| Comments on the clues |
|---|
| 1. A fetiche lacking feet; stumbles, possessing no junk. What a geek! |
| 1. | I think that 'no junk' is too long (half the clued word) to include as part of the clue. | | 2. | 'A' redundant; can't find fetiche in Chambers or OED; 'junk' used as is. Not competitive enough | | 3. | Definition is anaccurate, surface reading should really avoid 'junk' and 'stumbles' isn't really an anagram indicator. |
|
| 2. A loud denial that Sherlock uses opium? Actually, he can't get enough of it! |
| 1. | No marks from me to any entry that clues "junkie" in its direct meaning of "addict". Decapitalisation of IT an issue too. | | 2. | Too obscure wordplay and can 'it' = 'IT'? | | 3. | A good idea, but 'it' does not equal 'IT' | | 4. | Nice homophone, but "it" is not "IT" | | 5. | A stretch to arrive at this through the homophone; IT does need capitalisation | | 6. | Wordplay seems a bit hit and miss to be fair and definition as intended seems too narrow – IT should be capitalised in any case. |
|
| 3. Addict rolled joint unchecked almost, not having cocaine. |
| 1. | 3 Removal of arbitrary letters indicated just by "almost" is weak. | | 2. | Unfortunately I think the clue needs more of a definition than 'addict'. | | 3. | Def doesn't really get you there | | 4. | Surface reading seems a little strained and definition really needs to specify subject of addiction. |
|
| 4. Addict who craves more and more speed? |
| 1. | I liked this one because it was indeed cryptic and so succinct | | 2. | Could be other things, e.g. a car enthusiast or adrenaline junkie | | 3. | Succint, but I'm not sure it works as a wordplay + def or a double def clue? | | 4. | I don't think a solver could be reasonably expected to get this. | | 5. | Def a bit inadequate I feel | | 6. | Why speed ? |
|
| 5. An innovator in spirit Juncker mostly has a drop of Haig last thing at night – i.e. no Horlicks (12) |
| 1. | Unsolvable, surely – a one-way journey by the setter from solution to clue | | 2. | Horlicks = anagram indicator? | | 3. | Incongruous surface | | 4. | 'Horlicks' isn't really an anagram indicator, wordplay requires 'in night' and definition seems imprecise. |
|
| 6. As pollster with all the latest gadgets, perhaps, initially judging UK in the EC? No, out! |
| 1. | EC is not really an alternative name for EU, sorry (EC is now European Commission) | | 2. | Why 'pollster'? | | 3. | Topical, but where does 'pollster' come into it? | | 4. | Role of 'pollster' in the definition? Seems to be there only for surface | | 5. | Nice try at a topical surface, but 'Pollster' seems to be padding that confuses the definition. |
|
| 7. Being into computers, would he notice glitch after input of garbage? |
| 1. | I get the anagram indicator (would XYZ glitch?) but to call a technojunkie a "being (who is) into computers" is a bit strange | | 2. | 'would' needed for surface reading but spoils the cryptic element. | | 3. | I can't find any evidence of 'glitch' as a verb. | | 4. | "Would" doesn't seem to fit | | 5. | 'would' is intrusive | | 6. | Definition seems too narrow, 'would' is superfluous to wordplay and 'glitch' isn't an anagram indicator. |
|
| 8. Chuck entertained by music that's obsessive |
| 1. | Can't really abbreviate "that is" to "that's" in this sense. | | 2. | Unfortunately I think the clue needs more of a definition than 'obsessive'. | | 3. | def doesn't seem to unequivocally lead to the required answer | | 4. | Wordplay requires 'that is' (see clue 9) and definition is too vague. |
|
| 9. Computer fan that is installed at end of houseboat. |
| 1. | Nice play on (electric) fan, though the required "house/boat" split is probably unfair | | 2. | Why would a computer fan be installed in a houseboat? | | 3. | Surface seems a little unlikely | | 4. | One might install a fan, but a computer fan? And to lift and separate 'houseboat' for what is required here seems way too challenging | | 5. | Definition seems too narrow, wordplay as intended requires a space between 'house' and 'boat' and surface seems rather arbitrary. | | 6. | Houseboat is one word. |
|
| 10. Computer freak has irregularity: unjoint cheek (12) |
| 1. | Poor surface reading doesn't really make sense. | | 2. | Avoid strange phrases like "unjoint cheek" – they are obvious anagram fodder | | 3. | 'has irregularity' as anagram indicator preceding the fodder doesn't work for me | | 4. | Definition requires 'for example', anagram indicator should be 'irregularly' or '(is) irregular'. |
|
| 11. Computer geek found distasteful ethnic joke about headless nun. |
| 1. | The surface reading is good but the link word 'found' jars | | 2. | Can't see how distasteful indicates anagram | | 3. | Works, but surface doesn't excite | | 4. | Definition requires 'for example', surface seems strained and linkword requires the sense of 'from' (definition from wordplay). |
|
| 12. Cop ransacked john, uncovered "comparatively malodorous" individual hooked on tablets, etc. |
