Tech by Domini
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
A review by Prolixic follows:
Welcome to Domini with his debut Rookie crossword. There was a lot of inventiveness in the cluing and some good ideas on show. However, there were also a number of rough edges that need smoothing out in future crosswords. In particular, there was a lot of repetition in the wordplay indicators and too many anagrams. Some points are a matter of editorial policy such as using nouns as anagram indicators (which I would try to avoid) and using constructions such as first X to indicate the first letter of X. The commentometer reads as 10/28 or 35.7%.
Across
1a Argue back after clear end to shark fishing? (7)
NETWORK: A reversal (back) of a three-letter word meaning argue after a three-letter word meaning to clear, all followed by the final letter (end to) of shark.
5a One roots while the front line toots? (7)
BASSIST: Very obscure cryptic definition of the player who plays the root notes whilst the lead players play the upper line (toots?). I think that this is too obscure for a cryptic definition.
10a & 27. Active mole sunk entrepreneur (4)
ELON MUSK: An anagram (active) of MOLE SUNK.
11a Safety rail collapse makes reportedly grim reading (5,5)
FAIRY TALES: An anagram (collapse) of SAFETY RAIL. I would avoid clues where, instead of wordplay leads to definition, you have wordplay leads to wordplay to definition.
12a Treated herpes round ball (6)
SPHERE: An anagram (treated) of HERPES. Having three anagrams in a row makes the crossword seem unbalanced. Try to achieve greater variation in the wordplay used in successive clues.
13a Heard in conversation:- “Chilled or with a mixer? Lucozade perhaps?” (8)
ISOTONIC: A homophone (heard in conversation) of ICE OR TONIC. I don’t think that the homophone works as the R sound in OR breaks the sound of the solution.
14a Split points with a first top ten hit (9)
SENSATION: The A from the clue, the first letter of top and the number 10 go inside (split) five cardinal points of the compass. Some editors will not allow first X to signify the first letter of X.
16a Least eccentric inventor (5)
TESLA: An anagram (eccentric) of LEAST.
17a Obscure club’s lightweight openers pair up (5)
CLOUD: The initial letters (openers) of the second and third words of the clue followed by a reversal (up) of a three-letter word for a pair. I think that UP as a reversal indicator should be reserved for use in down clues.
19a Detailed open trade organisation is not as good as it sounds (9)
OVERRATED: A five-letter word meaning open with the final letter removed (detailed) followed by an anagram (oganisation) of TRADE. Some editors will not allow nouns such as organization to be used as anagram indicators.
23a Suspect fault if leading heretic divides believers (8)
FAITHFUL: An anagram (suspect) of FAULT IF includes (divides) the first letter (leading) of heretic. Another clue where some editors would not allow the first letter indicator. Leader of heretics or heretic’s leader would work.
24a Covered passage in the Bible – offered flood relief by the sound of it (6)
ARCADE: A homophone (by the sound of it) of ARK AID.
26a Spiteful, aggressive man goes first without me (10)
MALEVOLENT: A seven-letter word meaning aggressive with a four letter word for a man before it (goes first) without a single letter representing me (as in “It is me”)
27a See 10 ac (4)
28a Contents of tweet is bewilderingly spun for an online presence (7)
WEBSITE: The answer is hidden (contents of) and reversed in the third to fifth word of the clue. The surface reading suffers here because grammatically it should read “Contents of tweet are…”
29a Produce a successful film by the sound of it. Why? (7)
GROCERY: A homophone (by the sound of it) of GROSSER (successful film) followed by a homophone of why. The OED gives grosser as a general definition without American usage. However, you need a second homophone indicator for the why. Phonetically, Y is wye, not why so why on its own cannot indicate the letter. Finally, there is a repetition of the homophone indicator – by the sound of it.
Down
2d Obscure 8 arrangement with swapped notes (7)
ECLIPSE: An anagram (arrangement) of the solution to 8d with one of the letters representing a musical note replaced by another musical note. Another clue where some editors will not allow a noun as an anagram indicator. Also, given that the solution to 8d has three musical notes, either one of which could be replaced with one of seven musical notes, this is straying into the territory of being an indirect anagram.
3d Quail first cooked in Rioja? (5)
WINCE: The first letter of cooked inside a four-letter word describing Rioja. The use of first on its own has already been pointed out in 14a. Also, its use represents a repetition of a wordplay indicator which should be avoided.
4d Consider Spooner’s jumper ruined (7)
REFLECT: A Spoonerism of FLEA (jumper) WRECKED (ruined).
