Inquisitor Review of 2020-21 by Nimrod

by

Another cracking set. On behalf of all of the solving team, many thanks to all the compilers for their ingenuity. PDMs aplenty, as usual!

A Trivial Pursuit – III

I’ve done my usual exercise of breaking the year’s 52 puzzles into (very) approximate categories:

  • Music (including Songs/Poems) and the Arts 9;
  • Words/Quotations 12;
  • Literature 7;
  • History/20th Century 6;
  • Science 3;
  • TV/Radio/Film 8;
  • Lifestyle/Sport/Games 7.

A reasonable balance, I think, although science seemed to be limited this year. Have compilers been so fed up obeying calls to follow it, to be moved to compile puzzles on the subject? I categorised Moore’s Law and Copper-bottoming (both Chalicea) and Nebulae (Phi) as such, but couldn’t as a Cornishman entertain the possibility that having cream on top of a scone followed by jam represented anything except un-science, so that went into the section headed Lifestyle (the lifestyle, anyway, peculiar to Devonians).

Does a solver’s familiarity with the theme when the PDM reveals itself contribute to a higher enjoyment rating, a correspondent asked. Interesting question. Having examined my own enjoyment ratings of puzzles this year, I’d say that unfamiliarity provides ratings which are at least as high. The thing is – and I guess the reason that so many of us are hooked on Inquisitor-type puzzles – one learns so much from them. For example, probably to my shame, I’d never heard of Babe Zaharias until I’d solved the excellent All Rounder puzzle, let alone known about the multiplicity of her skills across different spheres of activity. And, perhaps, with that gaping hole in my knowledge filled, the perceived enjoyment factor of the puzzle is further increased? Discuss.

Once again, events of the 20th Century were popular, perhaps wistful, choices for themes. The umbrella of the last century could in a reclassification readily cover many of the puzzles with a focus on music (e.g. Nick Drake, Led Zeppelin), TV & Radio (The Prisoner, Hancock’s Half Hour), film (Mel Blanc, Cool Hand Luke), art (Han van Meegeren) and literature (Harvey, Winnie-the-Pooh). There was, however, some evidence that setters were creeping into the 21st Century (a new category next year, perhaps?) – in, for example, literature (Alexander McCall Smith, Mark Dunn), sport (modern Olympic cycling events) and entertainment (some of the EGOT winners).

Ups and Downs

After what has been, nationally, globally and – for many – personally, another dreadful year, brain games have again been such a boon. With so many social events lost to the pandemic in early 2021, we were at least allowed to start distanced socialising again later in the year. For us, that meant only a virtual Listener Dinner in March (with a record attendance, by the way, if only on Zoom), but an actual York Sloggers and Betters event in October (with a much higher attendance than predicted). Thanks to all who made these events what they were. S&B could never have taken place without the important contribution of hospitality outlets, somehow having survived lockdowns and functioning again: hotels, restaurants and, oh so happily, the pubs. Outer offices up and running, calloo callay!

Whether or not it will eventually take place, plans for the 2022 Listener Dinner are at an advanced stage. If as hoped it goes ahead, in Stirling in March, Jane and I will have the usual task of reading tributes to recently-deceased compilers. Though he never (to my knowledge) set a Listener crossword, I hope the powers that be will agree to break tradition so that we might toast one special Absent Friend. It will come as a surprise to many that the great Steven Sondheim compiled a number of puzzles for New York Magazine in its early days – modelled on the Listener-style puzzles of which he had grown most fond. Inquisitor solvers may relish one or two of his challenges: for some samples, do head to blogfott.blogspot.com/2014/07/putting-it-together.html.

A Little Learning…

Very reluctantly, I had to send back more than one puzzle this year. Though each of them took the decision in good grace, the compilers in question were understandably put out, given that in previous years their themes would have been perfectly acceptable. I’m having to learn that so-called “cancel culture” is having an effect in areas of the media that now even includes the humble crossword puzzle. Setters, please check the provenance and “wokeness” of your themes to avoid later disappointment.

