102 Cryptic Crosswords (Mensa)

SUMMARY102 crosswords in 8x12 grids, barred format, easy to medium difficulty, conventional cryptic clues, Canadian flavoured. The Introduction explains the main and most (but not all) clue types with examples. The Solutions give explanations too. Not easily portable (see Amazon's quoted dimensions) but the spiral binder makes it easy to fold the book in half.Headings below are PERSONAL SUMMARY, FORMAT AND LAYOUTSKILL LEVEL/MENSA ENDORSEMENT OR LACK OF/CANADIAN FLAVOUR, INTRODUCTION/CLUE TYPES, SOLUTIONS.PERSONAL SUMMARYEnjoyed in part, especially doing barred cryptic crosswords as barred crosswords are usually synonym, but overall found the book unsatisfying due to:(1) the surface readings are often stilted and contrived (clues are all contrived but in good ones it shouldn't be noticeable); most weren't that fun to read, nor did they conjure up the wide range of mundane and bizarre encountered in life and fiction that mark the best cryptic clues (e.g. The Daily Mail's New Cryptic Crosswords Book 11)(2) the slight Canadian flavour which was new to me(3) the shortness of the clues, which eventually gets boring(4) the slightly restricted range of clue types(5) the small grid size (barred format is usually 12x12) - no sooner started than finished(6) took half the book to get used to the setter's way of thinking(7) I like to do crosswords in bed, in an armchair or take as a travel companion, so I didn't like the book's above-average size; had to lay it on a table; liked the spiral binderFORMAT AND LAYOUTNot the standard British cryptic crossword format, but the type called 'variety' or 'advanced' i.e. a 'barred grid' with no black squares, thick lines to mark the end of an answer, and smaller than the standard 15x15 symmetrical grid. 12x12 grids for 'advanced' are usual but this book's 102 crosswords are smaller at 8x12. These grids are the plain barred type though cryptic not synonym, i.e. no themes or twists common to them all.The cover picture is fun artistic licence. Actually the puzzle grids have no black squares, and the puzzles are oblongs not 'freeform' or 'shaped' (the picture shows freeform or shaped so the mountaineering couple can climb steps).Each page side has two puzzles with a bit of "thinking"/blank space beneath. Clues are short compared to those in leading newspapers; I'm used to a variety of short, medium and long clues - a minor point but noticeable across a whole book.The book's physical size means it's not easily portable, and not easy to use crosswords in bed or an armchair or a train seat (favourite places for many solvers). The spiral binder makes it easy to fold the book in half.SKILL LEVEL / MENSA ENDORSEMENT OR LACK OF / CANADIAN FLAVOURFor experienced solvers I'd say the level is easy to medium (I class crossword magazines as easy, The Daily Mail as medium, The Telegraph as medium to hard, The Week as hard). My copy arrived without the front cover's green sticker MENSA endorsement (seen on the Amazon page picture when I bought), which seems to be the only connection with MENSA. A MENSA sticker would make me think the puzzles are difficult but luckily they aren't as challenging as the MENSA hype suggests so beginners should enjoy them too especially with help from the book's Introduction (see below). The more you do the easier they get, as you get used to the way the setter thinks.The barred format makes solving easier as there are far more checked squares i.e. as clues are solved, the more letters are put into the grid to help solve other clues. (The white squares where letters are entered are known as lights. A checked square is a light which forms part of two answers. An unchecked square is a light that forms part of only one answer.) Whereas the standard British format, due to the lattice structure's pattern of black squares or blocks, there can be only a limited number of checks, at most every other.The compiler Fraser Simpson is a Canadian so this affected my clue-solving as the puzzles have a Canadian and USA flavour (the book's published also in the USA). As I'm used to British English and British crosswords I found this unsettling, and I'd have liked at least a few good references to British culture and current affairs such as occur in British puzzles. As Simpson is a new compiler to me, it took half the book to get used to the cut of his strait jacket's jib (all crossword compilers live in padded cells - they have brilliant but devious minds and doubtless wear unnerving mischievous grins). Sometimes I had to look at the answers, something I don't do with British puzzles (which is why some need revisiting or I can't finish them).INTRODUCTION / CLUE TYPESThe cryptic clues follow conventional rules (i.e. Ximenean principles). The book opens with a two-page Introduction to cryptic crossword clues with certain types explained with examples including typical indicators: anagram, hidden word, reversal (not to be confused with palindromes which are not mentioned and which are indicated by "both ways" or similar; I mention this as there's at least one palindrome clue in the book), homophone, two meanings (aka double definition aka composite), deletion (aka subtraction), container, charade, surprises (meaning odds or evens), bits and pieces (meaning single or group letters with possible indicators), &lit, and explains that clues often comprise a combination. Initialisms aren't mentioned, nor truly cryptic clues (usually indicated by ? or !). Certain conventional clue types (too many to mention, but minor next to those above) used in, say, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Times and even monthly/quarterly crossword magazines, don't seem to appear in this book - this slightly limits things for a solver coming from those publications. However, crossword help books can be bought which detail clue types with examples; Ximenes and his guidelines can be looked up online.There are two practice puzzles. Unlike the real grids, they are 7x7 British format i.e. with 180 degree rotational symmetry in a lattice structure of black and white squares.The Solutions also help hone solving skills (see below).SOLUTIONSThese are all at the end of the book, not in puzzle numerical order. Grids are shown completed, with text answers and explanations.

