CROSSWORD #480: Themeless Monday

THEMELESS MONDAY: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF] 
PROGRAMS: [Across Lite] [Adobe Reader]

PROGRAM: [Java]

I go back and forth over what types of themelesses puzzles I like to make. On the one hand, I enjoy attempting to duplicate the work of masters Crossword Jesuses like Patrick Berry or Mike Shenk. That means whistle clean grids (I mean, we’re talking so antiseptic you can eat off them) somewhere in the 64-68 word range. And the other hand holds the idea that 70/72 word grids are the way to go. Just as long as they’re chockablock with fun entries. Both have their places in the puzzle world, as well as their pluses and minuses.

The Jesus-like grid is amazing as an artifact in that the grid can be so well-constructed it appears as if human hands weren’t involved in its creation. It’s almost like it just happened. Also, since we’re in the 60s word count-wise, there’s fewer clues to write. For my money, though, these grids tend to be a bit on the blander/safer side of fill. You’re just not going to see some sort of stunt entry like EXTEXANSQB in a Jesus-like grid. For starters, crap is usually required to make a stunt entry work, and that would never fly with these guys. Also, EXTEXANSQB is a somewhat dodgy entry, though I suspect {David Carr, famously} would work as a clue.

For a short while, I thought that the rise computer-assisted (or outright Autofilled) puzzles would force us to lower the word count limit on themeless puzzles, but there’s something about 72 that just feels right as a limit. (As an example, today’s themeless puzzle has 72 words.) When you lower the word count, you can go for more stunt entries. Unfortunately, that means you’re probably going to have more aforementioned junk, or worse three letter entries, making it happen. So while the tradeoff is less safe stuff, you will have more icky/routine entries holding the (hopefully) crazy fun words together. Is it worth it? Well, I guess it depends on those stunt seed entries.

Then there’s all those fugging clues in 70/72 word grid. Nobody wants to or frankly can write another hard clue for ETUI. That just isn’t possible. Unless your name is Frank Longo. He always finds a way, and that’s why he’s the third Crossword Jesus.

Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.