| Comments on the competition |
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| 1. |
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An interesting variety of entries for a word I found quite difficult to clue. There were many good attempts to disguise the definition but few entries had a convincing surface that read fluently.
Top clues for me were 14 16 and 35
I also enjoyed the &lits 33 and 49
45 snatched the remaining point |
| 2. |
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There's a hint of desperation in many entries this month, betrayed by tortuous subsidiaries, cryptic definitions and much padding-out. That said, we have an entertaining mix of allusion and invention to ponder, and so selection need not be merely a process of finding the least objectionable. However, I'll leave general complaints about particular clues to others and let my votes serve as praise.
There are many anagrams used here, and they provide an opportunity to discuss the fairness of comprising them in either indirect or complex fashion. 10 is an example of an indirect anagram – the solver must first find synonyms of 'colleague' and 'crept' and then test each of perhaps dozens of combinations of words for nine-lettered anagrams of the solution. This is an impossible and unrealistic expectation. In 36 one is expected to to find a word or words meaning 'gives dirty look to', then combine it (or them) with 'punk' in an anagram. Quite apart from the fact that the given phrase is equivalent to 'leers at', and not 'leers' as required, the task for the solver is simply unfair. Such clues should be avoided by all setters.
For complex anagrams shorter than the solution it's preferable to make up the missing letter(s) without necessarily involving them in the anagram. 8 and 15 are examples, although 8 muddies the waters by use of 'involving' and requiring the solver to provide a synonym for 'dope' (cf 36). 15's subsidiary is much better, having all the required letters included in the text and fairly indicated. 43,46 and 47 bring odd letters into an anagram, but in transparent style. 27, by comparison, might leave a solver searching for anagrams of GI+KNEES+UP. However it is more direct in its indication than 13 which might lead similarly to *(GRO+KEEN) + R.
14 is a fine example of how to remove letters from an anagram. The two letters are indicated clearly and in the same order as they appear in 'UK personnel'. 30 and 32 fall short of that high standard, 30 leaving one with a painful surface, and 32 needing some fine polishing after all that scrubbing.
Two clues, 12 and 19 attempt to indicate an anagram with one letter removed and another substituted. 12 might be more convincing if E, and not R, were the last letter of SPELUNKER. 19 does not amuse – irritatingly fussy.
Voting:-
16 Simple but subtly disguised subsidiary – nice def(s). 4 points
45 A clue with depth. Tellingly apt surface. 3 points
47 Witty and effective – 'batty' allusion most apt. 3 points
14 Finely crafted entry – off-topic, sadly. 2 points
24 Idiot caver is about right – a hard clue to crack. 2 points
35 Not sure about 'orbiting', but neat and sweet. 1 point |
| 3. |
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There were lots and lots of clues with interesting ideas in. Of these, most didn't form into a satisfying clue in my view because of some:
– grammatical or linguistic strain 12 13 14 15 16 25 30 35 37 40
– loose definition 26 47
– long-windedness 6 18 19 21 32.
I gave points to the clues that were well formed and would have given satisfaction if found in a printed puzzle.
41 Neat. A bit of humour always hits the spot (even toilet humour) – top of this pile – 5.
I spread my other votes among 11, 22, 24, 39, 48 – 2 each. |
| 4. |
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This month's word seemed to provide an interesting challenge after last month's definition-heavy competition, with some interesting definitions being used. Some, I thought, were inaccurate, such as those involving "caveman" (which defines something else – and a spelunker is not necessarily a man). Also, those referring to the "underground", or to somebody moving downwards, I dit not consider for points, as caves may be above ground. That said, 28 and 37, while falling into this category, do have lovely surfaces.
Points to:
5: 41 – Very amusing and concise.
4: 17 – A wonderful surface; I very nearly disregarded this clue due to not being aware that "stupid" can also be a noun. A good reminder that we should always check what appears to be an incorrect usage, lest we do a disservice to a clue.
3: 13 – Nice pop-culture reference and a good definition.
1.5: 35 – Nicely misleading but perfectly fair.
1: 14 – A witty cruciverbalist context.
0.5: 43 – Like the use of Lascaux. |
| 5. |
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| 14 is the best for me and will be surprised if it does not receive a record amount of points. |
| 6. |
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| I wish one could eliminate clues by using some sort of filter, leaving a shorter (much shorter in this case) list on the screen to look at. That would leave me with 1,5,14,25,30,35,3947, and 48. I would be rather surprised to see any others in the top 5. None of them is perfect, but I pick 48 as the best. |
| 7. |
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| The wonderfully phrased 14 is the clear winner for me in a set of clues that's rich in misleading definitions. I also like 46's 'incomer in a deep hole', 41's 'whizz in a chamber' and 35's 'deep-space explorer', though I think this last clue is a little flawed structurally ('Orbiting sun, Kelper…' would have been better). 49 is the best of the & lit. clues. 'Knees-up + RL' is a great anagram opportunity that I wish I'd noticed, and 47 exploits it nicely, even though I'm not sure I'd ever describe bats as hanging 'knees-up'. |
| 8. |
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Some excellent clues this month. In normal circumstances, both 33 and 47 might well have earned 5 points from me, but 14 I thought outstanding.
5 points:
14 a marvellously apposite surface for a competition involving crosswords, a well disguised definition and a skilful s.i.
3.5 points each:
33 commands admiration for achieving a sound composite anagram &lit with such unpromising letters.
47 sound, economical and amusing (though I prefer to think of the caver rather than the bats having “knees up”).
2 points:
26 skilful, sound and admirably succinct, but “creeps” is rather artificial in the context of the definition, and it is only a matter of opinion (which some potential solvers might hotly dispute) that all spelunkers are fools.
0.5 point each:
12 an entirely acceptable clue with a workmanlike surface, but not a great deal of sparkle.
13 an excellent idea for the definition and surface, quite cleverly exploited, but “half cut” and “right!” – both arguably crossword clichés – weaken the surface and rather spoil the effect.
Prox. ac.:
3 marred by “movement”, which is not really appropriate to the definition.
16 almost an excellent clue, but the surface makes no sense without a hyphen between "Earth" and "burrowing"; if, on the other hand, that hyphen were there, the clue wouldn't work cryptically.
19 much to admire here, but “putting surface” for P is iffy, while “dropping in hole amuses him” without even a question-mark, is quite a stretch as a definition; from the point of view of the golfing surface, something like “delights” would, surely, have been better than “amuses”.
32 although SuperKleen does exist, it appears to be used for purposes such that at any dentist using it for cleaning teeth would be struck off.
37 a generally nice surface, but SuperKen, needed for the anagram, is rather artificial and the capital U of “Underground” is unfortunate from the point of view of the definition.
38 I badly wanted to give points to this highly imaginative clue, but concluded that “ending with whimper” for R simply wouldn’t do, while “One of the ‘hollow men’” as the definition needed at least a question-mark.
43 the surface doesn’t quite convince.
49 almost very good, except that, in my book, “slunk” and “slithered” are not (pace, eg, Chambers Thesaurus sv “slither” – but not “slink”!) synonyms. |
| 9. |
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| Clues 14 & 30 were very satisfying: 14 in a poignant way; 30 in a manner reminiscent of Cyclops. Difficult to allocate the remainder as many seemed far too tortured. |
