HOW TO COOK LITTLE FISH
(3)
A hundred New Zealand Listener Cryptic
Crossword puzzles
with answers and explanations
Have you ever marvelled at that rare breed of
person who can decipher the frustrating riddles which pose as clues in cryptic
crosswords? And perhaps harboured a secret desire to join their ranks?
A new book to be released in October will
take (the worst of) the pain out of this beguilingly pleasurable leisure
activity.
How to Cook Little Fish
(3)
takes an innovative approach to the usual cryptic crossword collection. Rather
than merely presenting puzzles and solutions, author and the NZ Listener’s
cryptic crossword compiler David Tossman provides, at the back of the
book, a plain-language explanation of every one of its 2935 clues.
My mission” says David Tossman, “is to
provide a relatively gentle puzzle and one without the strictly British
references found in most of the newspaper cryptics reprinted here.”
“I am also keen to introduce new people to
the delights of cryptics. They're not necessarily as hard or mysterious as the
word cryptic implies but they are far more entertaining and amusing than any
straight crossword can be.”
Yes reader, How to Cook Little Fish (3)
is the long awaited book which offers novices keen to crack the cream of
crossword puzzles, a way to do so. It also helps experienced solvers who, while
they might arrive at an answer from vague ideas and cross-checked letters, are
sometimes stumped as to how the setter meant them to get there. “I think even regular solvers of Listener crosswords will find renewed
value and entertainment in this book,” says David Tossman.
The book's title, How to Cook Little
Fish (3) is itself one of the most elementary yet sometimes
baffling sorts of cryptic clues: a double definition. (The number of letters in
the answer is always given in brackets at the end of a cryptic clue.)
A brief introduction gives learners an
insight into some of the most common devices used in cryptic clues,
particularly the “indicators” that tell the experienced solver whether they're
looking at an anagram, a hidden word, a word-within-a-word, perhaps a homophone
(i.e. a pun) or a charade.
Although
previously published, all the clues in this book have been rechecked and many
have been revised and improved.
About the Author
David Tossman has been setting crosswords for
the Listener since 1997 when he took over from RWH who had been setting the
puzzle for 57 years. When not setting crosswords he works as a trade magazine
editor and designs websites. He lives in Wellington "for the climate – the
social climate."
His previous books are the bestselling Curious Crosswords (with Max Cryer) and More Curious
Crosswords, both published by HarperCollins.
RRP $29.99
ISBN 0473324415
How to Cook Little Fish (3) is distributed by David Bateman Ltd
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