Statistically…

The regulars maintained their output last year: Ifor (5 puzzles), Kruger and Phi (4 each), Chalicea and Eclogue (3 each); eXtent, eXternal, Serpent, Vismut and yours truly were joined on two puzzles by Charybdis, Gila and Skylark. Of the 16 single-puzzle contributors, there were returns after at least one gap year for Dysart, Lato, Ploy, Poat and Quixote; going missing last year were: Encota (until very recently), Ferret, Penumbra, Panther, Pointer, Shark, Triton and Xanthippe. We welcomed first time Inquisitors from Jaques and Vagans, both of whom have filed puzzles for 2022.

On the subject of debutants, I plan in the near future to run a series of Inquisitors by four new setters. I’m sure they would each be grateful for your usual polite and considered feedback here on their puzzles. There will be a return of our popular Ladies’ Month in the spring and – who knows? – a few other surprises along the way.

Voting’s open

I invite you all to register your favourite puzzles of 2021. As usual, a handy list (and bracketed memory jogs) follows, with the team’s average difficulty ratings appended as asterisks in each bunch of five. Of course, each puzzle has a full blog on Fifteensquared.

. END OF 2020 PUZZLES .
19/12/20:1678 Consumption [Cool Hand Luke] Eclogue**
26/12/20:1679 Heavy Metal Band [The Ring] Harribobs**
2021 PUZZLES
02/01/21:1680 Testament of Youth [No education] Lato**
09/01/21:1681 Problem Solved [Water into wine] Quixote**
16/01/21:1682 Switch [Not a perfect offering] Charybdis**
23/01/21:1683 Ground Force [Detectives restoring order] Ifor**
30/01/21:1684 Frustration [No corkscrew] Skylark**
06/02/21:1685 AWOL [“The absent are … in the wrong”] Kruger**
13/02/21:1686 Nearly Ten to Four? [Sully] Eclogue**
20/02/21:1687 Observation [Moore’s Law] Chalicea*
27/02/21:1688 Targeted Treatment [Physician heal thyself] Phi**
06/03/21:1689 Whodunnit [Van Meegeren] Vismut**
13/03/21:1690 Plain Nimrod***
20/03/21:1691 Death Wish [My soul lifted] Serpent**
27/03/21:1692 Clue Two V [The Prisoner] eXternal**
03/04/21:1693 Culprit [Bad things in threes] Poat**
10/04/21:1694 Link [Bank to Monument] Augeas**
17/04/21:1695 Sign Up Here! [Uncles] Ploy**
24/04/21:1696 Title Sequence [Nick Drake] Gila**
01/05/21:1697 Sold Down the River [London Bridge] Ifor**
08/05/21:1698 Spooky Manifestations [Cambridge 5] Kruger**
15/05/21:1699 A…Guide to Wonderland [Pooka] Phi**
22/05/21:1700 HMS Conqueror [Knocking-off time] PINK**
29/05/21:1701 Foul Play [Cestus] The Ace of Hearts**
05/06/21:1702 Heavenly Deductions [-mancies] Dysart**
12/06/21:1703 War and Peace [Janus words] eXtent**
19/06/21:1704 Ransomware [Moving the goalposts] Eclogue**
26/06/21:1705 All Rounder [Babe Zaharias] Serpent**
03/07/21:1706 Defence [Copper-bottoming] Chalicea**
10/07/21:1707 Passing Thought [“There was an old lady”] Nutmeg*
17/07/21:1708 Coward [Hens] Skylark***
24/07/21:1709 Proper [Scones with Jam on Cream??] Vismut**
31/07/21:1710 The Lord and the Lady [The Winding Stair] Ifor**
07/08/21:1711 Across the Board [Cheeses] Opsimath*
14/08/21:1712 Your Case [“I never forget a face”] Kruger**
21/08/21:1713 Eyedrops [Sunshiny Day] Jaques**
28/08/21:1714 Clouds [Nebulae naming] Phi***
04/09/21:1715 For Her Eyes Only [No1 Ladies Tecs] Artix**
11/09/21:1716 Excess Baggage [Divine Comedy] Vagans**
18/09/21:1717 Nod to Your Mates [Lost days] Ifor**
25/09/21:1718 Epitaph [“That’s all Folks”] eXternal**
02/10/21:1719 Whowasdun [Hancock book] Charybdis**
09/10/21:1720 Comings and Goings [Relativity limerick] Eclogue**
16/10/21:1721 Hole [Pooh Bear] Nimrod***
23/10/21:1722 Condolences [RIP Skugg] Chalicea*
30/10/21:1723 Bandits Scuppered Her Plans [Loose change] Radler**
06/11/21:1724 Flight Plan [“Stairway to Heaven”] Kruger**
13/11/21:1725 Fieldwork [Flanders Poppy] Hedge-sparrow**
20/11/21:1726 Character Assassination [Ella Minnow Pea] eXtent**
27/11/21:1727 On Track [Cycling events] Phi**
04/12/21:1728 Face Trouble [Pangram sentence] Ifor**
11/12/21:1729 One Missing [EGOT winners] Gila**