6d Either way, zany show has no lead characters (6)
ANYHOW: Remove the initial letters (has no lead characters) from the second and third words of the clue. To make the cryptic reading of the clue work, having rather than has is required.
7d Set piece – a run first earns up-and-under, therefore a try (4,5)
SOAP OPERA: Hold your breath as we dive into this one. The A from the clue, the abbreviation for run and the first letter for earns are reversed (up) and go under a phrase (2,1,3) meaning therefore a try. Double wordplay repetition here for the use of first (14a and 3d) and up (17a).
8d Unusual agents are seen in a short period of time (7)
SPECIAL: A three-letter abbreviation for American agents inside a five-letter word for a period of time with the final letter removed (short). Watch the cryptic grammar of the clues. Cryptically, this resolves to A are seen in B. Perhaps agents may be seen in… would give a better cryptic reading.
9d Boob job in Northern California? (7,6)
SILICON VALLEY: Double definition. I am hope that Domini is not a plastic surgeon but he or she would face lots of legal claims if they carried out a beauty enhancement this way! Some editors allow it but a pet dislike of mine is the use of IN X to define a place in X.
15d Short, short, short settlers (9)
SQUATTERS: A five-letter word meaning short followed by a five letter-word meaning short with the final letter removed (short). Whilst the alliterative elements of the clue are great it is spoiled because short has already been used as deletion indicator in 8d.
18d Escape from Egypt, alias The Arabic Uprising (7)
LEAKAGE: The abbreviation for Egypt, the abbreviation for also known as (alias) and a two-letter word in Arabic for the all reversed (uprising). As up has been used as a reversal indicator (in 17a and 7d, the similar uprising should be avoided. Interesting fact. The Arabic word for the used in this clue comes from countries where the second language is French. In Arabic countries where the second language is English, the spelling is usually Al.
20d Original creator of Fermi’s device (7)
REACTOR: An anagram (original) of CREATOR. Some editors will not allow a clue that resolve to wordplay of definition. Also, with anagrams, try to find anagrams that do not simply involve swapping two letters in the letters to be rearranged.
21d Patient possibly endures mistreatment (3,4)
END USER: An anagram (mistreatment) of ENDURES. Another nounal anagram indicator that some editors will not allow. Having nine anagrams in a crossword is too many.
22d On the surface, a good look inside (6)
AFLOAT: The A from the clue and a three-letter word meaning good, fruitful or profitable includes (inside) a two-letter word meaning look.
25d Light cavalry on manoeuvres in Crimea initially (5)
COMIC: The initial letters of the second to sixth words of the clue.
After a lot of head-scratching we got a correctly filled grid but a couple of parsings like 14a and 17a still not sorted.
Lots of very clever clues here so many ticks but the one that appealed most to us was 11a.
Thanks Domini.
Thanks 2K for taking the time to do the puzzle and to comment. Hopefully when Prolixic does his review the ones that you can’t see will become clear. (Though rabbit Dave makes the point that 17a should perhaps say something like pair back)
Welcome to Rookie Corner Domini. Like the 2Kiwis there is a sprinkling of parsings that elude me but not the ones mentioned by them.
The 13a homophone doesn’t quite work for me.
Smiles for 24a and 9d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Thanks Senf for taking the time to do it and to comment.
Welcome from me too – a tricky crossword with possibly too many anagrams, particularly in the Across clues. I can parse all except one so will await Prolixic’s explanation in due course
Thanks Domini and, in advance, to Prolixic
Yes – now you mention it I guess there are a few too many anagrams. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Domini. I found a lot of this very hard work. I did eventually manage to arrive at a full grid although with 14a & 7d unparsed.
Overall I thought this was a curate’s egg puzzle. There were some very good clues on show but some with points of detail to be addressed:
5a – If I have understood this correctly, the parsing is very obscure.
10a/27a – It is normal to indicate the complete enumeration for clues with a split answer, i.e. (4,4) here.
13a – I can’t make anything like a homophone from this clue.
17a – You shouldn’t use “up” in an across clue to indicate a reversal.
26a – “I” is not synonymous with “me”. You can use “Domini” or “the setter” instead.
29a – “Grosser” is not in Chambers and according to Collins is an American word for a high earning film so it needs a US indicator. Also, you need a second homophone indicator for “why”.
3d – “First cooked” doesn’t indicate C. “Cooked firstly” would work.
9d – A boob! A “boob job” is “silicone“.
21d – This is a very weak anagram as it only involves switching two letters.
I had ticks for 11a, 16a, 19a, 23a, 24a & 15d.
