Jan. 13th, 2013 -
“This site is devoted to the genre of the immersive puzzle,
but until there is another like MAZE, this site stands as a testament
to the brilliance of Christopher Manson, who, in one stroke
launched and mastered a new genre of literature.”
- White Raven
Welcome to the MAZE community where fans of Christopher Manson’s MAZE can come together to share ideas, hints, clues, tips, tricks, solutions, observations, etc. to the multitude of MAZE puzzles that have gone unsolved in the public sphere.
Be part of the solution to MAZE.
Welcome to the Abyss!
Abyssians,
Important Notice: Mr. Manson and I have revised our contract enabling me to post the text and images (according to very specific criteria) of MAZE on this site. The change will occur shortly.
White Raven
Abyssians,
We just passed 1,500 comments!
Special thanks to our significant contributors:
Wanderer – Joined 6-6-14
Anchorperson Smith – Joined 5-31-14
Factitious – Joined 5-30-14
David Gentile – Joined 5-23-14
vewatkin – Joined 5-24-14
mazeloverRob – Joined 5-19-14
Hello Gregor – Joined 4-25-14
I wanna be the guy – Joined 4-13-14
shmizza 2014/03/30 at 4:05 pm
jalhordan – Joined 3-29-14
Ethan – Joined 3-28-14
Scott Wilde – Joined 3-28-14
Kyle Stedman – Joined 3-28-14
Room 44 – Joined 12-08-13
Emily – Joined 8-30-13
Owen Hammer – Joined 7-27-13
Beelzebibble – Joined 6-26-13
Josh – Joined 4-26-13
SP – Joined 3-29-13
Dr.Blipenstein – Joined 3-24-13
Darth Johanson and his train – Joined 3-21-13
Kevin – Joined 3-14-13
Slackman – Joined 3-7-13
Rohan – Joined 3-6-13
Laura – Joined 3-1-13
Alyssa – Joined 2-22-13
Carl Koffman – Joined 1-28-13
The Umbrella – Joined 1-23-13
Janice – Joined 1-21-13
Well over half of all the comments were produced by:
Anchorperson Smith – Joined 5-31-14
Factitious – Joined 5-30-14
David Gentile – Joined 5-23-14
vewatkin – Joined 5-24-14
mazeloverRob – Joined 5-19-14
Hello Gregor – Joined 4-25-14
Kyle Stedman – Joined 3-28-14
Beelzebibble – Joined 6-26-13
SP – Joined 3-29-13
Carl Koffman – Joined 1-28-13
And thank you to Christopher Manson for lending his insight to the project.
White Raven will be publishing a book with hints and methods, and information. Not answers.
These are my pages, with what I personally think is accomplished. As I said, opinions vary.
http:// ww w. davegentile.com/stuff/maze.html
http:// ww w. davegentile.com/stuff/maze-rooms.htm
I find this so mentally attractive. Is there still an unsolved room?
Yeah, close to 45 of them.
Raven claims 44 but is not sharing. I claim 23 to my own personal satisfaction but opinions differ.
White Raven is publishing a book detailing the 44 of 45 rooms he has solved? I appreciate knowing which are the hardest 26 and 45. I would most like to work on the one that hasn’t been solved yet.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to David Gentile the famed solver of the elaborate puzzle in Room 26. In my opinion this puzzle is one of the four or five most difficult puzzles of this insanely difficult book. I believe Room 26 is as difficult a puzzle as the Riddle of the Guide, the Riddle of the Path and the Riddle of Room 45. Thank goodness for Dave and that all the rooms aren’t as difficult as Room 26!
Welcome to the Abyss!
White Raven
I said it on the other page. But again thanks. And again looking forward to taking a fresh look at the maze after the new book.
Abyssians,
The images of the unpublished sequel to MAZE are now online, check them out on the “Sequel To MAZE” tab above.
