Ian Rathkey author page
1 puzzle by Ian Rathkey
with Jeff Chen comments
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A theme I've never encountered? Slap me around and call me Susan! This child of the '80s grew up rocking to ROCK ME AMADEUS and mocking his first-generation Chinese father's love of Beach Boys music.
And suddenly, I realized that what went around came around. In the form of seven-year-old eyes rolled at dad rocking out, Carlton-style.
Unusual pattern to riff on: X ME, NAME. Piqued my curiosity; were there others? All I could come up with was KISS ME, KATE. Others were close, but BEAM ME UP SCOTTY has an extraneous UP, and CALL ME ISHMAEL doesn't have the comma. Impressive to uncover four exactly-patterned themers — that exhibit crossword symmetry!
I wasn't sold on FEED ME SEYMOUR, as it felt like "random movie line." Not nearly as strong as a song title, for example. However, it is a repeated line from Little Shop of Horrors, so it works.
Great bonuses. Since all the themers are long and fit that distinctive pattern, long Acrosses in ANCHOR LEG and I FEEL SICK didn't risk muddying the theme. SECRETLY and SLED RIDE flesh things out nicely, too. I'm all for trade-offs that exact only minor prices, like Ian called out.
Rare treat to experience something new, albeit a bit of an oddball pattern to highlight. Fun debut.