This puzzle
has been solved for 1999. Here is the New Impossible Puzzle
for 2001
While this puzzle is not truly
"impossible," it is tough. Very tough. However, as is the
case with all my games and puzzles, eventually the "Impossible Puzzle" will be
solved. Progressively revealing clues will guarantee its solution at some point.
This puzzle (#1004) is a cryptogram in which letters, numerals and punctuation may be
substituted across all lines. However, all substitutions are made in a
consistent manner.
In this cryptogram, spacing between words is accurate and standard (one space between
words and after commas and semicolons, and two spaces after colons and sentence-ending
punctuation).
Hyphens are used in this cryptogram to designate letter, numeral, and sometimes
punctuation slots in the body of the actual text. Eventually, as the contest progresses,
other symbols will replace the hyphens. When these symbols appear, they may appear
underlined, or not underlined. When they are underlined, they represent cryptographic
symbols (substitutions). When symbols are not underlined, they represent non-cryptographic
symbols (plaintext characters, numerals or punctuation, as they appear in the actual
text).
It should be noted that because hyphens are used to format the cryptogram, if a hyphen
should appear in the actual text it will be replaced with a cryptographic symbol.
Plaintext (actual)
symbols may or may not be plugged in throughout the puzzle.
There may be times during the contest that clues will
provide some of the actual text symbols. If and when this occurs, you cannot
count on that
symbol being plugged in through out the puzzle. Nor can you
count on cryptographic symbols, when provided, being plugged into
the entire puzzle.
That is to say, for example, if we provide an actual text (plaintext) "C," we
may or may not plug that character into every slot in which that character appears.
The citation from which this cryptogram has been extracted is a published book.
Correct Solution Entry for Puzzle #1004 Must Contain the Following:
1--Author:
2--Title:
3--Publisher:
4--Date Published:
5--Page Number on which Citation Appears:
6--And , a Totally Accurate Rendering of the Plaintext Citation, Including
Punctuation:
Ready for some Clues?
Important
Change: This
change applies to all current contests, except for the Treasure Hunt
(Contest #1). As of 12-12-99, winning contest solutions may be
submitted to "puzzle03@purplehunt.com."
All pertinent information required for correct solution for specific
contest must be included with submission for it to be accepted.
Winning entries may still be submitted via surface mail; however, the
earliest email date and time will now be accepted for six of the seven
current contests.
