London Times Crossword clue: HELP!
Mark Wilson
the only one I haven't filled in:
In the Lake District a river can look great! (5)
I have the pattern of letters G_E_A.
My only guess is GRETA, which I'm thinking might be the name
of a river in the Lake District of England, and which is also
an anagram for "great", but if that's the answer I can't see
any way to make the clue arrive there:
"In the Lake District a river" would be the direct definition,
but "can look" as an anagram pointer for "great"????
Pretty poor, and unless I'm missing something (not likely - !!!)
this wouldn't be acceptable in any of this group's contests.
Then again, if the answer is something else, I can't think of it...
I though maybe GREDA, perhaps sounding like GRADE-A (that's great!)
but that's a sound-alike not a look-alike. Hmph.
Any help out there? (1) Explain why GRETA works, or (2) explain
why some other answer works, or (3) explain why I'm right and
although GRETA is the answer the clue stinks. [Let's hear it for #3!]
- Mark
- - * * - -
Mark Wilson, 410-796-4873 days
email: mwi...@hps.sso.loral.com
I am Loquacious of Borg. Prepare to be bored.
Ravi Sankrit
|> In The London TIMES Crossword No. 3510, there is the following clue,
|> the only one I haven't filled in:
|>
|> In the Lake District a river can look great! (5)
|>
|> I have the pattern of letters G_E_A.
|> My only guess is GRETA, which I'm thinking might be the name
|> of a river in the Lake District of England,
Greta, if Garbo, can look great. Whether this is the right
explanation, I don't know :-)
ravi
Ross Beresford
: In The London TIMES Crossword No. 3510, there is the following clue,
: the only one I haven't filled in:
:
: In the Lake District a river can look great! (5)
: My only guess is GRETA, which I'm thinking might be the name
: of a river in the Lake District of England
There is a River Greta, but it's not really in the Lake
District ... the other side of the Pennines. Still, I think
that's what the setter intended.
Are these Times puzzles you're solving from a book or franchised
in another paper? I'm wondering how old they are, as standards and
styles have changed over the years ... the puzzle in today's
Times was numbered 19,665.
--
._._._._._.
|_|_|_|_|_| Ross Beresford
|_|B|_|L|_| Email: ro...@bryson.demon.co.uk Voice/FAX: +44 734 344153
|_|_|_|_|_| Bryson Limited, 10 Wagtail Close, Twyford, Reading, RG10 9ED, UK
"J.A. Tony
mwi...@hps.sso.loral.com "Mark Wilson" writes:
> In The London TIMES Crossword No. 3510, there is the following clue,
> the only one I haven't filled in:
>
> In the Lake District a river can look great! (5)
>
> I have the pattern of letters G_E_A.
> My only guess is GRETA, which I'm thinking might be the name
> of a river in the Lake District of England,
It's the river that runs through Keswick. There's a delightful walk along
the old railway track towards Penrith which crosses and recrosses the Greta.
If only the trains still ran along it! :-(
> and which is also
> an anagram for "great", but if that's the answer I can't see
> any way to make the clue arrive there:
> "In the Lake District a river" would be the direct definition,
> but "can look" as an anagram pointer for "great"????
> Pretty poor, and unless I'm missing something (not likely - !!!)
> this wouldn't be acceptable in any of this group's contests.
I'm sure you're right about the anagram of "great". I actually find this
quite acceptable, but after many years of attempting more or less
successfully to solve the London Times's puzzle, I've learned to be
fairly tolerant of this sort of thing.
Regards,
--
J.A. (Tony) Sever
BeckySwann
ro...@bryson.demon.co.uk (Ross Beresford) writes:
>Are these Times puzzles you're solving from a book or franchised
>in another paper? I'm wondering how old they are, as standards and
>styles have changed over the years ... the puzzle in today's
>Times was numbered 19,665.
