A law firm was hired by the publisher to manage the contest. Manson wanted to call it “Labyrinth” but the publisher objected due to the Jim Henson movie by that name released just months before. Manson did not make the book with a contest in mind, the prize was the publisher’s idea, as was the cover style and title. Toward the end he was soaking his hands in warm water several times a day to ward off cramping. Day after day, he drew the painstakingly detailed inked illustrations from morning to night. After working out the main puzzle he focused on building hints and false leads. Over the next 9 months Manson lived off of the advance and churned out the work. Instead of a recommendation the publisher at Henry Holt was immediately sold on the idea and gave Manson an advance…and a deadline. When he presented the idea to his friend’s publisher, the publisher wasn’t sure what to do with it and referred Manson to someone at Henry Holt & Company for a recommendation. While Manson’s appetite for alchemic illustrations, forgotten books and obscure writings, supplied much of the puzzle content. Manson’s love of classic science fiction, Jules Verne’s “Mysterious Island” in particular, informed the tone and general sense of wonder and disquiet. Most obvious is Manson’s interest in architecture, as displayed in the wide variety of architectural styles represented in the rooms. None the less, he was able to highlight a few specific influences. Where the inspiration came from, Manson says, is a thing of mystery, bits borrowed from countless sources and experiences. Over the next 45 minutes MAZE was born, the ideas tumbling out onto paper. He decided to call it night but then changed his mind, “Just one more cup of coffee.” And one more cup was all it took. And so he was up at 2 AM with nothing to show for it. Manson was living day to day out of a small apartment, and his bank account was near zero. The publisher had none and instead urged Manson to come up with a book idea and pitch it to him. At the meeting with the publisher he asked about possible work opportunities. Manson had just finished illustrating a cookbook for a friend of his. Recovering from Saturday night he was downing cups of coffee and wracking his brain for a book idea. It was 1984 and Christopher Manson was up late, 2 AM, scribbling and thinking. Written by White Raven with information provided by Christopher Manson The Story of MAZE: Solve the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle
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