Puzzle Notes

Dear subscribers: 

Another 3/5 this week, this one from Caleb Madison. The title is "Retiring Number One." Caleb is unfailingly fabulous.

My new book, "The Curious History of the Crossword," is officially available as of today. Get your copy at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Curious-History-Crossword-Puzzles-Then/dp/1937994457), or if they seem to have overlong shipping delays, try Barnes & Noble or, better yet, your local independent bookstore. It includes ten essays as well as one hundred crosswords spanning eras. Oh, and I analogize history's top constructors such as Merl Reagle, Elizabeth Gorski, Bernice Gordon, and Brendan Emmett Quigley to various crossword-friendly musicians. Who has the honor of being DRDRE? DEVO? ELO? Pick up the book to find out.

Have a great holiday,

-Ben and the AVCX crew [avxwords.com]