3D Crossword Solution – November Extra 2024

November Extra 2024 grid page

Clues by Komorník and Grid by Gin

Theme: 75 years ago (1949)

The winner of the November Extra puzzle is Jonathan Treml of Worcestershire.

Review of the November Extra 2024 3D crossword

Komorník is a major contributor to the success of the 3D Calendar in several roles and this is the third year in a row that he has presented us with a November Extra puzzle. I have vivid memories of last year’s offering, which very nearly stumped me, so I approached the solving process with some trepidation.

Komorník’s puzzles set out to provide a robust test and this was no exception: six solutions that are not in Chambers, plus the absence of both a Frank Paul visual clue and the Hints and Tips feature, certainly added to the challenge of this tie-break puzzle. 

Although “initial letters of surplus words in clues” is a relatively common device in cryptic crosswords, I do not recall it having been used before in the calendar series, so this added a further dimension for solvers. I did have cause last year to comment on the excessive length of some of Komorník’s clueing, but this year, even with the additional redundant words, brevity was a welcome element of most of his clues. In fact, Komorník used the surplus words skilfully in many cases to allow a further cryptic element to the surface reading of the clues: VERDI, MOBY, STASI, HEGEL, SIEGE.

Moreover, there is a lot of humour to be enjoyed here: YIPPER, MISHEAR, the old chestnut GHOTI, VOICE. One of the cheekier aspects of Komorník’s clueing is his oblique references to earlier puzzles in the year (April, February and September all get a mention) — some might say that every puzzle should stand alone to be fair to all solvers, but this seems reasonable in the final tie-breaking puzzle of the year. Question marks remain for me, however, on whether ROSE EAR is really a spoonerism of ‘owes rear’ or whether ‘bass’ is a definition of VOICE.

The alphabetical order of the clues came swiftly to the rescue of this solver in those cases where the thematic elements were clued by wordplay only: helpful anagrams led to SPRINGSTEEN, BERLIN AIRLIFT and THE THIRD MAN. We are told that this puzzle was originally created for September, so, as the phrase “their seventy-fifth anniversary” emerges, further research helps identify some of the more obscure references: TWIGGY and SHILTON. All the above have a specific link to September 1949 — so far so good — and a shout-out to the colleague who pointed out to me that the background photograph is a race of 49ers — nice touch.

The anagram at 2 clearly leads to BABY BOOMERS and there is no definition, so this must be the sixth: I enter it reluctantly because there is no direct link to the month or even the year in question. Which leaves us with the seventh thematic item. DEVALUATION fits the grid and Google confirms there was a devaluation of the pound in September 1949. However, I can make no sense whatsoever of the clue at 5 — what have I missed? Is there not a definition there? Is there another thematic item that has been clued by wordplay only? I cannot find one, so I am flummoxed and left with a tinge of disappointment at the end of an otherwise enjoyable puzzle.

I have filled the grid and received a positive response to my online submission, so I know I have ‘solved’ the puzzle. But have I really? Like many other solvers, I suspect, I look forward to seeing the solution notes in due course and to discovering whether others also struggled with this, or whether I am just being dense. Thanks in either event to both Komorník and Gin.

KM

Grid solution

November Extra 2024 3D grid solution

Clues and explanations

Thematic solutions are indicated with an asterisk. Surplus words are shown in bold.

DaySolutionDirection, Clue, CountExplanation
1AMBER24up About April’s subject initially, I don’t know one of Tramp’s three lights (5)A (about) M(arlon) B(rando) ER
2BABY BOOMERS*13aw,14ac-2,13ac Band leader hates “playing my oboe in bars” (4,7)B(and) (MY OBOE)* in BARS (Wordplay only)
3BERLIN AIRLIFT*13to,12ac,11d Etna’s brilliant fire erupts (6,7)(BRILLIANT FIRE)* (Wordplay only)
4DEEDS26to On Sun, journalists insert nose — to nose what people have done? (5)ED<  ED SInsert
5DEVALUATION*26ba,24to Researching it will reduce your yen to collect netsuke? (11)Cryptic definition
6GHOTI15to In jesting, fish so re-spelt — conclusively, I suggest (5)jestinG fisH sO re-spelT I (&lit)
7HEGEL9d English philosopher good for inclusion in list (5) G in HEEL
8HOSTEL9to,2d-2 September’s composer Vivaldi disheartened with cell — bare lodging (6)HO(l)ST (c)EL(l)
9IRENA16to Fairy enchants bluebirds with passion — passion’s close to Titania’s heart (5)(ARE IN)* Genus of bird
10MISHEAR5ac Harem is notably easy to pick up — wrong! (7)(HAREM IS)*
11MOBY5d Trouble-free way of working via cellphone? (4)MO (modus operandi) BY (via)
12NOREN1d They’re hung in numerous Osaka restaurants exhibiting yakisoba (noodles principally) (5)Acronym (principally) of Numerous Osaka Restaurants Exhibiting Noodles
13REEVE22up Pass through, forgetting about night before? (5)RE EVE
14ROSE EAR7d,23ba-3 It appears double on greyhounds hasn’t paid income back to Spooner (4,3)Spoonerism of ‘owes rear’
15SCOOP6d “Special Forces? That originated in Rochdale” (No-one else has published this) (5)S CO-OP
16SHILTON*20ba Trading issue — boxes whereby foil is held (7) HILT in SON (Wordplay only)
17SIEGE3aw In which Hello! host came round looking for submission (5)Cryptic definition
18SPRINGSTEEN* 20up,4ba Appreciate puzzle Gin presents (11)(GIN PRESENTS)* (Wordplay only) 
19STASI3d Old naval force formed by Christian hero like Komorník? (5)ST AS I
20TASER17to Rejected, took needlework exam again — that’s a stunner (5)RESAT<
21TEPAL19aw Not much mignonette imported — pale narcissus and tulip feature (5)Hidden in mignonetTE PALe
22THE THIRD MAN*10ba,8to At that time viburnum hedging had trim, sadly (3,5,3)(HAD TRIM)* in THEN (Wordplay only)
23TOTED10d As old PM saw it, with familiarity everything carried (5)TO TED (Edward Heath)
24TURIN10to Alan seen in February missing goal at first, nets rebound home to Juventus (5)TURIN(g)
25TWIGGY*17ba-6 Spooner’s networked Frightening Magyars (Parts 3 and 4) (6)Third and fourth letters each of neTWorked frIGhtening maGYars  (Wordplay only)
26VERDI25to He scored for AC Milan with deflected drive (5)(DRIVE)*
27VOICE25up Bass being frequently drunk when nursing old resentment? (5)O in VICE
28YIPPER18d,21ac-5 He’s putting dreadfully little bark for each yucca (6)YIP PER
Easter eggTHEIR SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARYThe reason for the puzzle’s appearance (three-word phrase)1949 events