| 1. | I liked this one but would have had trouble getting 'UNKIE' from the 'obs or US dialect' usage | | 2. | Nice use of 'tablets' | | 3. | Surface seems a bit contrived | | 4. | A colourful surface but the wordplay is rather challenging and is 'tablets etc' a fair definition of the latest technology ? | | 5. | 12 "hooked on tablets" is a wonderfully distracting definition. |
|
| 13. Digital-Age addict is high on ecstasy, THC, heroin, and meth (but not cocaine) |
| 1. | Wow, are you a pusher? | | 2. | 13 Why is "high" an anagram indicator? | | 3. | One of the better clues, but Digital-Age doesn't really fit. | | 4. | Plenty of drug references this month, this is my favourite of these. | | 5. | Wordplay is far too complex to be fair to the solver. |
|
| 14. Disarray in the UK once Johnson's premier? I'm obsessed with it from a capital perspective! |
| 1. | Pity about noun-before-fodder "disarray" when an -ing word ("wrangling"?) would have been stricter | | 2. | Very good wordplay; shame about the definition. | | 3. | Another nicely topical surface but needs 'Johnson's leader' for J and the definition as intended seems too narrow. |
|
| 15. Entice UK John Hop to be an addict. (12) |
| 1. | 15 Addict for what? "Techno" is there in the cryptic part but not in the definition. | | 2. | def a bit weak, could be any addict | | 3. | 'Hop' isn't really an anagram indicator and the definition really needs to specify subject of addiction. | | 4. | Great clue using JH! |
|
| 16. Fly the Union Jack over Europe, though not a fan of recent developments. |
| 1. | Great effort, but none of the major dictionaries gives E = Europe as an abbreviation (Chambers has E = European) | | 2. | Not sure about 'fly' before the fodder as anag ind but still prefer it to my similar effort | | 3. | Shame about the full stop, but even so this is by some distance the best clue here. I wish I'd seen the Union Jack anagram. | | 4. | E = European not Europe? | | 5. | I like the surface, but E = European, not Europe. | | 6. | Good surface reading though 'wave' might be a better anagram indicator. | | 7. | 16 "recent developments" is very broad for clueing technology |
|
| 17. Gadget freak programmer claims to be a health nut at heart! |
| 1. | Big ask of the solver to get "NO JUNK" from "claims to be a health nut" | | 2. | "health nut" to "no junk" is too big a stretch for me. | | 3. | Cryptic element too vague | | 4. | 'to be' seems ungrammatical in the required syntax; also a bit of a stretch to arrive at the solution | | 5. | Wordplay seems rather awkward (why the exclamation?) and surface reading a bit arbitrary. |
|
| 18. Garbage music that's written by IT Poindexter ? (12) |
| 1. | Wordplay requires 'that is' (see clue 9) but not 'written by' and definition by example seems inaccurate. |
|
| 19. Geek decoded the "Coke" in about a month (12) |
| 1. | 'the Coke'? | | 2. | Surface as intended seems obscure and definition inaccurate. |
|
| 20. Geek's notice, he deciphers, contains spam |
| 1. | Strange surface and don't quite agree with 'deciphers' as anagram indicator | | 2. | Wordplay requires 'deciphered', definition not accurate. |
|
| 21. HE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT! |
| 1. | No wordplay, so nul points for effort I'm afraid. | | 2. | Caps trick does more harm than good | | 3. | Doesn't uniquely point to the required solution, could choose from a bunch of alternatives | | 4. | Why the disguise, it just makes the clue less fair (see clue 32) – definition requires 'for example'. |
|
| 22. Heck! June and time for travelling? 'No' for me, I'm glued to my screen! |
| 1. | Good effort, but 'not for me' would be more natural than 'no for me' | | 2. | The definition seems inaccurate and does 'travelling' really convey rearrangement ? |
|
| 23. He's used every device to rid the Union Jack of a crumbling Europe |
| 1. | Nice but sadly I fear 'a crumbling England might have been politically more appropriate :) | | 2. | Anagram element is split | | 3. | Like 16, this clue assumes E = Europe, for which I can find no justification. | | 4. | Nice, but I just found 16 to be smoother. Still gets points, though. | | 5. | The surface would probably make more sense the other way around. Merit | | 6. | Wordplay isn't quite grammatical and surface reading lacks coherence. |
|
| 24. "I'M LOVIN' IT!" Notice he's nuts about food from McDonald's? |
| 1. | Flawless and ticklish clue that would be huge fun to solve – really well done! | | 2. | The most natural of the attempts to get round the IT capitalisation problem, and a well worked surface | | 3. | 'I'm lovin' IT' would be a fairer definition as intended (see clue 32), but it really needs 'for example' too. |
|
| 25. 'I'm not addicted,' the narc insists. 'It's just a little smack.' He most certainly is! |
| 1. | I don't understand this even after reading the explanation! | | 2. | Most of the pieces of a clue are here, but they're in the wrong order. | | 3. | Parsing doesn't seem to add up for the required sequence, and lots of extraneous stuff | | 4. | The definition seems inadequate and the wordplay rather convoluted. |
|
