80 Years of Gardner Magic

The magician and historiam Max Maven poignantly eulogized Martin Gardner in his article In Memoriam in the July 2010 issue of GENII magazine. Commenting on the diverse interests of Gardner in non-fiction, puzzles, recreational mathematics, philosophy, games, skepticism, word play and magic, Maven noted: So far as is known, the final Gardner publication during his lifetime was a magic trick that he contributed to the May 2010 issue of Word Ways, a quarterly journal with a small but fervent readership. I will mention, without humility, that the trick was based on one of mine -- which in turn was based on one of Martin\u27s

Flying Saucer

Jeremiah\u27s puzzle Flying Saucer , which was exchanged at the 2013 International Puzzle Party in Washington, DC. 100 puzzle designers create 100 copies of their puzzle and pass it out at the party and exchange them. This puzzle is also manufactured by Walter Hoppe as Flying Saucer

The French Resolution

Jeremiah\u27s puzzle The French Resolution , which was exchanged at the 2017 International Puzzle Party in Paris, France. 100 puzzle designers create 100 copies of their puzzle and pass it out at the party and exchange them. This puzzle is also manufactured by Kadon Enterprises, Inc. as The French Resolution

Nightmares

Jeremiah\u27s puzzle Nightmare , which was exchanged at the 2013 Washington, DC International Puzzle Party. 100 puzzle designers create 100 copies of their puzzle and pass it out at the party and exchange them. This puzzle was a special puzzle gift that was given to IPP32 exchangers by its designer, Jerry Farrell, in memory of longtime IPP member, Tom Rodgers, Jr

Scrambled Squares

Jeremiah\u27s puzzle Scrambled Squares , which was exchanged at the 2015 Ottawa International Puzzle Party. 100 puzzle designers create 100 copies of their puzzle and pass it out at the party and exchange them. This puzzle is also manufactured by Kate Jones as Scrambled Squares

Book Review: The Great American Fortune Cookie Novel

A book review for Dave Morice\u27s The Great American Fortune Cookie Novel

Book Review: May I Have a Word With You?

A book review of Steven Kahan\u27s May I Have A Word With You

The ASTEROID Puzzle and Games

Each of our two-person games is a word version variation from the tic-tac-toe or noughts and crosses family. It is well known that classic tic-tac-toe is a draw when expertly played. It is also clear that not all of its plays are equal- a strong move for the first player is to initially take the powerul center square. ASTEROID and ASTEROID II, on the other hand, are both completely symmetric (in the sense that all letters are used equally) and each have rather suble forced wins for either the first or second player

Eckler Enigmas

Several subscribers have asked that Word Ways run more puzzles and perhaps even a contest or two. While we don\u27t want to compete with Games magazine, the National Puzzlers\u27 League, and other like groups, we certainly are amenable to this idea and welcome any suggestions for topics from our readers

Triplets

TRIPLETS is a new puzzle-game we play with the help of our four good friends S A M TORCHE, ENOS TRIMBACH, NORWICH BUMSTEAD and INA CHOWBLY DUMPSTER. Readers may remember Norwich and Ina from our article Magic Square Magic in the May 2000 issue of Word Ways but Sam and Enos are recent acquaintances