Here's a new way to alphabetize names. Each row of blanks below represents the name of a well-known person, past or present. The letters of each person's name have been numbered in alphabetical order. Repeated letters in a name are given the same number.

In the example, DENZEL WASHINGTON, the A is numbered 1, D is numbered 2, both E's are numbered 3, and so on, up to Z, which is numbered 13.

As a further solving aid, the numbers to the right of the blanks indicate which letters in the name appear in sequence in the alphabet. In the example, 2-3 means that the third letter alphabetically (E) follows immediately after the second (D). Similarly, 4-6 means that the fourth, fifth, and sixth letters (G, H, and I) appear sequentially in the alphabet. Of course, non-consecutive numbers indicate that the corresponding letters are not next to each other in the alphabet, a fact that will also come in handy while you're solving.

There is one further solving aid which you will have to discover for yourself.

Example:               2-3, 4-6, 8-9, 10-11

To enter the contest, figure out all 26 names below, then put them in alphabetical order by last name. Send the first, thirteenth, and twenty-fifth names, by email or snailmail, to:

Prizes will be awarded to the first three individuals whose correct solutions we receive by January 1, 2005. All winners will be listed in the next issue of The Life of Games, along with the full solution.
 

A.           2-3, 4-8 B.           1-2, 5-6, 7-8 C.         -   4-6, 7-8, 9-11 D.           1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 E.           5-6, 7-9 F.           2-4 G.         .         3-4, 6-7 H.           4-5, 7-8 I.           2-3, 5-6, 7-8 J.           1-2, 4-6, 7-11, 12-13 K.         -   1-2, 3-4, 5-8 L.           4-7, 8-11 M.           1-2, 3-4, 5-7, 8-10 N.           3-5 O.           1-5, 6-7, 9-10 P.           7-9, 11-12 Q.           2-3, 4-5, 9-10 R.           1-3, 4-5, 8-9 S.           3-5, 9-10 T.           1-2, 3-4, 6-8 U.           2-3, 6-7 V.           5-7 W.           2-4, 5-6, 7-9, 10-11 X.           2-3, 4-5, 7-8 Y.           4-6, 7-8 Z.           2-3, 5-7