White Raven
shmizza, Poisonedtea, jalhordan, Ethan, Scott Wilde, & Kyle Stedman,
Great comments all around!
Welcome to the Abyss!
Abyssians,
Check out Room 12 – SOLVED. Congratulations jalhordan!
White Raven
Welcome Doctor and Room 44. Great comments Room 44!
Abyssians,
I have finally uploaded “History of MAZE” based on a short interview with Christopher Manson. Check it out under the MAZE tab.
White Raven
Wow, great history! Did the illusive puzzle master himself really help with it?
This is the 152nd comment!
Special thanks to our significant contributors:
Janice – Joined 1-21-13
The Umbrella – Joined 1-23-13
Carl Koffman – Joined 1-28-13
Alyssa – Joined 2-22-13
Laura – Joined 3-1-13
Rohan – Joined 3-6-13
Slackman – Joined 3-7-13
Kevin – Joined 3-14-13
Darth Johanson and his train – Joined 3-21-13
Dr.Blipenstein – Joined 3-24-13
SP – Joined 3-29-13
Josh – Joined 4-26-13
Beelzebibble – Joined 6-26-13
Owen Hammer – Joined 7-27-13
Emily – Joined 8-30-13
And thank you to Christopher Manson for lending his insight to the project.
Welcome Owen Hammer! Great comments!
Welcome Beelzebibble! (Demonic? Muppet? You decide…)
Great comments! (Rooms 2, 5, 7, 8)
Haha, thanks! I pretty much flipped out when I realized this site exists.
Hello to Beelzebibble! I’m on here a lot but haven’t written recently because, well, I haven’t figured out anything new to write. The truth is out there but clearly not in me.
Magdalena Manticore wrote:
“Thank you, and thank you very much for making such a wonderful website. I really appreciate it. I love MAZE and I’m happy to find an online community to celebrate and discuss it. I am not clever with puzzles, it is the pictures I love; the MAZE world has always seemed very real to me. This is why I was so excited to hear that Mr. Manson may release some images from the sequel. Thanks again very much, and I am sending good wishes to you. MM”
Magdalena Manticore,
When I was young it was the illustrations the drew me in as well. I spent plenty of time trying to solve the puzzle but really it was imaginary place itself that I was yearning for.
Welcome!
- White Raven
Just bought a copy. A friend had one as a kid and we spend hours and hours with the thing. The maze is amazing! I want to work on solving stuff but I just wind up marvelling at the drawings. Incredible!
Greetings Hurley. I dub you an official Abyssian!
A MAZE group! What a find! I’m a childhood devotee as well. I burned out many a battery under the sheets trying to fathom the maze. I don’t have much to share except my enthusiasm for the book. Hello everyone!
It’s really great to see so many people taking an interest in this, and that we are (mostly) all tied to this book from our childhoods!
It’s pretty crazy hearing feedback about Dave Gentile’s assessment of Maze, at times I agree that he sounded a little far fetched in his apparent obsession with anagrams of the author’s name. Like most I was blown away by his assessment of Room 26, I don’t think I would have ever come to that conclusion even with Google as a research tool. On the other hand I think he comes way off the mark in his mentioning St. Christopher (Christ-bearer) and any other christian doctrine, it’s pretty clear from Manson’s thematic use of pagan and astrological symbolism that he has left Christ out of this. However, Dave’s work on that room alone made me realize that the Maze is still bound by the “rules” of most puzzles similar to it (are there any?), meaning that there is the assumption by the reader that the “answers” are contained within the book. The book does not not “break the fourth wall” so to speak, I still believe there are concrete right and wrong answers, it’s not up to interpretation, period, or it wouldn’t be a puzzle. Even though some of the hidden messages are very elaborate, I think it would be more accurate to research things you know that are definitely true (for example that everything in room 2 begins with B, Bear, Broom, Bench, Box, Byzantine frescos, Banners) rather than straying from the facts (for example, finding out the incorrect identity of the bearded guy on the poster in room 16..I have a theory on this though, see Identity of Guide)
Anyway happy hunting people, lets do this
I agree with you entirely regarding Dave Gentile’s work on room 26. His solution to room 26 is awe inspiring.