I quit buying books of British crosswords, esp. London Times, long ago
because of such "unfair" cluing. Are there anthologies available of more
recent British puzzles? While the supply of American cryptics is
increasing there can't be enough variety cryptics to suit this solver! I
have little interest in black square puzzles, fairly clued or not.
Becky
Ray Steiner
>I quit buying books of British crosswords, esp. London Times, long ago
>because of such "unfair" cluing. Are there anthologies available of more
>recent British puzzles? While the supply of American cryptics is
>increasing there can't be enough variety cryptics to suit this solver! I
>have little interest in black square puzzles, fairly clued or not.
>Becky
Here are some suggestions for finding good variety puzzles:
1). You could subscribe to TOUGH CRYPTICS. This is
a bimonthly publication with 4 "plains" and several
variety cryptics in each issue.
2). Henry Hook's HOOKED ON CRYPTICS has 15 fine
variety puzzles in each book.
3). For the toughest challenges on either side
of the pond, try the puzzles in CROSSWORD. There
are two brainbreakers in each (monthly) issue. They
also have an "any answers" competition and a clueing
competition from time to time.
Ray Steiner
--
ste...@andy.bgsu.edu
Mark Wilson
Puh-leez!
Mark Wilson
>"Mark Wilson" (mwi...@hps.sso.loral.com) wrote:
>: In The London TIMES Crossword No. 3510, there is the following clue,
>: the only one I haven't filled in:
>:
>: In the Lake District a river can look great! (5)
>:
>: My only guess is GRETA, which I'm thinking might be the name
>: of a river in the Lake District of England
>
>There is a River Greta, but it's not really in the Lake
>District ... the other side of the Pennines. Still, I think
>that's what the setter intended.
>
>Are these Times puzzles you're solving from a book or franchised
>in another paper? I'm wondering how old they are, as standards and
>styles have changed over the years ... the puzzle in today's
>Times was numbered 19,665.
>
SUN (US, of course). They're also running consecutively (yesterday's
was No. 3511), so perhaps the Sunday puzzles have a separate series
of numbers? Please let me know; I'm curious, and I can't believe
we're really getting puzzles from 16,154 issues ago! (@365/year, that's
over 44 years ago! The clues seem a _bit_ more up-to-date than that!
:) ) What's the number on your most recent Sunday TIMES puzzle?
BeckySwann
<mwi...@hps.sso.loral.com> writes:
>Here are some suggestions for finding good variety puzzles:
>1). You could subscribe to TOUGH CRYPTICS. This is
>a bimonthly publication with 4 "plains" and several
>variety cryptics in each issue.
>2). Henry Hook's HOOKED ON CRYPTICS has 15 fine
>variety puzzles in each book.
>3). For the toughest challenges on either side
>of the pond, try the puzzles in CROSSWORD. There
>are two brainbreakers in each (monthly) issue. They
>also have an "any answers" competition and a clueing
>competition from time to time.
>
>Ray Steiner
>--
Citations, we want citations! (Publisher, address, phone #, etc.)
Puh-leez!
- Mark
I have all except "Crosswords." I'd appreciate subscription information
on that.
In exchange, here are citations for:
Hooked on Cryptics (Series 1-4) and Hooked on Puzzles (Series 1-7)
editor Henry Hook
Simon and Schuster
200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ 07675 USA
(prices range from $7--9.00)
Hooked on Puzzles each include 15 cryptics, 5 of which are variety
cryptics.
Hooked on Cryptics each include 55 cryptics, 15 of which are variety
cryptics.
Tough Cryptics
Editor Stanley Newman
American Crossword Federation
P.O.Box 69, Massapequa Park, NY 11762 USA
12 page newsletter, published bimonthly. $30/year US, $35/year outside
US.
Back issues available $3 each.
Contains 10 cryptics, 6 of which are variety cryptics.
The Book of Cryptic Crossword Puzzles
Editor Wayne Robert Williams
Dell Publishing
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 USA
50 cryptics, 15 of which are variety cryptics
Editorial comment: If there were enough options available to be
choosy, I would avoid this one. I find Williams to be amateurish as a
clue writer (most clues involve anagrams; not much really clever wordplay
here), and some of his word choices are arcane, to be kind. ACNODE,
ADNOUN, ADDAX all in the same jigsaw style puzzle? Perhaps my vocabulary
is more limited than I had thought!
Becky
Mark Wilson
becky...@aol.com (BeckySwann) saith:
>The Book of Cryptic Crossword Puzzles
>Editor Wayne Robert Williams
>Dell Publishing
>1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 USA
>
> 50 cryptics, 15 of which are variety cryptics
> Editorial comment: If there were enough options available to be
>choosy, I would avoid this one. I find Williams to be amateurish as a
>clue writer (most clues involve anagrams; not much really clever wordplay
>here), and some of his word choices are arcane, to be kind. ACNODE,
>ADNOUN, ADDAX all in the same jigsaw style puzzle? Perhaps my vocabulary
>is more limited than I had thought!
>
with horror! I got 'em (eventually) but I think I had to get out
the Chambers' to confirm them, and I seem to remember that even
that illustrious tome only had 2 of the 3 (not sure)...!
I have to concur with your opinions at _least_ 100%!
Ray Steiner
>In article <1994Oct10.1...@wdl.loral.com>, "Mark Wilson"
><mwi...@hps.sso.loral.com> writes:
>>Here are some suggestions for finding good variety puzzles:
>>1). You could subscribe to TOUGH CRYPTICS. This is
>>a bimonthly publication with 4 "plains" and several
>>variety cryptics in each issue.
>>2). Henry Hook's HOOKED ON CRYPTICS has 15 fine
>>variety puzzles in each book.
>>3). For the toughest challenges on either side
>>of the pond, try the puzzles in CROSSWORD. There
>>are two brainbreakers in each (monthly) issue. They
>>also have an "any answers" competition and a clueing
>>competition from time to time.
>>
>>Ray Steiner
Here is the address for CROSSWORD:
The Crossword Club
Coombe Farm
Awbridge Hill
Ramsey, Hants S0510HN
U.K.
I'll look up TOUGH CRYPTICS and HOOKED ON CRYPTICS
and post the relevant info tomorrow! Happy solving!
Ray Steiner
>- Mark
>Becky
--
ste...@andy.bgsu.edu
Bill Bader
: In article <1994Oct10.1...@wdl.loral.com>, "Mark Wilson"
: <mwi...@hps.sso.loral.com> writes:
: > Here are some suggestions for finding good variety puzzles:
: > 1). You could subscribe to TOUGH CRYPTICS, a bimonthly publication with
: > 4 "plains" and several variety cryptics in each issue.
: >
: > 2). Henry Hook's HOOKED ON CRYPTICS has 15 fine variety puzzles per book.
: >
: > 3). For the toughest challenges on either side of the pond, try CROSSWORD.
: > There are two brainbreakers in each (monthly) issue. They also have
: > an "any answers" competition and an occasional clueing competition.
: >
: > Ray Steiner
: >--
: Citatations, puh-leez! (Publisher, address, phone #, etc.)
: - Mark
: In exchange, here are citations for:
: Hooked on Cryptics (Series 1-4) and Hooked on Puzzles (Series 1-7)
: editor Henry Hook
: Simon and Schuster
: 200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ 07675 USA
: (prices range from $7--9.00)
: Hooked on Puzzles each include 15 cryptics; 5 are variety cryptics.
: Hooked on Cryptics each include 55 cryptics; 15 are variety cryptics.
: Tough Cryptics
: Editor Stanley Newman
: American Crossword Federation
: P.O.Box 69, Massapequa Park, NY 11762 USA
: 12 page bimonthly newsletter. $30/year US, $35/year outside US.
