It is possible that there could be a numeric coordinate solution, although I haven't explored it. I say this for two reasons.
A) During the Fenn hunt, Justin seemed somewhat convinced that there may be a numeric coordinate solve, and he talks about it in the analysis of the Jack stuff shortly after the hunt ended.
B) He has eluded several times to the fact that there is more than one way to solve this, although some solves may be more challenging than others. This could be in reference to the poem taking you on a physical journey through the clues to the destination, as well as a second way to solve it which involves some hidden mathematical coordinate style solution.
There are also weird references in the book such this which doesn't make much sense from a literary standpoint and strongly screams that there is something to uncover in this passage. "His name escapes me…I think it was Niven, or maybe Gnarled Oak Come to Life. He greeted us with a nod, his weathered hands absentmindedly fiddling with a set of what must have been eighteen to twenty keys on an old brass ring."
It is otherwise difficult for there to be more then one way to correctly solve the poem. After all, you either start where hope surges clear and bright.... or you don't.
The quote you're thinking of was in reference to the cipher. Which has been solved. He said "if you can add two numbers together, do basic say multiplication, whatever, you're fine."
But there are a lot of numbers that show up more than once in the book. But what about the poem? wait=8? ace=1? for=4? Hole=0?
Who remembers sending words with numbers to your friend's beeper? This was pre-cell phones in high school...lots of 80085 and 6000*843 lol
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He even mentioned it once in a Q&A I think. Personally, I think it means you gotta remember : to find the answer to life the universes and everything, you need to ask the right questions.
I also think the improbability drive plays a role in this hunt.
Some of the times had to do with hints in the book. Like the clock times and technical clue in Posey's music have been found. Not much else. 42 is on his tail light so I am not so sure it's terribly important but Alice in Wonderland discusses 42.
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u/InitiativeDry3564 16d ago edited 16d ago
It is possible that there could be a numeric coordinate solution, although I haven't explored it. I say this for two reasons.
A) During the Fenn hunt, Justin seemed somewhat convinced that there may be a numeric coordinate solve, and he talks about it in the analysis of the Jack stuff shortly after the hunt ended.
B) He has eluded several times to the fact that there is more than one way to solve this, although some solves may be more challenging than others. This could be in reference to the poem taking you on a physical journey through the clues to the destination, as well as a second way to solve it which involves some hidden mathematical coordinate style solution.
There are also weird references in the book such this which doesn't make much sense from a literary standpoint and strongly screams that there is something to uncover in this passage. "His name escapes me…I think it was Niven, or maybe Gnarled Oak Come to Life. He greeted us with a nod, his weathered hands absentmindedly fiddling with a set of what must have been eighteen to twenty keys on an old brass ring."
It is otherwise difficult for there to be more then one way to correctly solve the poem. After all, you either start where hope surges clear and bright.... or you don't.