But his anagramming is so obviously wrong that it makes me wonder if he just got lucky regarding room 26 or if he copied the idea from someone else. He put a lot of work into anagramming every room without realizing the obvious statistical problem with his approach.
Now that you mention this could have been a lucky roll of the dice on his part, it makes me wonder if he used his previous knowledge of the Atlas answer to backward-solve this room’s elements?
Carl,
I love the phrase “Brotherhood of the Abyss” is this what we should call ourselves?
No, hold it, we need something gender neutral.
Ideas anyone?
White Raven
“Sisterhood of the Abyss.”
Just kidding.
How about, “Abyssians.”
I think it’s cool that Carl, SP, me and Raven are all here at the same time. Only the second time we have had a bunch at once. I take it you are all subscribed to the Welcome page?
As the creator/moderator I am basically subscribed to every page.
I am getting notifications on the author page and all the room pages. But I am adding the welcome page right now. I got an email when SP posted the awesome Chairon theory.
Is this a complete walkthrough of the Maze?
Danny Boy,
The purpose of this community is to discuss the Christopher Manson’s magnum opus, MAZE. Over time these discussions will become a walk through.
Already this site is the most complete collection of information about Christopher Manson’s MAZE available… but there really wasn’t much out there to compete with.
I just rediscovered my old copy of MAZE a few weeks ago and quickly became obsessed (honestly, I think it was completely over my head when first received as a gift 20 years ago). Looks like this site just launched… lucky me! A fantastic resource! Thank you!
Alyssa, Welcome! Yes, it is brand spanking new. I am surprised people have already found it, the site is buried on page four of Google results for “Manson’s MAZE.” Not until a few days ago did I get Chris’ permission / blessing on the site. I believe you are post-er number five. I suspect things will get hopping here in a month or so.
You’ve met C. Manson?
What is he like?
I’ve emailed Christopher Manson several times and spoken with him on the phone. He has agreed to help me put together the MAZE History page, so I really need to call him back sometime soon here. I am trying to be sparing with my contact with him.
Mr. Manson is a recluse. He is very well spoken. He talks in a carefully measured hush.
He renovates the illustrations in rare books for the government and private collectors, and so he spends most of his time surrounded by forgotten books. Pretty much exactly as I had always imagined him.
He was reluctant to speak with me, but when he saw that Into The Abyss reflected the Gothic feel of the book he relented. We had a long rambling conversation. We have several of the same interests, especially alchemaic illustrations, Gothic architecture and obscure illustrated books. His knowledge of the obscure and archaic is practically encyclopedic.
A unique person with an incredibly complicated mind.
So cool to hear that you got Manson’s personal permission! I also really dig your books/resources/recs pages. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! :D
I really had fun with it. I am glad you like it!
I always thought there was way more to the book than the 16 room solution. Everywhere on this site is proof that I was right!
Welcome Carol! Yes, Christopher Manson’s MAZE has puzzles on every page, not just on the 16 room path. Some indicate that the reader is lost, others indicate the correct door to take to get back to the correct path, and others reveal the identity of the guide. Nothing in the book is filler.
Entering the MAZE…
Don’t get lost…
Wouldn’t be prudent…
White Raven, I LOVE this site.
Hello to The Umbrella! Thanks for adding all the stuff from everywhere else. I have wanted to figure this book out since I was a teen!
Thank you! :D
FYI Awesome site! Love the mood. Love the name! Great to have a place to talk about the MAZE book.
Thank you! I really put my heart into it. The site is still changing, it should be done in a few days.
Is this site active yet?
It is now. You’re the first visitor. I’m surprised you found the site. I haven’t even added meta tags yet. Go ahead and start posting and they will come. :)