Guardian Prize Crossword 27,908 Saturday 24Th August 2019

[stratblueash]

Yet another Saturday (partially) ruined by a pretentious setter. I mean I'm not entirely thick but I just can't figure out the instructions.
Can't they just give us a straightforward crossword as we know it rather than disappearing up themselves in an effort to show us just how clever they are?

[Captain2]

It seems you are not alone strat ;0)))

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1672162.html

[diddlydo]

Some of us are really enjoying this crossword. The setter is not pretentious - just cleverer than you. I suggest you stick to the Daily Mail.

[dannyk13]

Ouch!

[stratblueash]

That's me told then, eh?

[haras2]

I think Maskarade is not one setter but a little group of setters who originally got together to concoct the specials for Bank holidays following the death of the much missed Auracaria

[stratblueash]

OK, I'll try again. Please someone give me a "Numpty's Guide" (with an example?) of just how to get started? Thanks.
PS: I don't do Daily Mail...

[Lie-in King]

Maskarade is Tom Johnson -

http://bestforpuzzles.com/people/j.html#Tom-Johnson

Araucaria isn't missed by everybody.

[diddlydo]

Haras - wrong! See link under Tom Johnson.
http://bestforpuzzles.com/people/j.html#Tom-Johnson

[Lie-in King]

strat - JJ109 gives a couple of pointers here -

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1672162.html

[diddlydo]

My post crossed with Lie-in-King who should try to find me a cruciverbalist who doesn't lament the passing of the great Araucaria. OP - try resding the pre-amble slowly over and over again until the penny drops.

[Lie-in King]

diddlydo - I think you should rein back the insulting tone, quite frankly. I completed this one in about 45 minutes - why, I've no idea really, other than if any get asked on here, I'll be able to answer if I see them.

I've been doing crosswords for a long time - I guess I'm a cruciverbalist then? - & I always lamented the introduction of Araucaria's "I'm just so clever & I love the attention I'm getting" way of ruining a perfectly good puzzle. The Guardian setters all see themselves as his heirs & continue to spoil puzzles - IMO, of course, I wouldn't dream of speaking for others.

[JJ109]

Unlike Lie-in King I've taken about 2 hours on this one and thoroughly enjoyed it..... but I still have 6 half clues to solve....but I will get them myself in the morning.

However L-I-K please don't tell me the answer but is the second part of 4d "Harpy"? It should be but the crossers are eluding me at the moment. Many thanks

[Lie-in King]

Hi JJ - yes to 'Harpy' in the right-hand grid - double def.

[JJ109]

Thanks L-i-K!

[Toorak]

Whew - just finished it. Was stumped for ages having entered the wrong anagram @ 11 ac

[diddlydo]

L-I-K - what on earth do you mean by "spoiling a puzzle"? Surely making a puzzle more challenging than a write-in is what a lot of us want.

[Lie-in King]

Apologies, I was away from the screen...

I prefer & enjoy a straight, well-set cryptic puzzle. I've rarely considered - for example - the Times to be a "write-in" - easier some days than others, but always fair.

All the faffing about with - as in today's puzzle, eg - double grids & *undefined* answers are devices to drag out the conclusion, nothing more. "More challenging"? Not really, just twice as long to finish.

I find it much more satisfying to complete a "normal" yet difficult puzzle than to humour a setter's desire to muck about. As I said before, I do them but I don't really get any enjoyment from solving what are often poor clues that have the feeling of having been shoehorned in.

diddlydo - don't worry about it, I've been told that I was born a "grumpy old man" & I know I'm in a serious minority when it comes to Araucaria & those that follow & use his ideas, but I'm not going to change now.

[dannyk13]

I agree with L-i k. One grid with good cryptic clues.

[IainGrace]

Each clue comprises two clues to different words, one entry of the given number of letters and one of a letter fewer. The latter must be jumbled and a letter added for the grid entry. Either type of clue may come first but the answer to the first part always goes in the left hand grid. The letters to be added in the acrosses are in order A C E etc and in the downs B D F etc.

[IainGrace]

Sorry. I am wrong in one respect. The added letters are in alphabetical order in 7/8/10 across and so on to x,y,z in the last three down clues. The word “alternately” in the rubric must mean that if the first part of a clue is to be doctored, the second part is doctored in the next clue.