The purchase of this book represents the triumph of hope over reality. I am completely unable to make sense of the clues.Clearly I will have to donate this book to a friend

this is the second book that went with the first i bought for a person who spends a lot of time indoors. again she was really pleased with it.

I ordered this cryptic crossword for my sister & she tells me she's really enjoying it ! She loves a good challenge.

always good never fails to satisfy I buy these books constantly and have never been disappointed will be buying again

Very helpful for beginners, with many examples. Useful range of different types of clues and how to unravel them.

This book is falsely advertised - there is no mention in it at all of Mensa - it is not an official Mensa book - and I bought it because it had been so advertised. It is a reasonable cryptic crossword puzzle book, but the bookshop and Amazon ARE MISLEADING THE PUBLIC by advertising it as Mensa.

I've got this for a family member (for Christmas) who absolutely loves puzzles. I hope he'll like it :-)This puzzle book looks presentable and the crosswords inside looks really hard - just perfect for those who love to solve tricky crosswords!

It's really difficult to find the Globe and Mail crosswords in a book format so I was excited when I saw this. However, I was somewhat disappointed with the format - it was not laid out in typical crossword format ie with spaces between words. This, along with the compact size of the puzzles, rendered them jumbled looking and as a result, I didn't use this as much as I had expected I would. It was more frustrating than fun.

Clues are cunning but understandable. Puzzles are small. I'd like some bigger ones from this guy in my next book.

A whole book of Fraser Simpson's Cryptic Crosswords? You mean I don't have to wait for the Saturday edition of the Globe? Oh joy!

Oh my gosh, these are so much fun to do! They're challenging but not at all impossible. (Don't let the "mensa" in the title scare you off -- these are within reach of most any word-lover, genius or not.) They are great fun for a word-lover.If you're not familiar with cryptic crosswords, I would recommend reading a how-to guide before trying to tackle even the easiest puzzle. They're quite unlike standard American crosswords. Cryptic clues generally have two parts and are not to be taken literally. The solutions may be found in anagrams of the clue, hidden in the clue, homonyms of referenced words or in a number of other ways. If you approach these like traditional crosswords, you'll be frustrated in no time. Once you get the hang of it, though, they're so much fun. Solving cryptics requires you to think outside the box a bit, and the clues are often deliciously witty.The format of this book is great. It has a high-quality spiral binding so that it lies perfectly flat. The paper is high-quality and will hold up to anything your eraser wants to dish out -- though you may not need to use the eraser, as there is plenty of white space around the page for scribbles and trying to figure out anagrams. The puzzles are two to a page. The solutions, along with a brief (sometimes too brief) explanation, are in the back. Everything you need! The book is about the size of typical magazine or 8 1/2 x 11" spiral notebook -- not small enough for me to stick in my purse, but easy to stick in a tote or briefcase.Fantastic book -- lots of fun -- good entertainment value for the money!

