A Puzzle by JollySwagman
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Puzzle number 9 from JollySwagman today – and our latest new setter next week. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. I do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
Review will be here soon.
Looks to be a bit of a hitch. The puzzle does not seem to be there at present.
Should be OK now – it “missed” the schedule.
It took me a whitle to get started but once I’d sorted the two themes, it all went in with enough time to complete the puzzle, comment here, and be ready to start the day job, which is what I ask for in a Rookie puzzle
I did like having the two themes. I have lots of clues with *s by them, including 11a, 18a, and 5d. Hard to pick one for the gold medal position so I’ll go for 18a as my Across favourite and 5d as my Down favourite
Thanks to JS and in advance to Prolixic
My heart always sinks a bit when I’m confronted by a puzzle liberally peppered with interdependent clues but I know it’s a device much favoured by JS.
In the event, it was easier than I’d anticipated, despite 5d being amongst the last to fall. Still wrestling with the full parsing of a couple – will keep working at it.
Podium places went to 16&22a plus 3d. 1&8a also elicited a smile.
Many thanks, JS – enjoyed this one far more than I expected to at the outset.
I think I’ve done all of Swaggie’s puzzles and this was definitely the one which gave me least trouble to finish. I really enjoyed it and thought that 26 was extremely good.
Many thanks
This all came together more readily than I thought it was going to at first, helped by the two overlapping themes. Thanks to JollySwagman for an enjoyable puzzle. I particularly liked 1a, 29a and 15d but my favourite is 22a.
Today’s Independent cryptic http://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent/#!201701 confirms yet another Rookie/NTSPP ‘promotion’ to the big time and results in another setter being added to my list of ‘NTSPP setters that I review rather than Prolixic’
I’m having more difficulty than usual (and it’s usually pretty difficult) getting the Indy puzzle on line to respond (using MS edge on W10).
Is it just me?
Huge congratulations to Silvanus
You seem to have to jump through multiple hoops to get the Indy puzzle printed out but I’m glad that I persevered because it’s excellent with a good assortment of clues. Many congratulations to Silvanus.
Thanks for the feedback Gazza
Thanks for the heads up, CS. I’m very sorry that it sounds as if I’m adding to your eventual workload!
And very good it is too, Silvanus! Well done, you.
Enjoyed that, very engaging. Well done & thanks from me, too.
A wonderful puzzle. I thought the two themes were beautifully interwoven and the quality of the setting was up there with the very best. I liked all of the clues, but if I had to pick any favourites, they would probably be 8A, 19A, 29A, 30A, 23D & 26D.
Many thanks for enlivening my morning!
Hasslethymi
I have been looking forward to this, since Big D announced it a couple of weeks ago and having seen some of your fairly wild clues on the Guardian blog.
It was all huge fun. I don’t think there was an off clue in the whole puzzle, and too many likes to list.
My favourite was 30a, because it was so well constructed and beautifully unexpected.
Thanks for the entertainment
My thoughts are encapsulated by Jane’s first three sentences exactly.
Very cleverly constructed and plenty to smile at. My overall favourite was 29a.
With the two themes in mind, I couldn’t help thinking that, having had so much 30 later in life, 18 would have benefited greatly from a Fat Controller.
Many thanks to JS, and in advance to Prolixic for the review.
Jane has summed it up for me too, except my favourite was 22a. A few still to parse fully – don’t quite get ‘go bowling’?
A good puzzle which I enjoyed, thank you JS.
Double definition
Double D’oh!! Thank you CS
Thanks to JS – I’m new to the site and enjoyed the puzzle. Still trying to completely figure out a couple, but got to the solution anyway!
Enjoyed 3 and 16 – both raised a smile.
Thanks again!
Welcome to the blog, Adman.
Thank you!