| 26. In the end, dead clear: jock, mad about computers essentially |
| 1. | Def. rather narrow and doesn't need first 5 words, 'dead clear' for 'clear of dead' seems awkward, 'essentially' should be 'at heart'. |
|
| 27. In-joke leads to his name unaccountably being replaced by DS Mac nut? |
| 1. | Can't resist giving this in-joke points | | 2. | Not excited with the surface | | 3. | The obscurity of wordplay and vagueness of definition aren't really justified by the odd surface reading. |
|
| 28. iPhone user? |
| 1. | Not very cryptic. | | 2. | No clue as to what the solver is to look for | | 3. | I don't think a solver could be reasonably expected to get this. | | 4. | Would need a fair bit of imagination to get to the answer | | 5. | Why iPhone ? Lacking in wordplay for 'techno' and an accurate definition. |
|
| 29. Jobs, maybe, after college? That's to follow, no nonsense. |
| 1. | Wordplay requires 'that is' (see clue 9), surface reading seems a little awkward. |
|
| 30. Jobs, presumably, break the ice without spinning on heroin |
| 1. | should be 'breaks' to be grammatically consistent? | | 2. | The definition and wordplay don't really gel to form a smooth surface reading. |
|
| 31. John, Kat, and Eunice are mad – not one loony about gizmos, widgets, and such. |
| 1. | Construction seems a little forced | | 2. | Who are these persons? | | 3. | Definition seems to indicate an adjective and doesn't really form a smooth surface with the wordplay. |
|
| 32. "Junk it!", he once cracked; now he is obsessed with IT. |
| 1. | Delightful clue and the surface reading flows smoothly. | | 2. | Definition requires 'perhaps' perhaps and the surface reading seems a bit clunky. |
|
| 33. Lament of marooned old Chinese salt when hemmed in by ice? The silly geek |
| 1. | I don't think a solver could be reasonably expected to get this. | | 2. | No logical connection that I could spot | | 3. | 33 "salt" suggests sailor not boat. |
|
| 34. Maybe fry in nice hot June – around the 11th. |
| 1. | A nice clue except that (Stephen) Fry must have a capital F. "Fry maybe …" would have worked! | | 2. | Fry needs a capital. | | 3. | Would expect 'Fry' to be capitalised in this case; 'around' doing double duty apparently |
|
| 35. Modelling Nike, John's cute – he's always after new gear |
| 1. | 'Modelling Nike, John has cute' makes no sense. | | 2. | s of John's redundant | | 3. | apostrophe s in the middle of the fodder doesn't work very well |
|
| 36. Nice Hunt joke broadcast? I just love IT! |
| 1. | Good spot for the anagram; I think the definition is a bit weak though. |
|
| 37. niche nut joke cracked up obsessive gadget geek |
| 1. | Surface seems strange, what is 'nut joke'? |
|
| 38. Notice and gutlessly judge hunk working – an IT nerd |
| 1. | Just words strung together, can't figure out what is 'gutlessly judge' which is only used for letter selection |
|
| 39. Notice he is wrong about discarded goods, and he is no Luddite |
| 1. | Nothing wrong with the wordplay, but I'm not convinced by the surface story. | | 2. | Definition not quite on the money |
|
| 40. Novelty fan blown on juice then put in cocktail (12) |
| 1. | Cocktail = K? No thanks. |
|
| 41. O June, kitchen's a mess — because of all those gadgets I bought? |
| 1. | The random name and the conspicuous O make this seem slightly contrived | | 2. | 'O' is rather poetic and doesn't seem to fit the context, nor is the definition very relevant |
|
| 42. One craving latest wizardry makes JK continue her novel (not Rowling's first) |
| 1. | 'wizardry' is not quite the right terminology? | | 2. | Well done and refreshingly novel approach |
|
| 44. School without heroin, as example, produces computer enthusiast (12) |
| 1. | i.e. means 'that is', and doesn't indicate an example. | | 2. | 44 Don't like "as example" for "i.e." | | 3. | Not a great surface |
|
| 45. Should UK join EC then rebel, that might make one preoccupied with every new development |
| 1. | Good idea, and decent clue. | | 2. | Verbose with extraneous words |
|
| 47. The con is on: Japan's crazy nuke taking in international gadget obsessive |
| 1. | Can't figure out a meaningful surface |
|
| 48. The con unfolded, unwanted e-mails that is, for a computer enthusiast. |
|
| 49. The nun joke I cracked, initially tickled the gadget freak (12) |
| 1. | Happy with the phrasing, but second 'the' spoils it a bit, as does the comma, and tickled is a slightly iffy anagrind – perhaps upset? |
|
| 50. Time to reflect about new addict — the gadget freak |
| 1. | Like this one a lot but is the 'THE' redundant? | | 2. | addict in this context is not cryptic | | 3. | Using 'addict' for 'junkie' in the wordplay is too close to the final definition for me. | | 4. | 'addict' in wordplay just splits the word along its roots, not the best device |
|
| 51. User chasing latest piece of kit, installing new memory? |
| 1. | Love the clever construction; the def.'s OK as an example | | 2. | Seems to clue "tNECHOjunkie". Also user for junkie is too direct for me, and overall a bit tough | | 3. | Nice clue, but can't agree that this is an &lit |
|
