Puzzling

As well as writing puzzles, I am also an editor and indexer (cos, let's face it, writing puzzles is no damn way to earn an income!). As an indexing exercise, I recently finished writing an index for the book Quirkology , by Richard Wiseman. An interesting book that suffers from the lack of an index. It's beyond me why authors of non-fiction pass up indexes for their books ... Anyway, that's a rant for another time. You are welcome to download the PDF of the index for free, and print it out. Then you can refer to it when reading your copy of the book! There are two versions of the file: A4 Quirkology Index This index is a straight forward layout, on A4 (will resize to US Letter easily), and you can print it either single or double-sided as you prefer. Staple them together. Booklet Quirkology Index This file has been designed to make a little booklet that can be slotted into the back of your copy of Quirkology . To use this file, you need to be...

So. Reversals. I bet you have already figured out how this cryptic wordplay works! Yes indeed, some letters or words are run backwards to help get to the answer. In English, some words are perfect reversals of each other - TIPS / SPIT, SERIF / FIRES, GUM / MUG, and KEEP / PEEK are just a few. These sorts of words are called anadromes . And you will know what palindromes are no doubt, those tricky words which read the same backwards and forwards! EVE, RADAR, TOT, and so on. In cryptic clues, either the whole answer word can be clued with a "perfect" reversal (eg WOLF reversing to give FLOW), or as is more common, (let's face it, not that many words form perfect anadromes), the reversal forms part of the wordplay, in combination with another device (especially charades ). They also have reversal indicator words, so you get some instruction on what to do. Here's an example of a "pure" reversal clue: Pam runs back to get a chart (3)  Pam  is th...

This is the Gemini Cryptic from Friday 31 August's Canberra Times . And what a freezing cold snowy day it was! Best to be curled up inside with a hot cup of something and a nice cryptic to work out. As usual, the definition is underlined, except in double definition and cryptic definition clues. ACROSS 1. Has second thoughts about a hundred workers (7) = RECANTS Charade. About  = RE + a = A + hundred = C + workers  = ANTS 5. Approaches a listener in two directions (5) = NEARS A container clue. A listener = EAR, put in two directions (North and South) > N(EAR)S 8. Dead Roman exchanged for wife of Perseus (9) = ANDROMEDA An anagram ( exchanged ) of dead Roman. 9. Left with a thousand to beat (3) = LAM Charade. Left =  L + a = A + thousand = M 10. They take turns on and off (4) = TAPS Cryptic definition. Taps turn, and turn on and off ... 12. Plant it in haste (8) = CELERITY Container. Put it in a plant (CELERY) - CELER(IT)Y 14. Di...

On Friday 31 August I was interviewed by Louise Maher on ABC 666 Canberra's Drive program, for their "Lesson 101" slot. You can read about and hear the interview here.