Constructor:Samuel A. Donaldson
Relative difficulty:Medium
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THEME:BROKEN BONES (55A: Injuries illustrated four times in this puzzle) — circled squares (or, probably, shaded squares in the dead-tree version) spell out a bone in way that is "broken" across two answers that are on different but adjacent levels. Presumably the first long Across (17A: Take a tumble) is also a theme answer (SLIP AND FALL):
Theme answers:
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This didn't work, on at least a couple of levels. It's a cute if predictable kind of idea (constructors are always looking to break and/or anagram things—typical gimmick basis). But there is one problem with the theme generally, and and one big (massive, puzzle-killing) problem with a specific theme-related answers. Let's start with the general. The "break" here doesn't register that well. You could argue that keeping the bone letters contiguous better represents most bone breaks, which aren't clean. But I'm not sure the current set-up represents a bone break any better. The step down says, well, "step" to me, not "break." And the way the "step"-for-break concept is executed here is particularly problematic, as the break-like adjacency of NA and TI creates a muddled visual effect in the middle of the grid ("Ow! My NATI!"). There's just a slightly off, slightly sloppy feel to the execution of the theme.
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But there is a much bigger problem with one specific theme-related answer—a problem that is both manifestly lethal and seemingly avoidable. That problem, of course, is the answer HASAC (31A: Is ready for the summer weather, for short). HASAC is not an answer. It's not a phrase, any more than DRINKSOJ or SKIPSPE. It is a random snippet of conversation masquerading as a stand-alone phrase. It's ... ridiculous. Why (o lord, why) not design this with a word ending in "-SA" (So Many More Options) and then another word beginning with CRUM- (like, say CRUMB (or CRUMBLE or CRUMPET or something ... with CRUMB you wouldn't even have to change your grid shape. BALSA / CRUMB. SAMSA / CRUMB. TULSA / CRUMB. Take your pick! But HASAC... I'm dumbfounded by that one. It's like someone was typing HAS A COW but died before finishing.
This one wasn't too difficult, though I got weirdly stymied at ETAS (29D: Itinerary data, for short). Pluralizing E.T.A. is just yuck. When does anyone do that? So after getting the "T" from STU (35A: Disco ___ ("The Simpsons" character)), I wrote in STOP. Seemed possible. But no. Even after getting to ETA-, I didn't get it. The "S" was the very last letter I filled in, after I finally get the "D" I needed to see DANSK (41A: Language of Copenhagen, to locals). I also had SAMBA for RUMBA at first (37A: Cousin of the mambo), but that was both very predictable and very fixable.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty:Medium
THEME:BROKEN BONES (55A: Injuries illustrated four times in this puzzle) — circled squares (or, probably, shaded squares in the dead-tree version) spell out a bone in way that is "broken" across two answers that are on different but adjacent levels. Presumably the first long Across (17A: Take a tumble) is also a theme answer (SLIP AND FALL):
Theme answers:
- RESTFUL/NATTERED
- HAS AC/RUMBA
- GOTTI/BIAS
- "TRUE LIFE"/MURKIER
Gunner (student), a slang term in medical or law school for a hyper-competitive student (wikipedia)
• • •
This one wasn't too difficult, though I got weirdly stymied at ETAS (29D: Itinerary data, for short). Pluralizing E.T.A. is just yuck. When does anyone do that? So after getting the "T" from STU (35A: Disco ___ ("The Simpsons" character)), I wrote in STOP. Seemed possible. But no. Even after getting to ETA-, I didn't get it. The "S" was the very last letter I filled in, after I finally get the "D" I needed to see DANSK (41A: Language of Copenhagen, to locals). I also had SAMBA for RUMBA at first (37A: Cousin of the mambo), but that was both very predictable and very fixable.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]