I am an experienced cryptic solver and I found these puzzles just right in terms of difficultly. Sometimes, usually once or twice a puzzle, I would get the right answer, but not know why. But when I looked it up in the back, I could see the trick. Only once or twice did they use some term that I was not familiar with. And, joy of joys, you won't be penalized for not knowing the names of all the sports and entertainment figures.The binding deserves mentioning. It is spiral bound so you can open it to one page and it lies flat. I have been working on this book at breakfasts for almost a year and it's still in great shape and no pages are even beginning to tear out. Quality paper that can stand up to erasures.

Mediocre.The puzzles in this book are not very challenging, and also lack any creativity. The clue in the title of this review is at the level of creativity found in this book. My gf and I used to do the Atlantic Cryptics and also the Harper's. They were very challenging and creative, and would taken our combined efforts over an evening, and sometimes a weekend. They were wonderful. The ones in this book, I can finish by myself in 20 minutes. The clues are rote, follow an a + b = c blueprint, with no creativity whatsoever. All the puzzles are small and the same size, and I guess they had an 'artist' draw the lines in the boxes, which is mildly annoying as the lines are irregular and in a very light shade. I am not sure where the 'official Mensa puzzle book' comes from; Mensa is not mentioned anywhere in the book, and that was the main reason I bought it over the Atlantic puzzle book. If you are looking for a challenge, that instead, instead of this weak, cookie cutter collection.-2 stars for lack of challenge and creativity-1 star for lack of variety and poor appearance of puzzles-1 star for borderline false advertising with the use of the word 'Mensa'

Wonderful cryptic crosswords. A mixture of moderate to challenging clues. Not so hard that I get frustrated and it takes me a while to complete each puzzle so I will be working on this for a while!

I am a big cryptic crossword fan, of the American style. (Too many puns and obscure sayings in the British variety.) There's nothing wrong with these puzzles, except they are pretty small, with two puzzles to a page. I prefer a larger puzzle. With the scarcity of good cryptic crossword books, I'd still recommend this collection.

These are small, straight-forward cryptics without particular merit or drawback. Never exciting, completely workable.

I bought the Atlantic Monthly, and hated it! I immediately went back to both my magazines World of Puzzles and Games (which I have subscriptions to), and then by chance, decided to try these. I loved them! They were just what I needed! I could finish puzzles in a small amount of time. When I do cryptics, I need the clues to be clear and precise, and these offer just that. Also, I found somewhere on the web printable cryptics (it's been so long, can't remember where). Those were really good too, and took a bit more solving skills, but they did offer printable answers. Just bought more of these Fraser Simpson Cryptics as gifts before they're gone! They're really that good for people who love doing these, but don't have that much time.

Mind boggling puzzles. Lots of fun, though NOT recommended for crossword novices!

Have you tried cryptics? Give it a shot. This is a terrific book to get you started, and be careful, you might get hooked, as I am.

I enjoyed it so much, I was really sorry to get to the last puzzle in this book. These cryptics are entertaining and challenging without being bizarrely constructed or absurdly difficult. There is a wide variety of wordplay, so you have to be on your toes. Sometimes collections feel churned out, full of nothing but anagrams and hidden words. This collection is NOT like that. Recommended for those like me who love cryptics but don't have all day to work on them.

Not as hard as I had anticipated, and the puzzles are rather small. Size of book makes it bit cumbersome for toting round ifyou know you will need to fill in time in waiting rooms etc,

Fraser Simpson writes puzzles that are challenging and fun. These are my required words to get this review accept ed.