Words: 72
Average Length: 5.27
32 Across was the main seed entry, but I’m particularly pleased with the 1A/64A pair (with a call-out to 53/55A as well). Please enjoy!
Categories
Tag: Difficult crossword
Categories
Themeless 75
Words: 72 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.22
The seeds for this puzzle were 22 Across and 52 Across. Originally, I was going to use 22 Across in a themed puzzle set among the stacks; the clue was going to be PG-rated (you can reverse-engineer any number of possibilities once you solve the puzzle). I didn’t have enough good theme answers, though, so here it is in a themeless. 52 Across is something I don’t believe at all, at least with respect to individuals. People in groups are an entirely different matter:
“In individuals insanity is rare, but in groups, parties, and epochs it is the rule.” (Nietschze)
Categories
Themeless 74
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.46
I had a lot of fun constructing this one. It started with 20 Across (a pun I’ve had in mind for a while) and 19 Down (a joke I heard from one of my fellow travelers to Australia and New Zealand, the incredibly nice and funny John C. from Ft. Worth, Texas, who along with his wife Charlotte and friends Urbin and Gay were wonderful travel companions). Next came 6 Down, crossed with 44 Across. Have fun!
Categories
Themeless 73
Words: 70 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.46
35 Across was the seed for this grid, and having just finished listening to some Bowie, I decided to cross it with 8 Down. 10 Down and 61 Across are attempts to clue common crosswordese in a fresh way. Enjoy!
Categories
Themeless 72
Words: 66
Average Length: 5.76
The seeds for this grid were 18 and 50 Across, but the clue I’m “proudest” of (in a that’ll-make-them-groan sense) is 3 Down. As an extra treat, here’s 1 Across singing “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.”
Categories
Themeless 71
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.19
Themeless, semi-tough, a bit scrabbly (hopefully in a good way), with nods to Stevie Wonder, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Simon & Garfunkel, and William Royce Scaggs (a/k/a 45 Across). Enjoy!
Categories
Themeless 70
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.36
20 Across was the seed for this one, for obvious reasons. Then came 45 Across, just because I think it looks cool in a grid. I hope you enjoy the result – come back Wednesday for a midi puzzle inspired by my recent visit to Australia (I’ll get to New Zealand the following Wednesday).
Categories
Themeless 69
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.43
Originally, 22 Across and 5 Down were going to be theme answers in a puzzle about barriers, real and metaphorical, but I couldn’t come up with three more decent themers to make it work. Presto change-o, I repurposed them as the seeds for this themeless.
I’ve wanted to work 30 Across into a puzzle for a while and managed to do so here. As for the clues to 31 Down and 50 Down, I’ve been doing a lot of reading/singing with my granddaughter. Hopefully this puzzle won’t go bumpety-bump-bump while you’re solving it!
Categories
Themeless 68
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.36
Greetings from Melbourne, Australia. I landed not long ago, some 28 hours after leaving home. Fortunately (and uncharacteristically) I had the foresight to write this post ahead of time so all I have to do is hit “Publish” before falling into bed.
I titled this a themeless because of its low word count and high difficulty level, but there’s a mini-theme among the grid-spanners. 20 Across was the seed; after I found out they’re going to play a game at Nationals Park next summer I had to put them in a grid. I can’t wait to see them!
ERRATA: IN THE CLUE FOR 37 DOWN, FRK SHOULD BE FRA, NOT THAT IT AFFECTS THE ANSWER. IT’S CORRECT IN THE ONLINE VERSION BUT NOT THE PUZ AND PDF FILES.
Categories
