Friday, May 4, 2018

"Missing Out," by Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructor's Comments

At times theme entries with no challenging letter combos can be tricky.  The upper left of this grid is a good example.  Somehow I just could not come up with a better 9-Down and no partial at 7-Down.


Editor's Comments

I like how this puzzle's theme entries look cryptic on the surface but suddenly make sense once you figure out what's going on.  That kind of aha moment is my favorite thing as a solver.  Zhouqin also chose a lively, in-the-language set of theme entries.  One thing that bugs me about many "reverse definition" themes is that the definitions sound unnatural.  For example, if Zhouqin had used LOOK QUITE MOPEY instead of PUT ON A LONG FACE for [Pout], that would've been significantly less elegant.  Zhouqin is also way too modest about her grid skills—working in bonuses like SERVICE DOG, SELFIE, KD LANG, LAKE COMO, and SKI RUN while keeping the short fill silky smooth is no mean feat.  What are your thoughts?

6 comments:

  1. Didn't catch on until I'd finished and looked at the title. I love puzzles where you're thinking, "What the...?" the whole way through, and then, AHA, it all makes sense. Great job, C.C.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Paul! So glad you enjoyed this puzzle.

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  2. This reminds of the old days of Zhouqin the blogger. Paul great of you to stop by, David it is a wonderful thing you have here.

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    1. Aww, thanks Lemonade! It's an honor to be compared to Zhouqin :)

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  3. Running behind on solving, but just wanted to chime in with a +++ on this puzzle; love the "clue play" themes. My first NYT puzzle was one! This one very well executed, of course.

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    1. Thanks for chiming in, Mark! I'm a huge fan of clue play themes, too (and you've constructed a number of really good ones :) )

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