Mon 10:25 PM From: Beth Kinder Subject: The Maze To: john_bailey@rochester.rr.com Hello, I was very happy to find your compendium of notes and ideas on The Maze. I tripped across the book again this weekend at my mother's house.... I recall being a bit obsessed with it back in the mid 80's. So yesterday I just sat down and worked out a decision tree to find the shortest path through strict logic--- I wish I'd have seen your notes first! Anyway, I thought I'd add my own 15-odd years' worth of thoughts to those you already have: I am completely unimpressed by the supposedly "accepted" riddle---- first of all, it doesn't sound like any riddle I've ever heard--- not just the dangling participle, but a riddle has a bit of poetry, rhyme, meter.... "What house will all live in?" --- if that's the answer, then I have to say I am REALLY disappointed. With regards to the awl and nun, and the "hint" to choose between two pictures, have you considered that "all or none" could actually be a phrase in the riddle? Similarly, instead of a sideways "N", I prefer to read the attenuated Z as "long last". Adding the hat, one could even say "at long last." I compliment you on the Woodrow Wilson--- William Shakespeare was one of the easiest things in the book, but I will admit that I hadn't figured out Woodrow. But how do these two names figure in the riddle? Just by the use of the word "will"??? That just seems very unsatisfying. As regards other "clues" contained within the progression of the correct rooms, without prejudice as to the significance thereof: Room 26. It seems quite significant that this is a theatre. Also, that there are three devils of different "heights", descending to "hell" (as the underbelly of the stage is oft referred). The fourth devil (Satan) is wood. And the salt shaker is a recurring theme. Room 30: "If no eve" can be rearranged to "one five", though this is not the correct room. The wooden apple tree seems significant--- it's like a stage prop, which seems to relate to the previous theatre. Room 42: All of the pictures on the doors are pairs (or a pear). Salt shaker recurs. The line "just a bit of taxidermy after all" seems to repeat the theatrical or "pretend" theme. Introduction of umbrella/weather theme. 2 pairs of boots plus one--- what's that about?? Room 4: Beats me...... the hammer/nails hatchet/wood relates to the text in which the sounds are heard from other rooms... other than that, is there a significance to the "tool" idea?? Match/candle as well as the others?? Room 29: Again with the salt and pepper. The hourglass--- is that a cutting board or a plaque or what? The phrase "blindness is no disadvantage" seems to be significant. Room 17: Amphorae... typically hold water, room is filled with sand. "empty of course...." why of course?? Later, we find that the wine bottles are all empty, as well. Room 23: Obviously more pairs: gloves, shoes, tablets..... more weather stuff: rain, "real wind coming up"---- the comment about "2 trees" seems significant? Room 8: Comment "make sure to take that with you" is obviously referring to the umbrella. The table has 3 legs on each side, total 6 legs.... surely, this has got to be significant? Room 12: something is bothering me about the deja vu comment. don't know why. Room 39: I totally agree with the whole Poe thing... that's what I thought of immediately. It must be significant that the wine bottles are all empty. What about the incorrect multiplication table? Room 4: ditto again (sic.) Room 15: Okay, I get the thing about Greek heros, and everything beginning with an H, but what's with the "sacrificial tripod"? And the comment about "at least 3 of us can sit down"? I don't see three seats. More with the sun and weather motifs... something is bugging me about the heart/chair/hat/child's house..... like "home is where the heart is" and "where you hang your hat" kind of thing. 37: Again a pair of dice, except one has a blank side and the other die isn't possible....are they "loaded dice"? It has to mean something, especially with the comment "look at this from all sides". Room 20: I think this room disturbs me most of all. The castle or rook leaning on the arm chair, or easy chair... very homey room... makes me thing "a man's home is his castle." And what's with the portrait? Is that a Turk? Another word for Turkish is Ottoman. An ottoman is a footstool. The tortoise almost is in the position of a footstool.... it's referred to as both a tortoise and a turtle in the text. And I think the thing that bugs me most of all (forget the whole "who is the narrator" conversation), is: what is the logic of choosing the rooms?? I mean, I know the sequence is correct, I worked it out myself, but going back over it, I can't figure out "why" one would choose the correct room each time. I mean, I presume the point of the book is NOT to build decision trees to crack the code, but to actually work the puzzle out. So even by reverse-engineering it, I can't see why one room necessarily leads to another by the clues given. Anyway, thank you for giving me a forum to vent my almost 2-decade-long frustration with this "puzzle." If you think any of my observations/comments valid or worthwhile, please let me know and/or add them to your bulletin board. Best, Beth Kinder