Mystery Postal #416 is now open! The tracker link follows:

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gTrackerId=9885

For those who are new to mystery postals and for those who need a refresher the rules follow.

To get this postal you will have to guess the theme/name/subject of the stamp. Clues will be posted on the postal boards and on this tracker. I will try and post one per day. For each clue posted each person may make one guess prior to the next clue being posted.

Guesses should be sent to IrishRef via AQMail, not posted on the boards! Guesses will only be accepted from AQ members through AQMail.

Even if you have no clue take a guess anyway. Half the enjoyment is seeing the range of incorrect answers and how people connected clues for those guesses. You will only get a response from IR if you: A. Have the correct answer, B. Are very close or I need to clarify your guess, or C. Your guess peaks my fancy.

The first 10 members correctly guessing will be notified by AQMail. Tracker order will typically be determined by order correct answer receipt (Exception to this are international winners who will be at the end of the tracker). The correct answer with how each clue is related will be posted once the postal is full.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
This one will include clues that will each give you a simple answer. However, the theme/correct answer will be something that all of them have in common. In case no one can solve this in a timely manner, I have an alternate method for selecting the 10 participants. However, I firmly believe that at least a few hearty souls will figure it out anyway. Let the challenge begin!

Clues:
1. Forty-two

There were three common groupings of answers along with some random ones. Jackie Robinson and Bill Clinton were good guesses but far afield. If you received a response from me you are on the right path so far but you did not have the correct answer.

Clue 2 = Who is John Galt?

Clue 3 = Big Brother is Watching You

I thought this would be a hard one!? We have a correct answer with only three clues.

Clue 4 = They have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

We have three who have so far met the challenge. By now you should see the pattern of the clues. This is a little different that you aren't making 42 fit with John Galt etc. What those clues represents fit together for the ultimate solution.

Clue 5 = Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin .....

Clue 6 = Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there.

Changing tactics with this clue. It is not a qoute, but a general clue which should help.

Clue 7 = 100

Okay there is only one spot left. Plan on posting another clue in the morning EDT if there isn't another correct answer by morning.

This mystery has been solved by 10 souls. Solution and explanation of clues to follow.

Thanks to all that attempted to solve this mystery. Lots of interesting answers early. My favorite guess during this one was dystopian fiction.

The correct answer is PBS' Great American Read. PBS had a vote for America's Favorite 100 books. This isn't a definitive list of the best books but most popular. The challenge was how many you have read. My family is slogging away on ones we had missed, particularly Principessa.

http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/

The explanation in the intro did mention being up for the challenge.
Clues 1-6 were quotes from books on the list.
1. 42 is from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It is the answer to the meaning of life.
2. John Galt is from Atlas Shrugged. Actually very good and appropriate for the modern economy but is over 1,100 pages.
3. 1984
4. Catch 22
5. To Kill a Mockingbird
6. Grapes of Wrath (If we modernize that quote it would be tasin' of killin' a guy) As a sidebar there is also a Grapes of Wrath book based on war. If reading it make sure you get the Steinbeck one.
7. 100 was the final give away to stop torturing everyone. There are obviously 100 books.

Hope y'all enjoyed this rendition.

My favorite guess during this one was dystopian fiction.

But alas, your “favorite” was not enough to qualify for entrance. 😟

seriously kicking myself because I ended up on the Great American Read page multiple times and just decided it was too broad an answer. :( Next time!! Thanks for a great puzzle!

Kicking myself too!!!! Loved the challenge- Hapoy 4th!!