New York Times, Monday, July 22, 2019

I was wondering about a word or phrase I could break up as the beginnings of theme answers—which I don't remember doing before—and RUMPELSTILTSKIN is what immediately popped into my head. It came out of nowhere but seemed perfect, being the answer to a riddle-type question that could serve as a revealer. The crossword gods were definitely smiling.

The main construction issue was deciding where the breaks would come, with RUM- or RUMP- having to be 11 letters for symmetry's sake. I wasn't real thrilled with PELICAN STATE, but it must have worked out the best.

I had fun with this one and was happy with the way it turned out. I hope it's a fun solve.

Impeccable gridwork. Perfect for newbs — smooth as silk, ANAT as the only speed bump, and such a feature-filled solve. The crappy crossword you get in your local newspaper (which might even be computer-generated) would never contain an embarrassment of bonus riches like IDIOT PROOF, POPULATION, DISCERN, VISITOR, BISECT, DOGNAP, EUROPA. While it's true that editors prize multi-word phrases for their color, how often do you see something as interesting as EUROPA as an incidental?

Textbook Monday construction. Space out your themers, alternating them left-right. Use a couple of long downs in opposite corners. Then carefully select mid-length entries, while testing, testing, testing to make sure you can fill the last regions without crossword glue.

As for the theme, most Monday solvers won't remember a previous RUMPELSTILTSKIN puzzle. Heck, neither will most regular solvers.

Double heck, some Monday solvers might not even know that crosswords have themes. Fie on you!

It's a shame that my dang brain immediately lasered in on the previous puzzle, recalling not just the author but some of the theme phrases, roughly when it was published, and the fact that I gave it my POW!

I liked Bruce's interpretation better, RUMP EL STILT SKIN as stand-alone words. Lynn's works too, but it's not as impressive. So many phrases start with RUM, for example, that it feels much easier to do this way.

POW!-level gridwork. POY!-level even. Crème de la crème, exactly how a Monday solving experience should be. A shame that the other puzzle bested it — and a shame that I'm likely one of the three people remembered it (me, Bruce, and that guy who keeps emailing me with snide comments YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUDDY BOY OH YEAH YOU BETTER BELIEVE YOU'RE STILL BLOCKED).