New York Times, Thursday, July 10, 2014

Crossword construction began for me as a stupid bet, which created a very steep unassisted learning curve. Then it became a bit of an obsession. At one point, my wife had to ask that I stop tracing letters into the steam (a grid of shower tiles is a decent place to figure out that pesky 4x4 corner). Finally, it has settled into a pleasant hobby, a friendly competition / collaboration with Mike Hawkins. I can always trust his smiles or scowls.

When I got this idea, I used OneLook to fill a sheet of paper with phrases that contained the word "silent," pared down to my favorites, and then made long handwritten lists of the words featuring an appropriate silent letter, to give me as many layout options as possible. As I worked, I noticed an opportunity to make HONEST and ISLAND into more interesting entries, though this required a great deal of daunting interlock (plus, 5d (HONEST WOMAN) gave me pause, but I think the clue handles it judiciously). Filling the puzzle was like fighting to wriggle into a sweatshirt with wet skin — I managed, though it remains twisted and uncomfortable in some places. It was a conscious trade-off, and I am prepared to be blog-skewered for an ugly abbreviation at 9d (DPT), a knot of e's and s's, and too many French words (except DEMESNE, which indeed has French origins, but which has stuck in my brain since reading it on the first page of The Call of the Wild in fifth grade).

As for clues, it was a more pleasant experience this time, since Mr. Shortz changed only a handful, and most of those to make the theme answers easier. I politely contest his clue for 29d (CDs), which should read "What there may be very very very little interest in, if your portfolio looks like mine." Anyway, I'm learning the art of clues, slowly. I did have 11d (MANON) as the phrase soccer players shout to one another when they are about to be slide-tackled, but I guess I'll have to keep my World Cup enthusiasm to myself. Go USA! Oh, wait…

There's some brilliance behind this puzzle. I wouldn't have fully grokked it if I hadn't gotten a heads-up on the multiple levels of theme:

In the solution to the 7/10/14 puzzle, the answers to 5-, 54- and 63-Across, and 4-, 12- and 50-Down, are preceded by the invisible word SILENT. Additionally, each answer word crossing these contains a silent letter at the crossing point.

I've highlighted the theme answers and ghosted out the silent letters that head them. I wish I had been able to comprehend all the layers myself (stupid brain!), but I'm glad to see and admire it in retrospect. All the interconnect, too. John could have satisfied himself with only using short words with silent letters like ISLAND, but he decides to go big and utilize ELLIS ISLAND, so much better an answer than the plain old ISLAND. Not just HONEST, but HONEST WOMAN. I admire the big-time thinking.

The "go big" approach did produce some compromises, as John noted. It's one end of the spectrum. Other constructors might have chosen a less ambitious approach, perhaps only using short words or only packing in five theme pairs (or both). I usually don't mind a few bits of crunchy glue when a concept merits it. The frustration I had in trying to suss out DEMESNE for example though… it's a tough call. I also had a rough time in the DPT / STYLO section — usually I might suggest a set of cheater square s in the NE and SW corners, but of course that would have made the placement of MOVIE impossible. Tough trade-offs.

I usually like to see symmetrical themers, and today was no different. There's something so elegant about having not just the crossword grid be symmetrical, but having all the themers too. It might be too much to ask to have all pairs of themers be symmetrical, but I might have picked this puzzle for the POW if at least the "words that can follow SILENT" were symmetrically placed. There is something to be said about having asymmetry though, since it makes the puzzle even more challenging to solve (no freebie of knowing where another themer is once you've located one).

Finally, I'm a bit mixed as to the theme not revealing itself in a more natural way. It's too bad that a lot of solvers will likely finish the puzzle and not see all its grandeur, and then they'll miss the notepad tomorrow. Such a shame. Of course, having SILENT as a revealer in the puzzle would have made things clear, as its clue could have explained everything, but that's a pretty blunt force instrument. I don't have a great answer, unfortunately.

Overall, a memorable idea that will stick with me as much as another one that I loved (after someone told me what the heck was going on).