Octopus Crosswords

A wild crossword variant with words going in eight different directions! Why solve regular crosswords when Octopus puzzles (known to some as "Helter-Skelters") are eight times more fun? This crazy variant features 8x8 grids with words running in any of eight different directions, and no black squares to tell you where words end. Start at square 1, write the answer so it goes toward square 2, and see where it takes you. Warning: it might go past the next number. Puzzle fans will really have their tentacles full solving these!

Brendan Emmett Quigley is one of the most-published constructors for The New York Times, and his work has also appeared in Games Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Quigley has collaborated on a crossword with actor John Lithgow and his puzzles have been mentioned on episodes of The Colbert Report, Jeopardy!, and Sunday Night Football. His books for Puzzlewright include Drunk Crosswords and Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll Crosswords. He posts new puzzles regularly on his blog, brendanemmettquigley.com, and lives in Brookline, MA.