Solvers’ comments

Shilton was second-worst to 3aw. [RS]

This was a great puzzle. We weren’t sure to start with, as often find Komornik more difficult than other setters. But, stciking with it, we began to make progress then had a breakthrough with THE THIRD MAN. Once we got a second undefined clue, we were on to September 1949. We also had two helpful Vs in the three word phrase and we were away. Some nice cluing, neat surplus words, clever references to other puzzles from this year’s 3D and one (for me at least) new word. Definitely an enjoyable outing – thanks very much Gin and Komornik. [CW]

Great puzzle. Excellent challenge! [JP]

Really good puzzle, bit of a struggle at times in a good way, and some obscureish answers. [MD]

A bit of a struggle with some obscure words (and clues). I could find only six thematic answers. 5 puzzling. 17 does this have wordplay? 24 “nets” seems superfluous as it doesn’t fit the definition well. [MJ]

It was fun getting to the link and connecting the events. Lots of unusual words needing directions to confirmation sources (Wikipedia et al), and NHO GHOTI, TEPAL. Generally fun but completely stumped by 17/3aw which I ended up googling, only to find another crossword where Komornik had used the same wordplay but solvers were stumped as to parsing!! Will be interested to find out how it works. [JC]

Too many snakes for my liking, but I did admire the seamless way you incorporated the surplus words into the clues; it made solving them more difficult – until I figured out what the three word phrase was. Even then there was a choice of two alternative H words for day 17! Thanks to Komornik and Gin for an entertaining puzzle. [RS]

A suitably testing tie-break! [NI]

An entertaining education. Thanks to Komornik. [SC]

That was a good challenge. [DR]

What a pleasant surprise to have another delightful puzzle to do this late in the year. Many thanks to Gin and Komornik for the fun. I enjoyed tracking down all the references to 1949 and particularly liked Day 2’s BABY BOOMERS which took me ages to see! Still not sure of a couple and I do have a question mark over the seventh linked item, so will see what happens when I press Submit. [JA]

Superb, as always. Challenging yet accessible! [AG]

Well, we’ve finished at last! Some fine anagrams (Springsteen, Berlin Airlift), supportive wordplay (Shilton, Turin), misdirecting surfaces that made me laugh (Verdi) and a few which are still guesswork… [J&JH]

Nice idea for a theme. [PD]

Enjoyed it! Liked how the theme slowly revealed itself. [JG]

I think this is probably right but a lot of uncertainties remain! An unwelcome relapse into in jokes and self-referential allusions after a few months in which we were spared those (for which thanks). Very best wishes to all involved with 3D for 2025 and thanks. [EF]

As always, evidence of a much smarter brain than mine! Thank you [SF]

I could admire the clever complexity and artistry of this puzzle once I’d cracked it, but found it really tough for an extra puzzle, especially without any hints or tips. I was glad I had my quota for the year, and wasn’t relying on it for my usual ‘repechage’! The somewhat randomly connected undefined thematic clues, beyond the date, didn’t help. The surface readings of some clues were downright perplexing with the redundant words, and sometimes quite awkward grammatically as a result. The references seemed to be pulling in too many different directions too (including ‘intertextual’ links to previous months), so it was hard to get a lock on it as a self-contained puzzle, if that makes sense. Days 4 and 14 took ages before I saw how they work. So I confess I didn’t particularly enjoy this one, and still not sure where the designer’s signature is, apart from day 18…. [MS]

Boy, way to make me feel old! Very enjoyable. Finally my knowledge of the ghoti joke comes in useful. And I learned about greyhound ears! Thanks to Komornik and Gin. [JS]

Hat tip to Gin and Komornik, thank you! [JT]

A great end to the year 😎 [DM]

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