A Puzzle by Gegs94
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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.
Welcome back to Gegs with a crossword that improved on their earlier appearance. There were still rough edges to be addressed, mainly in respect of the precision of some of the definitions. On that subject, I thought that the cryptic definitions were weak and where almost straight definition. Whilst there was a Nina in the perimeter solutions, it was slightly spoiled by the bottom not being fourth. As a minor stylistic point, do not include full stops at the end of clues. Overall, the commentometer reads 3/26 or 11.5%.
In passing, we have another milestone for the Rookie corner with the 600th crossword. A big thank you to all of the rookie setters who have contributed to the series to date.
Across
1a Not I, not you, but she. (5,6)
THIRD PERSON: Cryptic(ish) definition of the grammatical point of view.
9a This was in Alex. Chilling. (3,4)
ICE COLD: Double definition, the first being by reference to the 1958 desert war film.
10a Bar without Charlie is just the beginning. (7)
PRELUDE: An eight-letter word meaning bar without the letter represented by Charlie in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
11a Cardigan Eisteddfod hosts return of Italian city. (5)
SIENA: The answer is hidden (hosts) and reversed (return) in the first two words of the clue. Some editors will not accept constructions such as wordplay of definition.
12a Decorator spruced up Paris Metro stop. (9)
TROCADERO: An anagram (spruced up) of DECORATOR.
13a No runs over the top town, close to Windsor. (10)
MAIDENHEAD: A six-letter word meaning having no runs in a cricket over followed by a four-letter word meaning the top.
15a Agent took on rookie and left. (4)
FLED: A three-letter word for a US agent includes (took on) the abbreviation for learner (rookie). Whilst it would require reworking the clue, try to keep wordplay elements in the present tense such as takes on or taking on. Agent taking on rookie left would work better. As the agent is American, American agent would be better.
17a Boatman who took two of everything? (4)
NOAH: Cryptic(ish) definition of the original ark wright.
18a Rhythm of the night includes bursts of REM. (5,5)
SLEEP CYCLE: Cryptic(ish) definition of part of the night time rhythm that includes dreams (REM).
20a Speaker for the deep sea dog? (9)
SUBWOOFER: A three-letter word for a craft used in the deep the sea followed by a six-letter for a dog fancifully. I don’t think that “for the deep sea” is sufficiently accurate to define a submarine or, if the definition is “speaker for the deep”, that sea defines the first three letters of the solution.
22a Weight pulled back by rascal. He might keep this up. (5)
BLIMP: The abbreviation for pound (weight) reversed (pulled back) followed by a three-letter word for a rascal.
23a E-V charged with clearing out tenants. (7)
EVICTOR: The E from the clue followed by the phonetic word for V in the NATO phonetic alphabet. Whilst you can use verbal phrases to define a noun, it is not universally liked so it is better to avoid this type of definition.
24a Angler and I cast out to do this! (7)
REALIGN: An anagram (cast out) of ANGLER I. Another clue where I don’t think that the definition sufficiently defines the solution.
25a Forget hybrid working loses year in steel construction. (5,6)
FORTH BRIDGE: An anagram (working) of FORGET HYBRID without (loses) the abbreviation for year.
Down
1d Novel definitive crossing (short version). (3,7,5)
THE PELICAN BRIEF: A type of road crossing with the definitive article before it followed by a five-letter word meaning short. I think that the “version” in the clue is padding that should be avoided.
2d Devoted admirer. Groom’s response afterwards. (8)
IDOLATER: A phrase (1, 2) for the wedding vows (though not those used in church services) followed by a five-letter word meaning afterwards.
3d Type found in splendid Ottawa. (5)
DIDOT: The answer (a font name) is hidden (found) in the final two words of the clue.
4d Strangely, pain goes after eastern covert ops. (9)
ESPIONAGE: An anagram (strangely) of PAIN GOES after the abbreviation for eastern.
5d Tennessee sawyer retains up and down motion. (6)
SEESAW: The answer is hidden (retains) in the first two words of the clue.
6d Style of French cooking that suits 8? (8,7)
NOUVELLE CUISINE: Tongue in cheek definition of a type of cuisine notorious for small portion sizes where the answer to 8d might be required to get a decent amount of food.
7d Original church I included in address for Welsh leader. (5,8)
FIRST MINISTER: A five-letter word meaning original followed by a seven-letter word for a church including the I from the clue.
8d Endorse giving aid for extra food. (6,7)
SECOND HELPING: A six-letter word meaning endorse or back followed by a seven-letter word meaning giving aid.
14d Base for audiences (under 25) in Yorkshire town. (9)
HOLMFIRTH: A homophone (for audiences) of a four-letter word for a base followed by the name of the river that flows under the answer to 25a. I don’t think that under 25 is sufficient to indicate the river. Whilst not quite as bad as the construction such as in France to define a French city, it is better to avoid prepositional definitions of this sort.
