Escalation

by Steve Bachman

This "mid-week level" puzzle just might surprise and delight its solvers, once they figure out its theme(s). We are pleased to release it on Steve's birthday. After solving the puzzle (spoiler), click here for a "midrash" that explains all.

Click here to view or download the puzzle in PDF format; here to download it as a puz file; here to download it as an ipuz file [requires the free Puzzazz app to solve]; here to solve the puzzle interactively (thanks to Jim Horne); here for the solution. Steve thanks Martin Ashwood-Smith, Marcia Brott, Noam Elkies, Dan Feyer, Elizabeth Gorski, Todd Gross, Michael Hanko, Brent Hartzell, Martin Herbach, Carl Voss, and yours truly for beta testing the puzzle, as well as overall suggestions and encouragement.

If you want to tell others about this particular page, refer them to
http://tinyurl.com/escalationpuz

More puzzles here (all) and here (music).

E-mail barany@umn.edu to be added to a bcc distribution list.