INNER VISION: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF]
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Here's an oldie but goody from the BEQ archives. Specifically, back from the Time Out New York days. Man, those were the dark ages; some four and a half years ago. So much has happened since then: BEQ.com launched, I got married, Tabitha arrived, BEQ Headquarters moved to its palatial Cambridge address, and I've probably written 6,387 puzzles and drank roughly the same amount of PBRs since then. Good times.
I mentioned recently how I was enjoying looking at some "primordial stage" level work by my heroes Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon. Why don't we apply that same critical eye to my own work, m'kay? Theme is fine, though nothing earth-shattering but the four themers are nice. I think if I were to do this one again today, I'd maybe cram a few more smallish themes in the corners. That black square clusterfark at the end of 20-Across, and its symmetrical partner would simply not appear in a BEQ today, unless there was no other way to make the grid happen. I don't believe that was the case with this one. Fill on the whole is pretty good, with bonus points awarded for the full name at 22-/5-Down, even though I loathe that band. Loathed them back when I made this, too. Cluing was workmanlike, but like I said, I've probably written 6,387 puzzles since this one. That's roughly 460,000 clues, give or take a couple. I should hope you'd see improvement.
Share the puzzle. New one on Monday.
Brendan Emmett Quigley creates custom-made puzzles for all occasions: birthdays and bar mitzvahs, anniversaries and retirements. You name it. Need a puzzle for your website or your publication? He can do that, too.
Brendan's custom work clients have included The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, BeerAdvocate, Boston Magazine, De Beers, The Decemberists, ESPN, The Improper Bostonian, Lollapuzzoola, McSweeney's, Phish, Reflexive, The Smithsonian Magazine, St. Martin's Press, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, and Andrew Weil.
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