Googlequest a go go

I've succumbed to the lure of the Da Vinci Code Google Quest

Okay, so the book was hokey trash*, based on ludicrous nonsense, but I do like a puzzle, and the worldwide success of Dan Brown's work of literary genius has spawned some entertaining online diversions.

First came the original Webquest courtesy of Random House publishers, then the follow-up, Uncover The Code. Both follow a similar rationale, incorporating "homepages" of the characters, code breaking, symbology, and so on. The also take longer to complete that the book takes to read, engaging rather more brain cells as they do...

Now the upcoming film adaptation has lead to a link-up by Google and Sony to create a new quiz. It's accessed via your personalised Google homepage, and the clues require the use of assorted Google features to solve. Or alternatively, you could just look at either Lazylaces or GoogleFact if you happen to get stuck. There's a new puzzle every day, presumably up until the film release date, with the lure of prizes to tempt people in.

There really ought to be more book/quiz crossovers - I for one would welcome our new literary puzzlemeister overlords...

* If you want a good book on a similar subject, give Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco a try - though I should warn you, it can be quite tough work at times