Essential Book of Hanjie: And How to Solve It [Paperback]

Gareth Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2006

HOW TO PLAY HANJIE -- AND SUCCEED!

Hanjie is a Japanese game of logic and aesthetics -- and the next big puzzle craze to sweep the world since Su Doku and Kakuro. Like Su Doku and Kakuro, Hanjie is played on grids of varying sizes and is absorbing, addictive, and utterly compelling. Combining numbers and logic with the interconnectedness of a crossword puzzle to gradually reveal a picture, this is a game for everyone -- all you need is the ability to add two numbers together.

Like previous Su Doku and Kakuro books in this bestselling series, The Essential Book of Hanjie contains full instructions to the game, along with hints, tips, and invaluable number-combination tables, as well as more than 150 original puzzles for beginners to experts.

If you like Su Doku and Kakuro, then you are certain to fall under the spell of the endlessly diverting, uniquely challenging Hanjie!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gareth Moore holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University in the field of machine intelligence. The author of The Essential Book of Kakuro, The Essential Book of Kakuro 2, and The Essential Book of Japanese Puzzles, he lives in London, England.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Hanjie is a fascinating Japanese picture puzzle that dates back to at least the eighteenth century. It consists of an empty grid that is filled in by following a few simple number clues, gradually revealing a concealed image -- a kind of "painting by numbers." Just by finishing a puzzle, you're rewarded with a stylized work of art!

Compilation copyright © 2006 by Michael O'Mara Books Limited

Puzzles and solutions copyright © 2006 by Gareth Moore

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; Original edition (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416536213
• ISBN-13: 978-1416536215
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Logic & Brain Teasers

More About the Author

Dr Gareth Moore is the author of a wide range of brain-training and puzzle books for both children and adults, including The Mammoth Book of Fun Brain Training, Keep Your Brain Fit: 101 Ways to Tone your Mind and The Rough Guide Book of Brain Training. He also writes the monthly magazine Sudoku Xtra (www.sudokuxtra.com) and runs the puzzle website www.puzzlemix.com.

He gained his Ph.D from Cambridge University (UK) in the field of Machine Learning, and has contributed to various advanced projects for leading technology companies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for Beginners, October 26, 2006

By 

zoe (Saint Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Book of Hanjie: And How to Solve It (Paperback)

This is a great book for Hanjie beginners. I would recommend this for someone who hasn't attempted these puzzles before. There is an easy to follow How to Play section, and handy tips on how to use deduction to complete the puzzle. The cover states 'Over 150 Puzzles!' however, there are exactly 150. The puzzles grids range from 10 x 10 squares to 30 x 40 squares.

The paper is thick and a good quality, I've used inky pens and they haven't bled through to the puzzle on the next page. At 5.3 x 6.8 inches this book is smaller than many others, this makes it easier to fit into my bag.

Unfortunately the puzzles have no difficulty rating. The size of the grid doesn't neccessarily reflect how complicated the puzzles may be, so I've found myself staring at the grid trying to guess if it will be challenging. While I am no where near completing this book, I have been enjoying this type of puzzle for many years and have found the puzzles in the first 2/3 of the book very easy.

Overall I'd rate Essential Book of Hanjie as 5 stars for a beginner and 3 stars for someone looking for challenging puzzles.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and Challenging, March 14, 2007

By 

Robert J. DeMartini (Castro Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential Book of Hanjie: And How to Solve It (Paperback)

This is probably the definitive book of Hanjie. The book is broken up into grid sections, starting from a 10 x 10 grid and ending with a 30 x 40 grid. Towards the end of each grid section, the puzzles become increasingly harder. For instance, if there is eight 25 x 25 grids, the last two or three will be more advanced. I have completed over 100 of the puzzles, and as the author states, you never have to guess to solve the puzzles. There may be times where you seriously question that statement; however, there is always a discreet solution buried in the tiny boxes.

Out of all the Hanjie books I have completed, this has been by far the most enjoyable. The only critique I have, is the instructions are elementary, and unless you know how to solve Hanjie puzzles already, will leave you questioning the more advanced puzzles. However, a little research on "how to Hanjie" on the Internet will dash any need for instructions.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, May 8, 2007

By 

EarOne "EarOne" (Carpinteria Santa Barbara) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential Book of Hanjie: And How to Solve It (Paperback)

There were a lot of puzzles for your money, and not too large for me. The 60x60 & up puzzles are just too much counting for me. However, this must be a "left-hander" puzzle, because the clues are backwards to most puzzles.

The verticle clues are listed at the bottom, so your hand is covering them all the time, and same with the horizonton clues. They are listed to the right, so if you are right-handed, your hand is always covering the horizontal clues.

??? puzzling why the author chose this configuration.