CiSRA Puzzle Competition 2013 - Solutions

4A. Some Assembly Required

The solution to this puzzle involves solving the jigsaw puzzle presented across all five of the Group 4 puzzles. Cutting the pieces apart and matching the edges produces what looks like four complete puzzles. From the contents, these can each be assigned to one of the other puzzle titles of Group 4:

• A puzzle involving an interview with a pharmacist about various customers, the drugs dispensed to them, and various things that might interact with the drugs: 4B. Interactions.
• A puzzle listing what look like plot summaries of various novels: 4C. Novel Plots.
• A puzzle listing what look like a set of crossword clues, listed under three headings: Across, Down, and In: 4D. XYZ-Word.
• A puzzle with a graphic featuring several prominent flags: 4E. Flags.

But this is only four puzzles! Where is the puzzle "Some Assembly Required"?

The solution is to look carefully at the shapes formed by the seams between the assembled pieces in the other four puzzles, arranged in order of their puzzle numbers:

The thematic solution is spelled out by the shapes: FRAGMENT.