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Getting Americans excited about cryptic crosswords is like pushing a boulder uphill. I should know, as it took me nearly forever to finally love those dastardly puzzles. My years of resistance were finally worn down by two BEQ.com fans: Ross Beresford and David Astle. No suprises there, Ross is from England and David's from Australia, two countries where the cryptic reigns supreme.
Here in the states though, it remains a challenge to convert people to cryptics. My best guess is that I think casual solvers are turned off by all the explaining that goes into each and every clue. When it comes to puzzles, us Yankees need only be told how to do things once, thank you very much, and now please STFU so I can start putting letters in boxes. We have no time to pause to reflect why {"Move along, white man"} rather elegantly clues ANGLO. We've got 77 other entries to fill in, dammit.
I got a copy of Denise Sutherland's book "Solving Cryptic Crosswords For Dummies" recently, and if there's anybody who might make a shot of breaking cryptics in the states, she could do it. The book is aimed squarely at complete tyros, and although cryptic puzzles tend to be more complicated to begin with it, Denise never makes them feel convoluted and scary. She runs the whole gamut of cluing types in chapter-length lessons, each with tons of simple-to-understand examples and sample puzzles along the way. On the whole, I could have used a bit more on the nuances between the different schools of cluing as well as a section about varieties (my favorites). But asking for that might be a bit too much for a primer like this. There's a handful of block cryptics in the back pitched at a couple different solving levels. It should be mentioned that anyone with a grasp of cryptics will have no problem demolishing the so-called Treacherous ones.
Denise calls Australia home, and in her book she mentions that's where some of the easiest cryptics come from. So if that's the case, then I'd be hard-pressed to think of another veteran setter to write a book like this. Recommended if you are hesitant to dive into the cryptic market, but harbor a sinking suspicion they're as great as people say they are. Makes a good stocking stuffer too.
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
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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