Friday, June 20, 2008Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz
Anyone possessing enough hubris to imagine that their criticism of another’s work renders them a master is living in a very small world. We all comment upon what we see; however, I am always disturbed to read high-tea academic crossword puzzle dissertations by self-appointed adjudicators who couldn’t compose a puzzle worthy of their local ad rag. Further, many of the newly cropped-up crossword critics are merely duplicating what has been made standard practice by the poobahs of puzzledom, and now the sport of the introvert is becoming the parade of the extroverts. So, with that, I’ll be as brief as possible.
DUNGEONMASTER (15D. Underground movement leader?), MEDICINEHAT (27A. City on the Trans-Canada Highway) and SUZANNEVEGA (45A. 1990 Grammy winner for her album “Days of Open Hand”) appear to have been the first three selected entries by this puzzle’s author, followed by SPEEDITUP (4D. “I haven’t got all day!”) and SERVETIME (33D. Be in the can?).
From there, entries dwindle in size to eight-letter length: DAVERAGE (15A. 1.0); UNAWARES (17A. Without warning); MODERATE (58A. Chair); ONELINER (62A. Comic’s creation); WARLOCKS (11D. A 15-Down might have control over them); AGELIMIT (12D. Provision for holding certain jobs); ALLALONE (35D. Helplessly?) and JOYRIDES (36D. Teens’ escapades).
When the entries weren‘t arcane, the clues seemed a bit distant from the results, but all’s fair in the puzzle pit.
A few links across: 14. Head of an alley?; 19. Old-time comic Ed; 21. Gravlax ingredient; 23. A National Cartoonists Society award is named for him; 32. Carter’s second secretary of state; 34. Like dirty rice; 42. Two-time gold medal skier of the 1998 Olympics; 53. Film role for Russell in 1993 and Costner in 1994; 64. Where Covent Garden is; 65. Craft often utilizing rubber bands.
...and a few down: 1. Bench warmer; 5. Part of an even exchange; 7. Title role in a 1986 Woody Allen film; 8. Loser to Audrey for the 1953 Best Actress Oscar; 20. Dirt spreader; 38. Member of the aster family; 55. It might be baked for an appetizer; 59. “King Kong” role.
Very little was common in this crossword -- it was full of twists and turns, starts and stops, and a pure pleasure for the introvert walking through the dark passageways of the dungeon.
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