16d Resting place for Blade, Strike-breaker and Poet. (8)
SCABBARD: A four-letter word for a strike-breaker followed by a four-letter word for a poet.
19d Actors agitated for equal billing. (2-4)
CO-STAR: An anagram (agitated) of ACTORS. I don’t think that the definition defines the solution. You would not say A is going to equal billing with B in the next film or A is the equal billing of the play.
21d Less well done. More hard to find. (5)
RARER: Double definition.
A well put together set of clues that we thoroughly enjoyed solving despite having to resort to Google for some of the UK geography. 1a set the tone nicely but was eventually pipped at the post by 20a.
Thanks Gegs94.
Thanks Gegs for an enjoyable puzzle. Smiles for 1a, 17a, 2d, and 8d.
One minor comment – the convention, as I understand it, is that the only punctuation used at the end of a clue, and before the enumeration, is ? or ! when applicable. Full stops (periods) are not used.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome back to Rookie Corner, Gegs94. It’s been a long time since your debut. I really enjoyed this and well done on including a Nina without needing to resort to obscure answers.
I have only a few comments:
– Apart from the use of full stops at the end of clues as mentioned by Senf, you also have four which have a full stop in the middle of the clue. This tends to break up the smoothness of the surface. In terms of style, it is probably worth trying to find a link word instead.
– I commented last time about an unindicated Americanism and you’ve done it again with the agent in 15a!
– I don’t understand the definition for 24a.
– Why are three words in 16d capitalised?
My top picks are 1a, 18a, 20a & 8d.
Many thanks, Gegs94. Please come back with another puzzle before too long. I think the main area for you to work on is your surface readings.
Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
Oops! Regarding the Nina, you have misspelt fourth.
Thanks Gegs24. An enjoyable puzzle with a nice Nina
Hope to see you here again soon. Thanks in advance to Prolixic
Hubble, a former graduate of Rookie Corner, has a crossword in today’s Independent
Good fun – thanks Gegs94! Some editors won’t like more than one ‘hidden’ clue type. There are a couple of clues that seem nearer definition-based clues than cryptics: that’s not a problem so long as your audience is expecting it – else they might get a raised eyebrow (or two). 9a may benefit from a ‘Movie’ indicator in some form or other, e.g. “This was filmed in Alex: chilling!” or similar.
I agree with Senf & Rabbit Dave’s comments re. punctuation. As another very minor layout issue, you seem to have a Carriage-return at the end of most of the one-line clues, which I’d personally remove, not least as puzzle editors are normally short on space for the puzzle.
I’ll leave some of the individual clue comments to Prolixic – thanks in advance to him.
Welcome back, Gegs, after what seems like a long interval. My first comment would be that you still need to work on those surface reads and my second would be that, as Tim suggested, 9a would have benefitted from the inclusion of something like ‘movie’ – I can’t be the only solver who didn’t know the film.
1a made me smile as did 8d but I’m personally unsure about how many laughs our Welsh leader engenders….
Thank you, Gegs, good to see that the Corner hasn’t frightened you away!
Bit surprised you didn’t remember the film Jane – the iconic final scene with John Mills sculling his pint was used by both Carlsberg &Holsten Pils in rival lager ads. Good film too.
Sorry, Huntsman, don’t even remember seeing the lager adverts!
Welcome back, Gegs.
As others have said, the unnecessary full stops (in the middle and at the end) seemed to detract from the clues unfortunately, and the surface readings often left quite a bit to be desired. The cryptic grammar was faulty on occasion as well and I didn’t feel that some of the definitions worked, especially when they were verbal phrases to clue nouns. I did like the cleverness in disguising the gas in 22a, one instance where without a full stop it wouldn’t have worked, unless it was moved to the beginning of the clue.
Things to like here, but for me far more niggles and flaws that no doubt Prolixic will point out in detail later.
Many thanks, Gegs.
Notwithstanding all of the points made by those that know what they’re talking about I really enjoyed the puzzle. Liked the 4 peripherals & the Nina (twigged for a change) & the 2 long ‘uns.
Many thanks.
A few niggles and nose-wrinkling surfaces, but enjoyable to solve nevertheless, thank you Gegs
Not sure ‘I Do’ is correct, that would be ‘I will’?
‘I do’ is a current statement, ‘I will’ is the committal to marriage
Not that I’ve ever married, so what do I know… [Prolixic told me]
Many thanks for the entertainment, do come again
Thank you Gegs94. We enjoyed your puzzle – had to use Google to solve 20a and we didn’t know Holmfirth. We missed the Nina until we read the comments at the end. We look forward to your next one. Thanks in advance to Prolixic.