THEMELESS MONDAY: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF]
PROGRAMS: [Across Lite] [Adobe Reader]
66 worder today. Enjoy.
Every now and then, people ask “where can I get my hands on some approachable/starter level cryptics?” If you are one of those people, I’d like to point out that a friend of mine (who shall remain anonymous) has begun writing the Everyman puzzles for the Guardian. And I can vouch that they’re fun and fair, and not too Britishy. Print ’em out if you’re interested in that sorta thing.
Share the puzzle. New one on Monday.
PDF link doesn’t work.
Getting into British cryptics (the American ones usually suck), which I’ve done three or four times over the, um, shall we say, years, is always a bit of a process. I don’t know that I would call the Everyman a “starter,” but I don’t know any other choice that’s better and the Everymans can be doable once you start getting the hang of it (I managed to finish this week’s fairly quickly for me). Along with the Guardian Prize, typically a lot harder, they’re also ones where you’re above temptation for a while (i.e., no checks or reveals for a week). And you don’t need to print ’em out; you can do them on-line.
“American [cryptics] usually suck”? Who’s being painted with that broad brush? Cox & Rathvon? Kosman & Picciotto? Maltby? The legions among the Cryptic All-Stars (http://crypticallstars.com/) and/or the National Puzzlers’ League? Inquiring minds want to know where the bar is being set – we’d hate to think we were wasting our time.
These cryptics are free, easy, and not always wildly clever — but plentiful and a fine introduction to the genre. https://lovattspuzzles.com/online-puzzles-competitions/daily-cryptic-crossword/