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Boatman - The Second 50 Ashley Knowles

Boatman - The Second 50 By Ashley Knowles

Boatman - The Second 50 by Ashley Knowles


$32.39
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<30 in stock

Summary

Fiendish and inimitable, Boatman is widely regarded as one of the UK's most challenging and innovative cryptic crossword compilers. This collection contains 55 themed puzzles from the Guardian and the stories behind them, as Boatman reveals in his own words how each puzzle came about, from initial idea to final construction.

Boatman - The Second 50 Summary

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

Boatman is back with fifty more puzzles from the Guardian and an additional five bonus puzzles previously only available online, including the notorious Referendum Day puzzle that was able to predict the result of 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 'newspapers' are ever the same. That's his thing. Don't be dizzied by it. Dance with it. Enjoy. Then enjoy again as you get the insight from the commentaries that follow. Mine's white with no sugar. Ta.

Boatman - The Second 50 Reviews

Boatman reached his century of Guardian puzzles in 2023 and is still on flow with his distinctive puzzles and instructive explanations of how his cruciverbalist mind works - Hugh Stephenson, Guardian Crossword Editor; Giddying stuff, merrily exceeding the sum of its parts ... Time with Boatman's puzzles is time perfectly spent - Alan Connor, BBC2 quiz question editor and Guardian crossword columnist; A Boatman crossword is like a theme park. Each daunting line is a rollercoaster that makes you throw your hands up and scream. He scares you witless. But you can't wait to do it all over again - Henry Morris; I always feel a little bit smarter after I finish a Boatman puzzle, at least until I start the next one - Tim Dowling; Oh good, another 50 agonisingly frustrating train journeys - Jack Dee; Cracking crosswords ... each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul - Brian Bilston - If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best ... which means you want Boatman, because he is the best - Gyles Brandreth

About Ashley Knowles

Boatman began compiling crosswords for his own amusement in 1999: his first puzzle was about Mrs B's dog. Pieces for 1 Across magazine followed in 2001, then unwavering support from Tom Johnson at 1 Across and persistent badgering of crossword editor Hugh Stephenson led to Boatman's first crossword for the Guardian, which appeared in October 2008. He reached his century of Guardian puzzles 15 years later. Having lived literally on the sea in Brighton Marina, Boatman can now be found on the other side of the Downs in the creative village of Ditchling, with his artist wife and uncountable squirrels and other wildlife. Having outgrown the commuting life, he is now free to divide his time between music, charity work and crosswords.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Dave Gorman; Introduction; Puzzles; Solutions; Thanks; About Boatman

Additional information

NGR9780995608214
9780995608214
0995608210
Boatman - The Second 50: More Crosswords from the Guardian and the Stories Behind Them by Ashley Knowles
New
Paperback
Boatman Cryptics
2023-09-01
248
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a new book - be the first to read this copy. With untouched pages and a perfect binding, your brand new copy is ready to be opened for the first time

Customer Reviews - Boatman - The Second 50