From: steiner@andy.bgsu.edu (Ray Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.puzzles.crosswords
Subject: CWC 23. A list of all clues
Date: 9 Nov 92 22:45:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: andy.BxH0JJ.CMw
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.

Here is a list of all the clues submitted for CWC 23 with
explanations and comments. The winners for each category
are given two stars and the runners-up one star.

Overall Comments: You all did quite well on a very difficult
word. In picking the winners I looked for originality
in the definition part of the clue, since the word was
quite hard to define. A mere "number" was just not enough.
I also looked for clues that read well. One contestant
thought that using the same word might present a problem
in that the same definition could be used for both clues.
This did not present a problem, and If both clues were
good the fact that they used the same definition did
not bother me.
In the Letters Latent clues, most of you opted to omit the
N, leaving IETEE to clue. Here again, I looked for
originality in both parts of the clue.    
At any rate, here we go!

I). NORMAL CRYPTIC CLUES:

 Endless tennis game--even a score less one(8) *
            TENNI  anag. EEN    def.

This clue reads fairly well. The only thing I didn't
like was the use of "game" to indicate an anagram. "Played"
might have been better.

More than old enough, I'm in two sex flicks(8)
    def.                 I   in XX

I think the direct definition is too vague here. It doesn't
really pin down the word enough

 Showed nominee ten incumbents back in first half of this year(8) *
            __________          rev     19(92)

A very nice hidden reverse clue! It is timely, in view of
the United States elections. My only criticism is that
the direct definition is also cryptic! However, I choose
this clue for my runner-up. 

Prime example of young adulthood?(8)
def              def

A two definitions clue. The second definition seems quite vague.
Really, neither pins down the meaning of the word enough. 
"Twenty-three"(if no letter numbers were indicated) would
also fit both parts of the clue.

Twenty-nine teens in 5&10, four more due!(8)
       ________         def

A nice straight definition. However, in the subsidiary part
of the clue, no indication is given of the hidden word!

Several not starting, in French and English measure(8)
 def       N          IN ET             E    EN

Nice subsidiary indication. However, "several" is too
vague to define the answer directly.

Prime need; tennis endlessly played(8)
def   NEE(d)   TENNI(s)       anag     

Unfortunately, "endlessly" here can only refer to the end
of "tennis" and not to "need". Sorry!

Reduce score by one on first extra hole(8)   *
def                       def

A very nice two definition clue. It reads very well, also.

Henry's lover and French Cummings neuter this count(8)
NIN                  ET  EE       N          def
("Henry" refers to Henry Miller, whose lover's name was
Anais Nin.)

There is a mistake in the subsidiary part of this clue, as
can be seen! Apart from that the use of NIN here seems too
obscure and "count" hardly sems like a proper definition
of the answer.

Nickel a point and the young man gets nothing in the crib!  **
NI     NE           TEEN              def
(In cribbage a worthless crib is called nineteen, since
it is impossible to score exactly 19 points!)

A very fine clue indeed! It reads very well and the direct
definition is also very original. THE WINNER!

Next to last year of minority born French decade in review(8)
          def               NEE          TEN     IN  rev

The surface reading of this clue seems poor. 


II. Letters Latent Clues(Latent Letter in brackets)

A little Latin that is fitting for an odd cardinal(8) (N) *
              IE        TEE             def

This is a very nice clue! I liked the double meaning of
the word "cardinal" in the straight definition. The
runner-up in this category.

Peg, that is, came in first by taking one off score(8) (N)  *
TEE  IE        Put IE first      def

Again, a very nice clue! It also reads very well.

At this hole the game is over--that is where it starts(8)(N)
           def                   IE       TEE

This is a good clue, but the surface reading doesn't gel.
How can a game be over where it starts?

She's almost twenty, not just any teen!(8) (I)
         def         N    NE      TEEN

This would have been a fine clue if a homophone indicator
had been given for NE.

Strange inn contains books(quite a few)(8) (E)
   anag  INN         NT     def

The subsidiary part of the clue is fine. The direct definition
is too vague.

"Northeast again and again... Icy front swirling. Getting number(8)(T)**
  NE        NE      NE         I         anag      def

A very fine clue indeed! Ilike the use of "again and again"
for repeating NE. The double meaning of "number" in the
direct definition is also excellent. THE WINNER!

A number that's a square(8)(N) *
  def     IE    TEE

A fine clue! The double meaning of "square" here is very good also.

Nine Inch Nails' almost explosive number(8) (E)  
NIN                     TN(t)     def
(Nine Inch Nails is a rock group that plays strident music.
Their Logo is NIN.)

The use of NIN here is too obscure IMHO.This could have
been avoided by using some indicator to indicate the first
letter of "Nine" or the first letters of Nine Inch Nails.

In other words, it goes under the ball, score minus one(8)(N)
  IE                  TEE                  def

The surface reading is poor here.

What was lacking in '92; that is golf equipment(8) (N)  *
         def              IE       TEE

This clue reads well. The same comment as above applies
to the direct definition: It is really cryptic!

This teen age initially is encouraging to everyone's esteem (8) (N) *
      def      1st lets._  _           _  _          _

A good clue which reads well. A nice comment on an age when
teenagers are out of their parents' hair, perhaps!


That's the lot of them! Just for fun, I will leave
you with a nice &lit LL clue provided as a second clue
by one of the contestants. Your job? Figure out why
the subsidiary part also works and which letter is latent. Answer
in a subsequent posting!

Nine + ten!(8)

Ray Steiner

-- 
steiner@andy.bgsu.edu