Since my Sudoku K book is still a few months away, it is time to introduce another book with my Killer Sudoku and Samurai Sudoku puzzles and puzzles from other puzzle creators.
The book I’m talking about is called “Teach Yourself: Advanced Sudoku and Kakuro” by Nick ‘Afka’ Thomas.
A few words about the author first:
Nick came second in the first-ever Sudoku Championship in Britain about this time last year, so he knows how to solve them quickly. He teaches logic and maths and is releasing another book some time soon about teaching arithmetic using games and logic; Nick is also a published games inventor, writer and a professional actor…
The book covers standard Sudoku (there’s about 40 or so puzzles of these), 16x16s (2 puzzles), Samurai (2 puzzles), Kakuro (15 puzzles),
Killer (15 puzzles) and how to do quicker and better arithmetic. The main point about the book is that it teaches how to do the advanced stuff, and how to do the more basic stuff faster! When I say ‘advanced’ I think it’s fair to say that this book goes further than any book in teaching the most advanced techniques that the internet-community has been coming up with (including some of Nick’s own things!). For example Unsolvable Rectangles, Loops and Puzzles; several variations of what he calls “Magnetism”, which is elsewhere called Colouring or Fishy Cycles, naturally Swordfish and X-wings, XY Chains, and all that sort of thing. Unlike other books which give a few handy tips and then unleash you on lots of puzzles Nick has tried to make teaching points and illustrate them with a puzzle, then make another point and practise on another puzzle and so forth, with a handful of puzzles to practise each chapter on. Explanations are focussed heavily on the logic, and explain why the techniques work rather than just state that they do.
Here is a quote from the author:
I hope people will understand it all – but it’s radically different from anything else on the market: it’s very much for people who want to be able to do the hard and fiendish ones (and the even harder ones on the internet) quickly and effectively.
What I can add about Killer Sudoku puzzles:
the easiest puzzle in this book is rated “Thinker”. There are a couple of INSANEs too. Nick asked for most difficult puzzles and I made sure to deliver them as requested.
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released on May 26 2006 |
pre-order now |
7 Comments
Hi, new to this website, but I have never heard of Kakuro untill I came here. What is it? Is it a variation of Sudoku? Thanks
kakuro, or “cross sums” is not a sudoku variation. It’s pretty much the same as crosswords except with numbers.
We don’t post those puzzles on this site but there are a number of sites that do:
http://www.google.com/search?q=kakuro
In what stores can i find this book?
Hi.I am reading the Advanced Sudoku and Kakuro book(Teach Yourself) by Nick A. Thomas. I tried to go to his Website http://www.nickafka.com printed on page 182 but it does not come up directly or by Google. Would you please send me his correct web address. I need help with a few of the puzzles. Thanks. Neil Dunn
Hi Neil,
I don’t know why you can’t reach his website, it works fine for me. Maybe it was just a temporary problem on your side? Try again and see if it works.
If you still have the same problem, e-mail me and I will send you Nick’s e-mail address.
Cheers,
Djape
Hi, I am also working through the Advanced Sudoku and Kakuro book by Nick Thomas. I cannot access his website (http://www.nickafka.com) either, it just links to an education website. I am stuck on one of his final Sudoku puzzles and would be grateful if you could supply me with his contact details.
Thanks
Dave
Hi David,
unfortunately I do not have his contact anymore. Haven’t been in touch for literary a decade. Sorry for that, wish I could be of more help.
Cheers,
djape
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