Enigmatic Variations 1714 (Hints)
Shambles by Curmudgeon
Hints and tips by Phibs
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I asked Claude “Why would a lady crossword setter who normally uses the pseudonym ‘Chalicea’ occasionally set puzzles under the name ‘Curmudgeon’?”
Claude came straight back with his thoughts (I have edited out a couple of paragraphs that related to using different names for different publications).
“This is an intriguing question about crossword setting pseudonyms! Without knowing the specific setter you’re referring to, I can offer some educated speculation about why a crossword constructor might use different pen names:
Thematic or stylistic reasons – “Curmudgeon” suggests a grumpier, more cantankerous persona, so she might use this pseudonym for puzzles with particularly challenging themes, wordplay that’s more aggressive or sarcastic, or when she wants to adopt a more curmudgeonly voice in the clues.
Market positioning – Different pseudonyms can help target different solver demographics or create distinct “brands” for various puzzle styles.
Personal expression – The contrast between “Chalicea” (which has an elegant, classical feel) and “Curmudgeon” suggests she might enjoy exploring different aspects of her setter personality – perhaps the more playful or challenging side emerges under the latter name.”
I wonder if our setter will wish to comment on Claude’s ‘educated speculation’. And will we be dealing with Grumpy or Playful (a late sub for Bashful)? We shall see.
Preamble: Solvers must highlight 29 cells showing (3,3,7) in the symmetrically placed (3,6,2,5) as recounted by 11. In 19 clues there is a misprint in the definition that must be corrected before solving. Correct letters spell a three-word phrase that will help lead solvers to the SHAMBLES. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.
We have one of those clueing gimmicks which I quite like – in 19 clues, there is a single letter misprinted in the definition part. So if a clue were “Letter crooked on crude mug (10)”, the answer would be CURMUDGEON (anagram), the corrected definition would be ‘setter’, and the letter contributing to the message would be S. When only some of the clues contribute to the message, I find that in addition to writing the corrected letter alongside the gimmicked clues it is a good idea to put a dash against the ones that turn out to be normal – this makes it easier to spot the emerging message.
Across
3a Tormented couples completely heal (7)
The word ‘completely’ is part of the (misprinted) definition, but it can be ignored.
16a Having pale tug made of timber (5)
This is a double definition clue where one of the definitions contains a misprint – identifying the word wherein it appears is easier than working out the correct letter.
18a Reportedly discovered absence of type of fig (4)
The ‘reportedly’ introduces a homophone for a six-letter word suggested by the remainder of the wordplay. This is one of those clues where you may need to get the answer from the wordplay in order to identify the misprint.
34a Famish, maybe, sadly one lad can going round India (10)
The misprinted word in the definition by example (indicated by ‘maybe’) stands out, but the corrected word won’t be found in the main section of Chambers.
38a Fellows backing fleece covering (6)
Here the word ‘backing’ indicates that a three-letter word equating to ‘fellows’ follows a word of the same length for the fleece of a sheep in its second year.
Down
1d Rifts current between publicans (6)
A single-letter abbreviation is not found ‘between’ publicans but part-way through a word for publicans; the definition contains a misprint.
2d Recalled what makes brown carved scythe handle (6)
A reversal (‘recalled’) of an interjection similar to ‘what?’ and a word meaning ‘makes brown’.
10d Worried admirer leaving Mediterranean, disturbed about its volcano (6)
This is a subtractive anagram, where a jumble of the letters in one word is removed from another word, with the remainder being rearranged to make the answer.
21d Unimpeded dropping fine rocks in spa (4)
The word ‘dropping’ can cryptically indicate expulsion, but in a down clue it can also tell the solver that a letter in a word (here a synonym for ‘unimpeded’) is to be moved downwards. There aren’t too many options for the misprint that make any sense (just the one, actually).
24d Number is over ten? Not so (3)
The first four words provide a satisfactory cryptic clue; the ‘Not so’ sees the setter breaking through the cruciverbal fourth wall to add a comment on what has gone before.
27d Abandoning county, ale-conner moved from Lorne (7)
A two-letter abbreviation must be removed from the anagram fodder before it is rearranged. The answer makes the misprint very clear.
Definitions in clues are underlined
The message on its own could apply to all manner of situations, many of which involved British politicians past and present, but when combined with the unclued entry at 11d, one particular event should spring to mind. From there, locating the groups of 13 and 16 cells to be highlighted (the latter symmetrically arranged) in order to provide a graphic illustration of the recounted incident should not prove too tricky.
The clues, particularly the gimmicked ones, were not without their challenges, but the grid fill progressed steadily. The endgame led to a pleasing tableau.
Phibs Toughness Rating : 🥾🥾 (Suitable for all)
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I thought this might have been a novice setter, having forgotten Chalicea’s alias for anything remotely near the knuckle [19a?]. It was simple and fun [though I started badly by getting 3a the wrong way round as a decent synonym for “heal” as in wound]. I question the need for “disturbed” in 10d since the result needs no rearrangement.
Thanks to Curmudgeon and Phibs.
Interesting point about 10d, but I think there would be too much strain on a single anagram indicator, since the letters to be removed do not appear consecutively in the longer word, and this is not otherwise indicated (using ‘separately’ or something similar). On top of that, you only get directly to the answer if you remove the right instances of the letters.
Added for clarification: I don’t make the rules, I just try to explain them 😀. And I’m referring only to clues in puzzles like the EV where Ximenean standards apply.
That’s what “worried” is for – to indicate that the letters of “admirer” can be removed to suit. What’s left needs no further manipulation.
Thank you Phibs and Halcyon. Good to see that yesterday’s NTSPP was Phibs’ too. Thank you for that.
The question of a second anagram indicator in a subtractive anagram – I have to agree with Phibs that EV and Ximenenan rules suggest we should always use one especially when the subtracted letters could be chosen differently and I feel that unless there is an ‘extra word’ device, a little redundancy in the clue does no harm. (Yes, redundancy is a problem for me – I always need to cut down to fit word-count requirements.)
Curmudgeon! Claude’s first answer hits it on the nail. It was originally a cantankerous and grumpy response to blogger comments on the sweet feminine nature of Chalicea crosswords, and early Curmudgeons were not ‘sweet’ but sometimes appearing in too many consecutive editions of a publication required a new name and some. editors liked ‘Curmudgeon’ That’s my name in the annual 3D calendar crossword series – the Editor liked it (I have rather a lot of pseudonyms: Gnomie, Bombina and many used when two or more of us set together Bell, Nudnix, Dash, Charismatix, Chen and several more).