Well done and thank you, Domini. There are a lot of good ideas here for you to build on and I look forward to your next submission. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
Thanks for all this RD. Really helpful. If the two you can’t parse still don’t make sense after Prolixic has down his review I’ll try my best to explain….
RD, 13a. Is the homophone “ice or tonic” ???
I was almost put off by the ‘Tech’ heading but I’m glad I dived in and I really enjoyed this. Welcome to Domini and thanks for a good debut puzzle.
As others have said there are possibly too many anagrams, especially a number grouped in the across clues. Several of the anagrams also have nounal indicators following the fodder (e.g. organisation, mistreatment) which is not ideal.
I can’t find ‘Eg’ as an abbreviation for Egypt.
I have lots of ticks including 1a, 28a, 7d and 15d.
I look forward to your next puzzle.
Gazza, “eg” is the Internet domain code for Egypt.
RD, last time an internet domain was used Prolixic said “As domain names are not given in dictionaries, they should not be used without some indication that it is a domain name that is required”.
Agreed but in this case, Collins gives Eg. as an abbreviation for Egypt or Egyptian as well as being the country’s internet domain name, so Egypt on its own is acceptable.
Ah yes, thanks Prolixic. You beat me to it. After a bit of rumbling around in the archives I noticed you had previously said “The use of internet domain names should perhaps be indicated. However, they are now listed in Collins dictionary so are able to be used by setters.” The problem with the last one was as you say, NK isn’t in Collins. If I searched properly, it seems that in more than a decade internet domains have only appeared in the BD blog in Rookie Corner (i.e. not in the Daily or Sunday Telegraph or NTSPP).
Thanks Gazza. Glad the tech title didn’t put you off. It was actually just a “note to self” and I hadn’t actually meant to include it, but didn’t notice it on my proof read.
Welcome, Domini.
RD and Gazza have, between them, covered most of my concerns, to have more than half of the Across clues consisting of either a homophone or an anagram (or both) is far from ideal. The same homophone indicator was used twice in the space of five clues and I think 11a should have a definition rather than merely a homophone of the definition. Some of the constructions were also a little too ambitious, in my opinion, but at least the grid contained no real obscurities. My favourite clue was 15d.
Many thanks, Domini. Please read and digest Prolixic’s review carefully and I’m sure this will pay dividends in your next puzzle.
Thanks Silvanus. All these comments are so helpful- even if only to remind me I’ve still got a lot to learn!
I did wonder about 11a, as it seemed to be wordplay makes wordplay rather than wordplay makes definition. I wonder whether Domini might have got away with ‘Grimmish reading coming out of safety rail collapse’.
Or possibly ‘Grimmish reading coming out of safety rail’s collapse’.
Thanks to you all for your overall very encouraging comments. The observations about some of the clues which are less than perfect are really helpful.
When I sent it in, of course I thought it was perfect and you were all going to be wowed by my brilliance! Ha ha ha! But when I read the comments I’m amazed that I missed so many obvious mistakes.
Thank you.
Domini
Welcome to the blog, Julian and thanks for the enjoyable puzzle.
Welcome to the lion’s den, Domini!
Our resident experts have already picked up on the clues that didn’t quite make the grade and I still have a couple of parsing issues to sort out, but there were some good ideas on display here. No doubt Prolixic will have some sound advice to offer in his review.
Top clues for me were 11&24a.
Hope we see you again ‘ere long.
Thanks for doing it Jane and for the encouragement to do more.
Thank you for a very enjoyable and tough challenge, Domini. All pretty much parsed, unless I’ve got something wrong at 14a – quite a lot of points to be split, I thought? Too many anagrams for my taste, but as Dada gets away with it so regularly, I guess there are some editors who will be quite relaxed! My comments were otherwise limited to 13a (does not work for me either), the anagram at 21d, enumeration of 10a/27a, and silicon/silicone.
Lots from which to take encouragement: some good ideas on show, plenty of wit and humour, very good surfaces by and large, and plenty of deception. Podium places for me went to the anagram/homophone in 11a, 4d’s Spoonerism (I spent ages trying to use Roo), and the splendid 15d. I really look forward to your next puzzle.
Thanks again Domini, and thanks also in advance to Prolixic
Tha ks for the encouraging remarks Mustafa
We found it tough also but nonetheless an enjoyable challenge. We did need to reveal a few starter letters. Loved 11 and 12 across. A little unsure of the layout of the clue to 26a. More,
please, Domini, and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Thanks fopr the comments Hilton
Thank you Prolixic. Those are very helpful comments. I’ll try to take account of them all in my next one.
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic. Plenty of food for thought for Domini but I’m sure he can rise to the challenge!