February 2024 Newsletter View online
3D Calendar Puzzles
3D Crosswords Newsletter - February 2024

This edition covers:

  1. A review of the January 2024 crossword
  2. Answers to clues in Enigmatist’s foreword to the 2024 Calendar
  3. Komorník's 2024 Challenge
  4. A reminder of upcoming deadlines
January 2024 puzzle page
Review of the January 2024 3D crossword

Clues by Raich and Grid by Calluna

Theme: The MET Office (170th Anniversary) & The Shipping Forecast (100th Anniversary)

The winner of the January puzzle is Max Jackson of Oxford.

January is traditionally designed to be a relatively straightforward exercise for experienced solvers and a gentle induction for newcomers into the mysteries of 3D crosswords. As such, therefore, Raich has served up a well-judged and timely offering for the first puzzle of the year.   

The standard 7x5x6 grid gives designers plenty of scope to include both a range of thematic items and a variety of other answers. This format was exploited to very good effect by Calluna: all the entries were five, six or seven letters long, there were only two obscure words (IMARI and ERRHINE) and not a serpent in sight (great news for us ophidiophobes). This is no mean feat.

The shipping forecast theme emerged quite early on from those entries clued with no definition (especially ROCKALL and UTSIRE). Favourite thematic clues were for FORTH (“Just missing out on medals reportedly”) and FORTIES (“Favouring neckwear”). I also appreciated the misdirection and brevity of FISHER (“She cuts tree”).

I did put a question mark in my notes against TIREE — this is an exception in not being a sea area like all the other theme words, but it is strictly speaking still thematic, since Tiree is a coastal weather station. One minor error in the wording of the preamble did cause a moment’s hesitation: the tragedy of the Royal Charter off Anglesey occurred in October 1859, ie 64¼ (not 74¼) years before the first shipping broadcast on 1 January 1924.

The remainder of the clueing was sound, accessible and predominantly succinct. Raich used a good mix of cryptic devices – I especially liked DOYEN, LAYING, OBSCENE. The ordering of clues alphabetically enabled your reviewer on this occasion to solve the great majority before entering the answers in the grid, which always gives a welcome fillip to completing the crossword. In summary, a straightforward puzzle, perhaps, but no less enjoyable for that, so thanks to Raich (and Calluna for the grid).

Finally, a shout out to Frank Paul, whose drawings are always a pleasing bonus addition to the calendar. In 2023, I managed to decipher every one of his visual rebuses but I have stumbled at the first hurdle this year, so I am looking forward to seeing the explanation of his illustration to IMARI. In December, I purchased Frank’s book, The Twelve Quizzes of Christmas and can heartily recommend it to all who enjoy challenging quizzes. Despite the title, this is no mere seasonal offering — there are many months’ worth of brilliant puzzles in the book. To quote John Henderson (Enigmatist), another of our setters: “I’ve no idea what is going on in the world that is Frank Paul’s brain. But I enjoy holidaying there.”

KM

It is early in the year to be starting with the apologies, but this one is necessary. From October 1959 to January 2024 is sixty-four and a quarter years, as some solvers less numerically-challenged than the Crossword Editor have pointed out. This mistake cannot be put down to poor visibility (though ‘fog patches in a brain falling slowly into decrepitude’ might be a good description). Perhaps the Editor was keen to get the Calendar to the printers, so that it was a case of undue precipitation within sight of the finish. No: he cannot by feeble jokes escape wrath which is deserved. He apologises. It is hoped that further such examples of mal in head will not arise. — Ed

Grid Solution

January 2024 solution grid

Answers to clues in Enigmatist’s foreword to the 2024 Calendar

In his foreword to the 2024 calendar our patron, the great Enigmatist, included a few clues. At the time we left you to mull these over. Here are the solutions, with Annus Horribilus and Annus Mirabilis neatly acting as book-ends:

Brains, limitlessly flourishing, lost this year? (5,10)

ANNUS HORRIBILIS: anag BRAINS (f)LOURISHIN(g)

Pretty girl in crimson rose (8) [by Rufus]

REBELLED: BELLE in RED

School’s top people finally cracking Nutmeg’s riddle (5) [by Nutmeg]

SIEVE: S/I’[E]VE

Number Two is getting cut off projects involving horse (5,3,5) [by Chalmie]

TWIST AND SHOUT: TW(o) I(s)/STANDS [H]OUT

Lamb Inn curries with Sirius, after a good time (5,9)

ANNUS MIRABILIS: A + anag LAMBINNSIRIUS

Komorník's 2024 Challenge

A message from the moonlighting Crosswords Editor:

If you enjoy cryptics in general, Komorník’s puzzles in particular, and would like something to keep you out of trouble between now and July, why not try also the 2024 edition of Komorník’s Cryptic Challenge? For the price of a voluntary contribution to his nominated charities you will receive twenty puzzles and the chance to win a delicious prize. To receive the Challenge pack, email the Editor at this address: komornik1cryptics@gmail.com.

Upcoming deadlines

Entries for the Febuary puzzle by Arachne and Rikki are due by February 29.

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