Mel Taub, the ingenious mind behind The New York Times’s beloved Puns and Anagrams puzzles, captivated readers for decades with his clever wit and wordplay. Following his passing at 97 on September 14, an overwhelming wave of tributes poured in, with countless readers expressing their deep admiration for his notoriously groan-inducing yet utterly delightful puzzles, and sharing heartfelt personal anecdotes.
As a testament to his legacy, one inventive reader from Queens even crafted new anagrams of Mr. Taub’s name, complete with fresh clues.
Mr. Taub’s incredible journey as a puzzlemaker began in May 1951, marking the debut of his first Puns and Anagrams challenge. Over his illustrious career, he graced us with over 400 of these unique creations, alongside various crosswords and cryptics. His final puzzle was published in October 2019.
While Puns and Anagrams continues to appear bi-monthly in The Times Magazine print edition, it’s not currently available online. However, after we recently published Mr. Taub’s obituary, we featured an interactive puzzle from May 2017, which many of you enthusiastically solved (often in under an hour!). This sparked a chorus of requests for more, including a passionate plea from Ellen in Philadelphia: “Please, please, PLEASE resume publishing Puns and Anagrams in the Puzzle Archive!!”
Although there are no immediate plans to regularly publish Puns and Anagrams online, we’re thrilled to present three more of his timeless puzzles here, accompanied by delightful reflections from fellow readers. We invite you to dive in and share your progress in the comments!
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Need a hint, or ready to check your answers? You’ll find the solutions here.
Joe Siano, a former copy desk chief at The Times, shared these encouraging words: “The great thing about a Puns and Anagrams puzzle is that it truly rewards persistence. Often, during the initial attempts, I’d feel completely stumped. But by sticking with it, the answers gradually reveal themselves, leading to a wonderful sense of accomplishment. It’s a true celebration of wordplay, and I hope these puzzles continue to challenge us for years to come.”
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Curious if you solved it correctly? The answers are available here.
Fred from New York City shared a delightful personal story after reading Mr. Taub’s obituary: “Many years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Taub for an article in the Brooklyn College Alumni Magazine. He recounted a charming routine: he’d often share a subway car with a woman who, like him, was engrossed in The New York Times Crossword. They never spoke, but exchanged knowing glances. One day, to his amusement, the puzzle in her hands was one of his own creations! As she looked up, he swiftly filled in all the answers, held up the completed page for her to see, and offered a sweet smile before disembarking at Times Square. He never forgot the look of utter surprise on her face. A true trickster, indeed!”
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Don’t give up! But if you’re seeking a little assistance, the solutions are available here.