23-across in last week’s crossword is a little “out of character” for a Stickler puzzle. I put it in there on purpose to give me something to write about this week (sort of). The clue, A clock, one with a particular role? (7), needs the solver to treat clock as c + lock, and then find a synonym for lock . It’s a tall order, and falls into the libertarian category, that is, it disobeys standard language rules, forcing the solver to basically process the “word” (and processing it the right way to make the clue work) before actually using it in a clue. However, if I do this sort of thing (and I don’t very often), it will always be accompanied by a “?” (my “language abuse” warning) as I believe it’s my duty to warn solvers when all it not as it seems (or can’t be validly taken). For me, anything less is not being fair to the solver, as such shenanigans without warning could lead to anarchy. Take a look at this clue, 14-across: Deposit stated in legal document may be held up (7) If every word could be broken down before use, then the clue could look like this: Depo + sit/Depos + it, st + ate + d/stat + ed, i+n, l + eg + a + l/ le + gal etc etc. Imagine having to look at every word in every clue this way, which is at the extreme end of libertarian clueing, but of course, without indication, every clue has to be looked at this way. That’s why I need to indicate a variation to the norm by adding a “?” (and, BTW, not including and “?” where it doesn’t apply) – after all we are playing a word game here and liberties can only go so far. Is it right for every clue to be libertarian? That’s for solvers to judge, but a crossword written that way would be a hard slog to solve and the majority of clues would only unravel after the answer has been found, defeating the whole purpose of cryptics IMO.
It should be noted that libertarian setting is much easier than traditional Ximenean clueing as each word potentially has more options for the setter. Often such setting is seen as more creative, yet the setter has more tools to play with and is making it easier for themselves by using this style.
I’m happy to hear your feedback on this type of thing. As I said, it’s not a common thing in Stickler crosswords and it is indicated, so hopefully it isn’t too left-field for most solvers.
Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | ISSUES | |
Crooked Aussies not charged with capital matters (6) | Anagram of AUSSIES minus A (capital letter) | |
5 | FIND | |
Track down addict dropping ecstasy (4) | FIEND minus E | |
9 | ||
Art deleted from material used incorrectly in communication (1-4) | Anagram of MATERIAL minus ART | |
10 | DRAG RACER | |
Drive car backwards in gear, upset with fast competitor (4,5) | DR + (CAR reversed inside anagram of GEAR) | |
13 | PLEDGER | |
Promising person quietly detailed book of accounts (7) | P + LEDGER | |
14 | DELAYED | |
Deposit stated in legal document may be held up (7) | LAY inside DEED | |
15 | TA-TA | |
Length of event at auditorium is so long (2-2) | evenT AT Auditorium | |
16 | PERSECUTOR | |
In essence, court tortured a tormentor (10) | PER SE + anagram of COURT | |
19 | COMBUSTION | |
Search rigged units containing oxygen burning (10) | COMB + anagram of UNITS outside O | |
20 | CLAM | |
Very reticent person, one kept from mining land (4) | CLAIM minus I | |
23 | ACTRESS | |
A clock, one with a particular role? (7) | A + C(TRESS) | |
25 | NOODLES | |
Pasta, lots, offered after starter from Napoli (7) | OODLES after (N)APOLI | |
26 | PERFORMER | |
Right fashion adopted by noble entertainer (9) | (R + FORM) inside PEER | |
28 | SHALE | |
Marketing surrounding hard rock (5) | SALE outside H | |
29 | DOOR | |
Reception or a place of entry (4) | DO + OR | |
30 | SALARY | |
Authority accepting 60% of large payment for work (6) | SAY outside (LAR)GE | |
Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
2 | SILAGE | |
Stored fodder is blown around by wild gale (6) | IS reversed + anagram of GALE | |
3 | UNDERFELT | |
Layer found at the bottom of pile? (9) | Cryptic Definition | |
4 | STAID | |
Grave stone placed next to support (5) | ST + AID | |
5 | FORELOCK | |
Hairy growth or otherwise ultimately carried by sheep (8) | [OR + OTHERWIS(E)] inside FLOCK | |
6 | DUE | |
Proper sovereign prince deposing king (3) | DUKE minus K | |
7 | DESPOT | |
Person with more than enough power to clean up mess? (6) | Double Definition – one punny | |
8 | CAVEAT EMPTOR | |
Adventurer holding a casual worker to purchasing principle (6,6) | CAVER outside (A + TEMP + TO) | |
11 | CRYSTAL-CLEAR | |
Announcement redirected at callers is readily understood (7-5) | CRY + anagram of AT CALLERS | |
12 | RIDER | |
Contractual clause directors modified without cost (5) | Anagram of DIRECTORS minus COST | |
17 | SCOUNDREL | |
Healthy relative poisoned by cold, bad egg (9) | (SOUND + REL) outside C | |
18 | AU REVOIR | |
Gold ring dropped in river spoiled farewell (2,6) | AU + O inside anagram of RIVER | |
19 | CRAMP | |
Confine resistance operating in military base (5) | R inside CAMP | |
21 | MASTER | |
Head of school in a term reassigned teacher (6) | (S)CHOOL inside anagram of A TERM | |
22 | TOSSER | |
One having a fling ordered roses after end of engagement (6) | Anagram of ROSES after ENGAGEMEN(T) | |
24 | SEMIS | |
They transport cargo of cruise missiles (5) | cruiSE MISssiles | |
27 | END | |
Close bends not protected by guardrails? (3) | (B)END(S) |
23a Knew it was hairy – NOW I get it. Wonderful.
Just may even get it next time round!!!!! Finally know ‘How I Got There’
– happy to see more if these David, taking us to another level.
David
I’m with Richard on this one. I laughed so much my wife wanted to know what was going on. I had to try to explain it to somebody who does not understand my passion for these challenges.
I know the U3A group will be interested today.
Arthur
I’m proud to say I worked out the wordplay for 23ac, but only after I had the answer. And I definitely needed the “?” to point me in the right direction. One of these every now and then is enough for me. Otherwise, we’ll start to confuse you with another setter called DAvid…
What Greg said.
Steve = : ^ )