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Diabolically Arcane

Bingo. You’ve reached David Astle dot com, a carnival of words, puzzles and more words. Welcome aboard, and have fun.

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Radio Storm

26 September, 2014

Wanna win a prize? This week's folly is more a think tank. As summertime radio looms, I've been asked to conjure some puzzly ideas for the airwaves. In general, I reckon, too many quizzes or puzzles neglect the audio element. So what are some ideas blending sound and mind-games?

The challenges can have set answers, or creative answers. The level can be easy, or gnarly. Of course, there can be plenty of chat, spoken clues etc, but what are some recipes that maximise sound-grabs, archives, sample clips, voices, sound FX....?

Nothing is too outrageous, as this is suggestion time. I know this may feel like bringing my work to the picnic, but I'd love your input, your genius, your deviance. And to express that love, a damp squid to the best idea. That's a book prize by the way, Damp Squid, a wonderful read all about mangled English by Jeremy Butterfield.

Speak up. I'm listening - and thanks as always.

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Rewording The Brain

Focus & memory, lateral leaps & logic - every aspect of cognitive health is lit in Rewording The Brain, a book revelling in how puzzles boost your brain. Part 2 equips your brain to conquer any twisty clue, plus the wild crossword finale. Pop science meets neural gameplay, Rewording is rewarding, and out now.

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Rewording The Brain

Care to renew your noodle? Rewording The Brain explores the latest neural studies, seeing how puzzles (and twisty clues) boost your neurons. Part 2 helps you crack such clues, and prep the grey matter for the crossword showcase to finish. More here

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101 Weird Words (and 3 Fakes)

From Ambidextrous to Zugwang, this mini-dictionary teems with rare or alluring words, plus bonus riddles, puzzles and fun word-facts. Dictionary detective will also nab the collection's three fakes. Ideal for late primary schoolers, or word-nuts in general.

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Gargantuan Book of Words

Sneeze words. Fake pasta. Viking slang. Gargantuan is a jumbo jumble of puzzles & games, mazes & quizzes, tailor-made for that wordy wonderkid in your life. Or anyone in love with letters, secret codes, puns, rhymes, emoji & all things languagey. More here 

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Recent Comments

Riddledom Rave

If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
Just the handy stuff, like FAQ and EUW
I mean, WTF?! No way
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