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[baron]

Graeme Base

[RobMagus]

Yay! The Eleventh Hour is the reason I like puzzles with a story. I'm glad to see that someone else has found Base's wonderful work!

[tinag222]

I've heard of neither. What sort of reads are they? I really enjoy mystery slash puzzle options in stories...if the one you suggest is like that, could you tell me about some others that might be good starters?

I need a new drug. It's getting about Amazon time.

[catherwood]

For the Kit Williams' books, I would say they are more like children's books: large format, few pages, lots of artwork, simple story, and they can be enjoyed on that level without working on the hidden riddle/puzzle. Graeme Base is also found in the children's section, and his books are heavy on paintings with hidden images.

On the other hand, the "Egyptian Jukebox" by Nick Bantock is more like digging thru someone's attic: antique collages, references to history, little story (that I can recall -- i can't find my copy!), and puzzles which will nag at you until you solve them. He has other works with more of a story element with an air of mystery, but he's become known for his style of artwork.

[Lysithea]

I loved the Graeme Base books when I was given them as a child. I would describe them as the kind of children's books that appeal to adults as well.

Animalia - An advanced alphabet book. Lots of hidden things in the pictures that start with that letter (A, B, C, and so on). A masterpiece.

The Eleventh Hour - A storybook with a mystery and hidden puzzles. It has short puzzles with hidden letters, morse code, mirrors, substitution ciphers (A=1, B=2, C=3...) that are integrated into the illustrations. I absolutely loved it. You don't need to solve all the puzzles to solve the mystery, but I found the puzzles to be the fun part. Mum sent in for the solution sheet which I didn't open until long after I'd solved the mystery.
The most interesting part of the solution sheet was

[miss_seph]

And finding all the mice in the pictures (I can't remember which one that was, perhaps Animalia)

Makes me want to rush out and buy them now, I've been on an Asterix collecting binge recently, now I might extend it to all my childhood favourites!

[shinything]

Nope, the mice was 11th Hour too!

I had all Graeme Base's books when I was little. The Eleventh Hour spoiled me on puzzles for the longest time. It helps that he's an unbelievably talented illustrator! I was in love with the blue water in "Sign Of The Seahorse" for my whole childhood...

He's got a website! http://www.graemebase.com You can see examples of his art and prints there.

This is an example of how he works puzzles in his work: http://www.graemebase.com/images/ncArtwork/ImageEH13.jpg
That picture is from "The Eleventh Hour"-- the Bingo board and the morse code are both puzzles. I'm pretty sure there's a mouse or two hidden in the elephant's armor and wallpaper, too, but I'd have to look at the book to see for sure!

[baron]

[Lysithea]