heath Robinson cartoon, full of intricate detail and connections, while others bring to mind the simple brush strokes of an Al Hirschfeld caricature, where there can be almost nothing on the page and yet, somehow, Liza Minelli's face is staring back at you. Boatman's puzzles are Magic Eye posters. You stare at them for a while and then suddenly something three-dimensional pops out as your eyes defocus. When you first scan through a puzzle, a theme may be apparent. Words will be repeated. Newspaper, newspaper, newspaper, Guardian, red-top, newspaper, newspaper, Independent. It may make you feel dizzy. So put the kettle on. Make that cup of tea. Relax. Defocus. He's a devious sod and he enjoys going back to the same source and coming back with something different. And you know that it will always be different. No two puzzles are the same."

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 137 x 216 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780995608214