The rules:

1 You have six points to distribute to a minimum of three puzzles from 2021, including the end-of-2020 puzzles Consumption by Eclogue (1678) and Heavy Metal Band by Harribobs (1679) – but excluding Selection Box by Skylark (1730) and Retro by Encota (1731).

2 You may allocate no more than three points to your top puzzle. If you are unable to decide between two or more puzzles, you may use half points (but no other fractions, please!).

3 Please register your vote in any of the following ways: publicly on the thread below; privately by emailing me at nimrod1@jetdoc.co.uk or via Direct Message on Twitter to @enigmatistelgar.

4 Compilers may not vote for their own puzzles or puzzles which they have jointly compiled.

5 Example, using my own vote:

2½pts: 1695 Sign Up Here! by Ploy
1½pts: 1709 Proper by Vismut
1pt: 1725 Fieldwork by Hedge-sparrow
½pt: 1702 Heavenly Deductions by Dysart
½pt: 1698 Spooky Manifestations by Kruger

Please use this format when voting.

6 Deadline for votes: midnight on January 14th. As usual it’s a very difficult task, so best of luck! It took me quite a while to arrive at a short-list of eight, so special mentions (in no particular order) for the three puzzles which narrowly missed the cut: Testament of Youth by Lato, Epitaph by eXternal and One Missing by Gila

Acknowledgments …

As always, I am indebted to the solving team (Jane, Helen, David and Richard) for their support; and the blogging team (Godfrey, Ken, Duncan and George), who have been turning out their impressive commentaries for longer than I’ve been editor. In the production of the weekly page, both Mike Hutchinson (Independent and i Crossword Editor) and Stuart Price (Production Editor at the i) make things run very smoothly indeed. Lastly, huge thanks to Geoff at HQ, who’s had a tougher year than most, but still maintains this site with efficiency, skill and sensitivity.

To them, to all setters and solvers, I wish a happy, peaceful and – above all – healthy 2022.

John

35 comments on “Inquisitor Review of 2020-21 by Nimrod”

  1. QUOTE : “Very reluctantly, I had to send back more than one puzzle this year.”

    When you say HAD to, do you really mean CHOSE to ?
    Now who’s the Thought Police’s little lapdog, eh !?! ?

    There is no Clue of the Year category (perhaps that has also been unnecessarily censored too), but if there was, then for me it would have to be 19A in IQ1715 by Artix : PETAIN

    A clue of pure genius – well played Artix, well played.

    Thanks again to all setters, bloggers and to all who have commented – the weekly IQ has kept me going throughout a trying 2021.

  2. Thanks John, and thank you once again to all setters and bloggers for the Inqy. I’ll cast my vote when I’m up to going through the puzzles (currently Covid-stricken) but I’d be curious to know if there is any intention at all to return to the puzzles being submitted for a prize?

  3. Decided to strike while the iron is hot so here are the votes of the Folkestone jury

    1 point each to the following:

    1690 Plain by Nimrod
    1691 Death Wish by Serpent
    1693 Culprit by Poat
    1695 Sign Up Here! by Ploy
    1703 War and Peace by eXtent
    1718 Epitaph by eXternal

    Thanks all for another very good year of puzzles

  4. This year I attempted 39 puzzles, of which I completed 32, and the first thing I want to say is how much I value the Inquisitor series as a whole because the standard is so high. However, I managed to pick 5 favourites on the basis of how much I enjoyed those puzzles while solving them and appreciated them afterwards while savouring (for example) some gems among the clues or a particularly neat thematic design. The puzzles and points awarded are:

    1691 Serpent, Death Wish, 1.5
    1710 Ifor, The Lord and the Lady, 1,5
    1686 Eclogue, Nearly Ten to Four, 1
    1689 Vismut, Whodunnit, 1
    1718 eXternal, Epitaph, 1

    Heartfelt thanks to all setters and bloggers, and to the editor, for a good year.

  5. There have been a number of wonderful puzzles this year, too many for me to do real justice to in the voting / scoring system.

    I’ll therefore single out my personal ‘winner’ : IQ1725 – Fieldwork by Hedge-sparrow. A brilliantly constructed grid, a fitting (and perfectly timed) tribute to the fallen – that sadly also resonates deeply with the grim statistics that we’ve all had to bear on a daily basis once again throughout 2021.

    We will remember them.

  6. Don’t forget to check your privelege before casting votes or they may be
    sent back by the Wokedependent.

  7. I’d be interested to know what themes were rejected on grounds of non-wokeness. I get that the editor has to tread carefully in the current political climate, but if it means that (for example) a puzzle referencing JK Rowling gets rejected, it’s time to storm the Bastille.

    HNY to all.

  8. Perhaps Lord Rothermere will get to know the editor of the ‘i’ and give him the sack for his cowardice.

  10. Enough! Please keep your comments relevant to this post, i.e. giving a rating for the IQ puzzles published during the last year. If you wish to make other observations, Nimrod has given an email address, and social media details, on the puzzles page so you can contact him directly if you have something positive, or otherwise, to say.

  11. Happy New Year all! A fantastic selection of puzzles – I enjoyed them alll immensely, so picking a shortlist (let alone allocating points) is very tough indeed. Many thanks to John & team, and to all setters.

    2pts: 1718 Epitaph by eXternal
    1pt: 1689 Whodunnit by Vismut
    1pt: 1692 Clue Two V by eXternal
    1pt: 1714 Clouds by Phi
    1pt: 1726 Character Assassination by eXtent

    With particular honourable mentions to Kruger’s Your Case, Charybdis’ Whowasdun & Nimro… errr, Hole by Nimrod. But seriously, every single one was great! Thanks again to all setters, bloggers, and editorial/solving team.

  12. I think it’s been a great year for Inquisitors (the only puzzle I do). Over the year, I’ve noted those that have given particular pleasure, and it so happens there were six, so one point each.

    1681: Problem Solved by Quixote
    1689: Whodunnit by Vismut
    1691 Death Wish by Serpent
    1710 The Lord and the Lady by Ifor
    1717 Nod to Your Mates by Ifor
    1726 Character Assassination by eXtent

    Thanks to the editor, the team, and all the setters, and happy new year.

  13. Whoever wins I’m constantly amazed at the ability of setters to come up with these puzzles. I’m not totally neutral but there’s no reason why I can’t vote, even though my recollection of most of them is a bit hazy, so;
    2 pts 1692 Clue Two V, External
    2 pts 1726 Character Assassination Extent
    1 pt 1698 Spooky Manifestations Kruger
    1 pt 1691 Death Wish Serpent

  14. I think I did every one of these this year, probably due to not being away on holiday at all! Thanks to all setters. Great pleasure was had each weekend (and sometimes longer!).
    Rather than a firm favourite, I’ve split my vote into six this time.
    One point each for:
    1690 Plain
    1694 Link
    1711 Lord and Lady
    1718 Epitaph
    1725 Field Work
    1726 Character Assassination

  16. Thanks to all setters – hope I can manage one of my own before too long. Meanwhile I’m awarding a diplomatic / fence-sitting 1 point each to :
    1689 Whodunnit by Vismut
    1690 Plain by Nimrod
    1692 Clue Two V by eXternal
    1710 The Lord and the Lady by Ifor
    1715 For her eyes only by Artix
    1726 Character Assassination by EXtent
    A Happy (and hopefully less weird) 2022 to all.

