Natan Last's erudite, thoughtful debut, Across the Universe, investigates the origins, cultural influence, and often tricky politics of the crossword puzzle. Spanning more than a century, from the first "Word-Cross" puzzles appearing in the New York World in 1913 to the proliferation of modern-day digital puzzles, Last's account explores the path crosswords took to become a well-established linguistic and cultural art form. Thoroughly researched and delightfully nerdy, this cultural history is packed with quirky personalities and bursting with cleverly constructed clues.
"The crossword has never been more popular, or more democratic," Last notes in his introduction. Last breaks his chronicle into three sections, asserting variously that "the crossword should be data" (where he delves into linguistics, history, commercialism, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence); "a soapbox" (which explores the political implications of certain words and clues that continue to evolve as the crossword evolves); and "art" (where he focuses on the presence and impact of the crossword on culture, with a showcase of puzzles constructed to please aesthetically as well as linguistically).
"Crossword puzzles are quantum, always two things at once," Last says, noting the crossword's surface appeal (dad jokes, puns, pop-culture references) and its deeper linguistic and political ramifications. Across the Universe is a linguistic treat for crossword devotees and anyone who loves a bit of witty wordplay. Last takes readers inside the world of tournaments, online competitions, and thoughtful debates about the form's future--never doubting that this puzzle, once dismissed as a momentary flash in the pan, is here to stay. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams