We’re just two weeks away from the 2016 Orca Awards, our annual tribute to some of the year’s most outstanding crosswords. In addition to Best Crossword, there will be awards in several categories, including Best Easy Crossword, Best Freestyle Crossword, Best Contest Crossword, and Best Gimmick Crossword. There will also be the Merl Reagle Award for Best Sunday-sized Crossword, the Margaret Farrar Award for Constructor of the Year, and the Bob Klahn Award for Best Clue.
Speaking of the Bob Klahn Award–and to whet your appetite for the Orcas–click on this link for Get a Clue, a special crossword featuring this year’s ten nominees for Best Clue. (Sorry, computer solvers, it’s a PDF file.) Our lips are sealed as to the nominees in all other categories–you’ll just have to watch for the awards post on March 10!
1. this is AMAZING
2. i’m extremely honored to be nominated
3. …oh my god i’m rooting against myself
1. yes it is
2. so am i
3. so am i! i think all three of yours might be the three best
Thanks for the link. But one of the theme clues seems to stick out in the wrong direction: is there a context that explains “10A. Prefix with f Boyardee” [3 letters]? I mean, usually such a clue would be an automatic DQ even if the entry is otherwise acceptable. But I didn’t see the puzzle that this comes from. Or is it now open season for clues such as “Prefix with i stand” [3 letters] for TAX?
–suffix with Le Mo [3 letters]
It’s from Francis Heaney’s bonus AVCX puzzle from April 2016. The hilarious and terrible clues like that one were a major part of the gimmick.