Out of Shape #12: Jig Antic
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We've very pleased to bring you the last puzzle of Out of Shape — a Some Assembly Required puzzle, which is Patrick Berry's dead clever implementation of a jigsaw crossword. We haven't seen Berry do one of these as a cryptic, but we've enjoyed the versions from the few constructors that have, and we're chuffed to be contributing to that celebration.
What's next at The Rackenfracker? We're not quite ready to announce, and while subscribers will still receive monthly cryptics, we will note that the next year won't hold another 12-puzzle series. Three of the Out of Shape puzzles, including this one, were in a near-final state before Word▶️ wrapped up, so this series was borne out of looking for the common bond between them. Our next body of work is concept-first, and we're excited to share what we've been thinking (and thinking and thinking) of. Watch the socials for an announcement before the September puzzle launches.
Additionally, of course, there will be more Nerfrackers, more free collaborations with other setters, and perhaps even some more Tap the Signs. (Hm, is "Taps the Sign" the appropriate plural?)
Big series-ending thanks for our Rackenfaction: indefatigable test solvers Andy Stilp and John Sams and outgoing editor Will Nediger. Subscription proceeds primarily pay for hosting and editing, and we're always deeply grateful when editors choose to go on this mad journey with us.
A note for online solvers: Solvers of Some Assembly Requireds (... Some Assemblies Required? We shouldn't have given our editors-in-chief the day off) often want to see the jigsaw pieces in the grid as they fill them. So this puzzle features the ability to draw those shapes with bars in the grid: Just type the [ , ] , ^ and _ characters to add a bar to the left, right, top and bottom, respectively, of the highlighted cell.