  17. Thanks to the setters and bloggers for the entertainment…parkrun, IQ, single malt are my 3 Saturday essentials!
    Very hard to narrow it down but I’d like to award a point to each of the following (I’m a sucker for a gimmick):
    1679 Heavy Metal Band
    1692 Clue Two V
    1703 War and Peace
    1707 Passing Thought
    1713 Eyedrops
    1721 Hole

  18. As last year, I was most impressed by Harribobs’ early and only contribution, which received some unwarranted criticism on this forum to which he responded with great dignity.

    2 points to 1679 Heavy Metal Band

    1 point each to:
    1697 Sold Down The River
    1698 Spooky Manifestations
    1721 Hole
    1726 Character Assassination

    Thanks and a Happy New Year to everyone involved in producing so many excellent puzzles.

  19. 2: 1726 Character Assassination by eXtent
    1.5: 1679 Heavy Metal Band by Harribobs
    1: 1686 Nearly Ten to Four by Eclogue
    1: 1691 Death Wish by Serpent
    0.5: 1689 Whodunnit by Vismut

    „Zwölf süße Boxkämpfer jagten quer durch Vinyl“

  20. I love Inquisitors dearly (definitely the highlights of my weekend) but I certainly can’t remember enough of them to make an informed decision on this…

    Nonetheless thank you to all involved – fabulous stuff. My aim is to one day set one myself!

  21. 2½pts: 16/10/21:1721 Hole
    1½ pts: 01/05/21:1697 Sold Down the River
    1pt: 04/09/21:1715 For Her Eyes Only
    1pt: 13/11/21:1725 Fieldwork

    Very hard to choose – and I had to do quite a lot of revision to jog my memory. I seem to favour puzzles that get me to do weird things I haven’t done before (pictures in the grid etc.) and puzzles that I very nearly can’t complete (but to be honest I’d find it hard to choose one I actually didn’t finish, so it’s a fine line). This year I did more Inquisitors than ever before but still missed a few, so my choices could be unfair to some belters.

    Many thanks for all the puzzles this year. They’re almost always the crosswording highpoint of the week for me.

  22. I couldn’t, and wouldn’t even want to rate this year’s puzzles. I did every one and they were all good. A big thank you to all the setters and another thank you to JH for the difficult task of editing them all and trying to keep everyone happy.

  23. On what criteraia, I wonder, should one give a pecking order? Very often our modern barred puzzles present a lot of difficult and very complicated clues, many of which just about make sense but evoke little joy. Then, when the task (sometimes onerous) of solving is done, the completed puzzle is simply the beginning of another non-crossword puzzle that may involve internet research and a spatial search of the grid, taking as long or longer than clue-solving (which is surely the essence of the crossword), The Indy’s Magazine puzzle (not then named Inquisitor) begun over 30 years ago, with myself as one of its first setters, was much more straightforward and often served as a stepping-stone to The Listener. The two sets of puzzles are now much nearer the same in terms of the complexity I have described. Points will doubtless be given here for grid complexity, ahead of clue elegance. This is the modern style and I am now, as one of the older school, very surprised to have even got a single point (for which, many thanks!). I appreciate that the non-clueing aspect of modern barred puzzles will be for many a major attraction, but (sadly) less and less so for me. But all power to the elbows of those who think differently to myself!

  24. Quixote @23

    It was good to read a setter’s view on this page, and I’d like to pick up on the subject of clue-solving, which you say is “surely the essence of the crossword”, and clue quality: “points will doubtless be given here for grid complexity, ahead of clue elegance.”

    On the blog of your Inquisitor 1681 (January 2021), I wrote: “I like puzzles like this with good clues and interesting but uncomplicated themes – they make a fine tonic for the lockdown.” Well, the lockdown isn’t so relevant now, but I’m sure I’m not the only solver who sets great store by the quality of the clues, and I often refer to that in the comments that I write. The sheer variety of thematic subjects and thematic designs may well be what gives this series (and others) great appeal, but I maintain that the quality of clues is paramount.

  26. @Quixote

    One of the reasons I consistently award my points to Serpent and eXternal
    Is because of the high quality of the clueing, married more often than not to a clever conceit. One without the other isn’t going to swing my hammock. Sadly I think you’re right to an, er, eXtent about certain barred puzzles’ clues appearing to be an afterthought. I would say they are few and far between here though.

