4. Special Delivery (free crossword)
Here’s a crossword I wrote a while back that has never appeared anywhere. It presented an interesting constructing challenge, one which might keep a roomful of computer hackers busy long enough to give Microsoft a few seconds of peace. Alas, I slogged away using the low-tech approach, a pencil… and lots of paper.
July 28, 2007 at 1:58 pm
What a terrific puzzle! Cramming all the letters of a famous quote into a 13 x 13 grid is a masterstroke. What a fun solve!
July 28, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I should add that it was yesterday’s puzzle in the NY Sun, by the very clever duo of Patrick Blindauer and Francis Heaney, that reminded me I had this puzzle. You can find their puzzle here: http://www.fleetingimage.com/wij/xyzzy/07-nys-puz.html (click on July 27th on the calendar)
July 29, 2007 at 2:09 am
I think you might have one-upped us — this is totally insane (in the best way possible, of course).
July 29, 2007 at 7:19 am
Francis, I’m not sure if that’s true (the one-upping part), but thanks a lot for saying so!
BTW, Francis’s ongoing “tie project” is worth checking out:
http://www.yarnivore.com/francis/archives/001900.html#more
July 30, 2007 at 2:46 am
“Tour de force” comes to mind! To create a good crossword using only one set of unchangeable letters, wow! And then you go and clue those entries with some delightful zingers. I’m looking forward to the next puzzles!
Thrive, Trickme!
Cheers, Charts
July 30, 2007 at 6:22 am
Great puzzle. Thanks for sharing.
HH
July 30, 2007 at 11:52 am
What a treat! Thanks.
July 30, 2007 at 5:50 pm
“Special Delivery” is an astonishing accomplishment.
If there was ever any doubt crossword puzzles can rise to the level of art, there isn’t now.
Do you have a guess as to how long it took you from conception to delivery?
July 30, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Johnny, and others, thanks!
As far as how long it took, all I can tell you is that the window of time I spent working on it was about 10 days back in October, 2005. Most of that time I was working on other things, but I do remember thinking it was one of the largest amounts of time I’d ever spent on a construction.