The New York Times Supersized Book of Sunday Crosswords: 500 Puzzles

I received this book today with joy but that was quickly diminished when I saw and had to work with the size of the print and the very small puzzle boxes in which to write. Even with my reading glasses I can barely see the numbers for the squares and hardly read the clues. I cannot imagine working through 500 of these. I am very disappointed with the unworkable format size.

Although this crossword book has 500 puzzles in it, it is amazingly easy touse in that the binding is such that it lies flat when you are working the puzzles.

This huge book contains 500 Sunday Times crossword puzzles from the Shortz and Maleska eras, but most of them are from the wittier Shortz group. And think of it: this contains ten years worth of Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles! Ought to take you at least a couple of weeks to finish, right? The book is well-made, with good quality paper -- much better than the slick glossy Times Sunday magazine paper that doesn't take pencil or ink marks very well -- and for those like me who tear the pages out and then use a clipboard, they tear out easily with no ragged edges. As for the puzzles, well -- is there anyone, anywhere who makes better big Sunday-style puzzles? I've done puzzles from papers all over the USA and the Times are easily the most fun and most challenging to work. Consider the price: less than three cents per puzzle. Can't beat that. Heartily recommended to puzzle fanatics and casual solvers alike. Scott Morrison

This volume collects 500 New York Times Sunday crossword puzzles that were originally published between 1983 and 1998. This span covers the editorships of the late Eugena Maleska and his successor Will Shortz. This book collects about two-thirds of the Sunday crosswords originally published in those 15 years. One puzzle appears on each page and all answers are in the back. I can't determine if the puzzles are presented in chronological order. Travelers will probably want a smaller book for a plane ride but there are already numerous crossword collections for such purposes. This book is strongly recommended for anyone who enjoys doing puzzles at home, offering a tremendous number of good puzzles for the price. It seems that a solver must be either bedridden or incarcerated to complete all 500 puzzles anytime soon.

This volume of crossword puzzles is exceptional not only for its variety of challenges, but the price was a lot less than I would have had to pay at the book store. Will Shortz's puzzle books are always a delight.

One of the most consistently challenging puzzles books we've ever done. No easy ones here. A lot of fun.