Close Encounterclockwise
by Mark Halpin
ANSWER: TURN BACK TIME
This puzzle functions as a normal cryptogrammatic list, with the exception that the given letters are all presented in various rotations. Also, each letterform is a rotation of another. The unrotated alphabet is shown below.
As a solving aid, each letter is shown exactly once in its correct orientation, in maroon. The list decrypts into a series of clues, each of which suggests an answer in the form of "N°". Within each clue, exactly two encrypted letters have been rotated N° counterclockwise. Clues, answers, and relevant letters are:
ASTROLOGY'S QUINCUNX ASPECT | 150° |
MONTEREY PENINSULA MAGAZINE | 65° |
SEPARATION | 6° |
PAPER'S BURNING POINT | 451° |
FIGHT ALTERNATIVE? | 54.40° |
FORT MINOR OPUS | 100° |
TIMMONS, LACHEY, ET AL | 98° |
SCHMIDT/JONES SHADE | 110° |
IRVINE BAKERY | 85° |
BEARING TO LEAVE LOST ISLAND | 325° |
SOUTH POLE "CLUB" | 30° |
WHERE F EQUALS C | -40° |
The significant letters spell "AQUA SONG FROM SLIDING DOORS", which is TURN BACK TIME.
Note: letters that are rotationally symmetrical (in this case C, H, K, V, W, X and Y) cannot have their exact rotation determined; it can be determined, however, that they are not rotated the relevant amount. In no case are those letterforms used for an answer letter.