: Contains 10 cryptics, 6 of which are variety cryptics.
: The Book of Cryptic Crossword Puzzles
: Editor Wayne Robert Williams
: Dell Publishing
: 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 USA
: 50 cryptics, 15 of which are variety cryptics
: Editorial comment: If there were enough options available to be
: choosy, I would avoid this one. I find Williams to be amateurish as a
: clue writer (most clues involve anagrams; not much really clever wordplay
: here), and some of his word choices are arcane, to be kind. ACNODE,
: ADNOUN, ADDAX all in the same jigsaw style puzzle? Perhaps my vocabulary
: is more limited than I had thought!
: Becky
I've gone through all of these discussions and *not a single one* has
mentioned the cryptics that have been in The Nation (magazine) seemingly
forever. Since some time in 1948, Frank W. Lewis has been providing one
per week without fail, I believe. He says that they take him about an
hour apiece to construct, and they're tough. He uses the usual tricks,
with an occasional "straight" clue thrown in, since he knows we won't be
expecting them. His puns are atrocious! He will also take familiar
expressions and thread them through the puzzles. He has a two-page set
of "ground rules" that explains clearly the conventions he uses in
devising his clues.
Unfortunately, I don't have any citations for getting copies of the
magazines; most large libraries carry it and it's cheaper to photocopy a
page than to buy the magazine. It's a very liberal magazine, so if your
inclinations run in that direction anyhow, you might want to consider
subscribing to it.
I hope this helps some of the more serious cryptic junkies to find a new
source of pleasure.
Bill Bader
BeckySwann
wilh...@solutions.solon.com (Bill Bader) writes:
"I've gone through all of these discussions and *not a single one* has
mentioned the cryptics that have been in The Nation (magazine) seemingly
forever. Since some time in 1948, Frank W. Lewis has been providing one
per week without fail, I believe. He says that they take him about an
hour apiece to construct, and they're tough."
Unfortunately, it shows, in my opinion, that it "takes about an hour to
construct!" I know there is now at least one compilation of Nation
Puzzles in the bookstores, but I hated them back in the 70's (I got them
at the library, also!) and see no sign that they have improved. I really
don't enjoy black square cryptics, and Lewis's have a high ratio of black
squares. He uses lots of phrases also, and minimal crosslinks. I consider
him a very poor formist.
I might remember to make a note of the publisher info next time I see the
book, however.
Becky
BeckySwann
Top Changwatchai) writes:
>Two books I've found with plenty of variety cryptics are (and this is
from
>memory): Nutcrackers, by Meg Wolitzer and some other guy (it also has
other
>kinds of word puzzles, but they're sorta fun too); and the collection
>of cryptics from Harper's magazine, which has variety cryptics
*exclusively*.
I haven't seen "Nutcrackers" and would appreciate a citation. I have the
Harper's book, though others would surely appreciate that info. I believe
I also have Cox/Rathvon book of Altantic Puzzlers. I'll gather and post
info for any others in my collection.
Becky
Wichaya Top Changwatchai
I agree with you (at least as far as "variety" crosswords go). When I
discovered crosswords, I quickly found myself bored with the standard type and
searched for ones with clever clues, themed answers, and "gimmicks".
Similarly, when I came upon cryptic crosswords, I found myself taken in by
variety cryptics, which seem to add so much more to the regular kind. (In
fact, cryptic crosswords are what got me interested in the non-cryptic sort,
since I like wordplay but am not so hot on obscure trivia. So I solve
non-cryptics as practice for the cryptic kind.)
Two books I've found with plenty of variety cryptics are (and this is from
memory): Nutcrackers, by Meg Wolitzer and some other guy (it also has other
kinds of word puzzles, but they're sorta fun too); and the collection
of cryptics from Harper's magazine, which has variety cryptics *exclusively*.
If you want, I can look up the actual references when I get home.
Top
--
W. Top Changwatchai
w...@cs.utexas.edu