Why Fallingdust Exists

Fallingdust is a small independent blog for people who like a trail that does not announce itself. It is written for players who chase clues across websites and hidden messages, solvers who sit with a cipher until it gives way, and science fiction readers who enjoy the ideas as much as the plot.

Three shelves, one habit of mind

Each article belongs to one of three areas. They share a habit: noticing small details and asking what they might mean.

Alternate Reality Games looks at how these games are built, how communities work through a hunt together, and what newcomers should know before joining one.
Mystery Puzzles covers logic problems, ciphers, whodunit formats and the reasoning habits that help when you are stuck.
Science Fiction discusses novels, stories, films and the speculative ideas behind them, with attention to what a work is actually trying to say.

How pieces are put together

The aim is writing a reader can use: a way into a first hunt, a method for a stubborn puzzle, a reading list with reasons attached. Facts about releases, rules and dates are checked against primary sources such as publishers, game organisers and the works themselves. Where something is opinion, the page says so.

Games end, links break and editions change. Pages are revisited and revised when something stops being true.

Spoilers and care

Spoilers matter in this field. Articles flag when they reveal a solution or a plot turn, and hints are kept apart from answers so you can choose how much to see.

Who reads Fallingdust

Readers range from the curious who have never joined a puzzle hunt to long-time fans wanting a second view on one book or one riddle. Nothing here assumes special equipment, a big budget or a team to play with.

Spotted an error?