Cryptics

[poliphilo]

I've been doing the Telegraph's Cryptic crossword for several months now. I've learned the ropes- the tricks of the trade- and now I can usually complete it in an hour or two. Yesterday I found a website devoted to it- which, among other things, reviews each puzzle and hosts discussions about the wit, poetic neatness and fairness of the clues. I was glad to find that a clue that defeated me in the puzzle I was doing yesterday was widely held to be badly-worded and a little unfair. I had thought that crosswords were an innocent, trivial pleasure; I hadn't realized there was a whole subculture out there waiting to suck me in.

One post contained a link to the Guardian cryptics which are- for those that know- the ultimate challenge. If the Telegraph cryptic is Mont Blanc, the Guardian cryptic is the Matterhorn. I downloaded one of them and gave it a whirl. It had a whole extra layer of deviousness built in. I struggled. I solved eight clues. Then I gave up and went to a dedicated site to have it explained to me. Ah, so that's what  was going on- the thing was themed to the life and works of W. E. Gladstone- greatest of all British prime ministers- and the GS repeatedly referred to in the clues was him. I'd thought it might be George Stubbs- the animal painter- which threw me right off track.

The Telegraph is getting to be too easy; I may have to cross over. "The fascination of what's difficult" and all that...

Comments

[jfs.livejournal.com]

I had thought that crosswords were an innocent, trivial pleasure; I hadn't realized there was a whole subculture out there waiting to suck me in.

One of the eternal truths of the internet - that subculture exists for all endeavors, and it's easier and easier to get in touch with them.

This is not necessarily a good thing.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like crosswords, but I don't think I want to become a crossword obsessive.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

One of my friends retired and started constructing crosswords. He gets published in the NY Times fairly frequently, though not on Friday AFAIK. He really enjoys it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

How splendid. I think constructing crosswords would be enormous fun.

[ingenious76.livejournal.com]

Gladstone - I'm teaching my Twelves about him at present. Amazing man.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They don't make 'em like that any more.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

The Guardian crosswords are amazing! I love Azed's cryptics and Araucaria's monkey puzzles.

Nine

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I need to explore further...

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

Oh, my... you put me to shame. I can't even complete an LA Times crossword. And that's, like, dude.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The thing about cryptics is you have to learn certain basic rules- after that things become relatively straightforward. Mind you, I'm struggling over the one I'm doing today.