  27. Another fabulous year of IQs. Like others, the distraction of this quality series, plus EV, Listener and Magpie have helped me shift focus from the general awfulness of the year. Here’s to 22. Thanks to all setters, Team JH and the bloggers for the entertainment and education.

    A difficult selection as ever. I had 12 puzzles on my long list. Here’s my final list of 6 puzzles, a point to each.

    1679 Heavy Metal Band by Harribobs
    1687 Observation by Chalicea
    1689 Whodunnit by Vismut
    1725 Fieldwork by Hedge-sparrow
    1726 Character Assassination by extent
    1728 Face Trouble by Ifor.

    So many brilliant clues. I know we aren’t asked to nominate favourite clues but I absolutely loved 25A from 1707 Passing Thought by Nutmeg.

  28. It’s a really fine line between hard enough and too hard, and I agree that sometimes Inquisitors stray into the latter category either by excessively complex clueing or, more likely, an endgame that involves staring at patterns for hours.

    For me the beauty of the Inquisitors is their multi-layeredness, something which you don’t get in standard cryptics. “Solvers must then also…”.

    And I admit to being a real sucker for colouring things in at the end – so much so that I am now disappointed if that isn’t required.

  29. Thank you once again to all setters and the Inquisitor team for consistently producing such varied, fun and interesting puzzles.

    Looking back, I couldn’t see a standout and would like to award 1 point each to the following:

    1686 Nearly ten to four? by Eclogue
    1689 Whodunnit by Vismut
    1699 A…guide to Wonderland by Phi
    1715 For her eyes only by Artix
    1721 Hole by Nimrod
    1725 Fieldwork by Hedge sparrow

  30. Firstly, thanks to all the setters, bloggers and commenters – the IQ is still our favourite crossword. Always interesting, usually entertaining and consistently well constructed puzzles each week.

    Secondly, the following were chosen by Joyce. As she could not choose between them, they will each have to be given 1/2 point each. There are some that should perhaps be on the list and others that perhaps should receive more points – my apologies for not having more time to whittle down the list.

    Thirdly, we often look back at the blogs and read our comments to help us decide. Unfortunately, we realised how few puzzles we commented on during the last 12 months. We will endeavour to do better this year.

    1690 Plain Nimrod
    1691 Death Wish Serpent
    1694 Link Augeas
    1695 Sign Up Here Ploy
    1698 Spooky Manifestations Kruger
    1700 HMS Conqueror PINK
    1709 Proper Vismut
    1713 Eyedrops Jaques
    1717 Nod to Your Mates Ifor
    1718 Epitaph eXternal
    1724 Flight Plan Kruger
    1726 Character Assassination eXtent

  31. Just in time….

    2 points each for the following:

    All Rounder by Serpent
    Across The Board by Opsimath
    Clue 2 V by eXternal

    Many thanks as always to all solvers, commenters, the editorial team and all fellow setters for another great year of puzzles.

    Ali/Gila

  32. Belatedly…

    Many thanks to all setters, and of course the Editor, for another terrific year.

    2 points to Clouds (by Phi), one of my favourite Inquisitors ever.

    1 point to each of the following:

    Plain by Nimrod
    Death wish by Serpent
    Clue Two V by eXternal
    Fieldwork by Hedge-sparrow

  34. A whopping 23 solved this year… Up from 15 in 2020.

    1/2 point each for the following:

    1689 Whodunnit by Vismut
    1692 Clue Two V by External
    1704 Ransomware by Eclogue

    1709 Proper by Vismut
    1711 Across the board by Opsimath
    1712 Your case by Kruger

    1718 Epitaph by External
    1725 Fieldwork by Hedge-Sparrow
    1726 Character Assassination by Extent

    1727 On Track by Phi
    1728 Face Trouble by Ifor
    1729 One Missing by Extent

  35. Five points to Ella Minnow Pea. If you literally run off to the shops to buy a book the moment you finish a puzzle I think that’s a win.

    Remaining point to to Gila of this parish, even though as a long term Nick Drake fan (we played him at my sister’s funeral, blooming heck) I got nowhere with that one.

    And hello all, it’s been a while.

    Thanks to John for all of this fun stuff.

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