Created by Dennis Shasha, Dr. Ecco first appeared in the late 1980s as the brilliant mathematical investigator in The Puzzling Adventures of Dr. Ecco. Dr. Ecco’s Cyberpuzzles is the latest work to record the exploits and misadventures of this « omniheurist » (solver of all problems) and renowned private investigator. Joined by his colleague Justin Scarlet and his brilliant niece Liane, Ecco encounters a variety of puzzles posed to him by archaeologists, space station designers, heads of state, generals and reformed criminals. Some require new mathematical or logical thinking; some introduce new fields of research when properly viewed. You might even find a better solution than Ecco. Whether devising a new system of currency, fighting crime on the New York underground system or minimising costs on a Hollywood film set, Dr. Ecco takes on all challenges. With 36 illustrated cases organised around eight major mathematical themes (from « combinatorial geometry » to « ciphers and secrecy »), this book will encourage you to use your mind and your computer in ways you never previously imagined. These puzzles require no formal background beyond arithmetic and basic algebra, just a dose of curiosity and intelligence. Many of the simplest solutions in fact remain to be discovered and each case includes a brief appendix that discusses the larger implications of each puzzle. (ZDM/Mathdi)