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Author Archives: Sam Donaldson
The 2020 Orca Awards
Welcome to the 10th Annual Orca Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing from puzzles published in 2020! Winners in ten different categories will be announced after the jump. Anagram fans are quick to point out that Orcas … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Adam Aaronson, Adam Vincent, Alan Massengill, Alex Eaton-Salners, Amanda Rafkin, Amy Schecter, Andrew Esten, Andrew J. Ries, Andrew Kingsley, Andy Kravis, Anne Marie Crinnion, Ben Tausig, Brian Kulman, Byron Walden, Caitlin Reid, Christina Iverson, Claire Rimkus, Damon Gulczynski, David Steinberg, Debbie Ellerin, Ella Dershowitz, Enrique Henestroza Anguiano, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Frank Longo, Greg Johnson, Jeff Chen, Jesse Lansner, Joanne M Sullivan, Joe Deeney, John Lieb, Joon Pahk, Juliana Tringali Golden, Kate Hawkins, Laura Braunstein, Laura Taylor Kinnel, Lewis Dean Hyatt, Matt Gaffney, Mike Shenk, Nam Jin Yoon, Nancy Stark, Pam Amick Klawitter, Pao Roy, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Pete Muller, Peter Gordon, Rich Norris, Rich Proulx, Robyn Weintraub, Sam Trabucco, Sid Sivakumar, Stella Zawistowski, Tom Pepper, Tracy Bennett, Trip Payne, Will Nediger, Will Shortz, Wyna Liu, Zhouqin Burnikel
15 Comments
The 2018 Orca Awards
Welcome to the 2018 Orca Awards! If you’re new, the Orcas is our annual celebration of outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing. Awards include Best Crossword of 2018, 2018 Constructor of the Year, and Best Gimmick Crossword of 2018. … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Amy Reynaldo, Andrew J. Ries, Andy Kravis, Anna Gundlach, Benjamin Kramer, Byron Walden, Daniel Mauer, Ed Sessa, Elizabeth A. Long, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Finn Vigeland, Francis Heaney, Freddie Cheng, Grant Thackray, Greg Johnson, Herre Schouwerwou, Jeff Chen, Jennifer Nutt, Joe DiPietro, Joe Krozel, Joon Pahk, Kathy Bloomer, Kevin G. Der, Lena Webb, Matt Gaffney, Michael Hawkins, Mike Shenk, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Patti Varol, Pete Muller, Peter Gordon, Peter Wentz, Rachel Maddow, Rich Norris, Robyn Weintraub, Sam Trabucco, Tony Orbach, Tracy Bennett, Will Nediger, Will Shortz, Yacob Yonas, Zhouqin Burnikel
8 Comments
Countdown to the 2018 Orca Awards!
The 2018 Orca Awards will drop on Friday, March 1. As in the past, we will recognize outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing with several awards, including Best Crossword, Constructor of the Year, Best Sunday-Sized Puzzle, Best Freestyle Puzzle, … Continue reading
The 2017 Orca Awards
Welcome, everyone, to the 2017 Orca Awards! It’s the seventh annual celebration of outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing from puzzles published in 2017. Below the fold you’ll read about some amazing crosswords as we discuss the nominees and … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Andrew Linzer, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Dan Addams IV, David Steinberg, Doug Peterson, Elizabeth C. Gorski, Eric Berlin, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Frank Longo, Greg Poulos, Jeff Chen, John Lampkin, Joon Pahk, Josh Knapp, Julie Bérubé, Kathy Wienberg, Laura Braunstein, Marie Kelly, Matt Gaffney, Michael Hawkins, Michael Shteyman, Mike Shenk, Neville Fogarty, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Pete Muller, Peter Broda, Peter Gordon, Randall J. Hartman, Roger Wienberg, Ross Trudeau, Sam Ezersky, Will Shortz, Zhouqin Burnikel
12 Comments
Get Ready for the 2017 Orca Awards with This Puzzle Featuring Clue of the Year Nominees!
The 2017 Orca Awards will arrive here on Sunday, March 4. That’s just three weeks away! Squee! For the seventh straight year we will honor outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing as we look back on many of your … Continue reading
The 2016 Orca Awards
Everyone’s favorite 8,000-word post is back! It’s time for the (now sixth!) annual Orca Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing throughout several categories in 2016. For the past two years the Orcas have been spread out over … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Andrew J. Ries, Ben Tausig, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Bruce Haight, Byron Walden, C.C. Burnikel, Dan Schoenholz, David Phillips, David Steinberg, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Frank Longo, Jeff Chen, Jeremy Newton, Joon Pahk, Josh Knapp, Kathy Wienberg, Matt Gaffney, Mike Shenk, Patrick Berry, Paul Coulter, Pete Muller, Peter A. Collins, Peter Gordon, Robyn Weintraub, Sam Trabucco, Will Shortz, Zhouqin Burnikel
5 Comments
The Orcas are Coming … Can You Solve this Puzzle Containing the Best Clue Nominees?
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, … Continue reading
The 2015 Orca Awards – Best Crossword
The Orcas conclude today with the award for Best Crossword. Before we get to the last award, let’s recap the winners thus far: Best Easy Crossword, Lynn Lempel Merl Reagle Award for Best Sunday-Sized Crossword, Jeremy Newton Best Freestyle Crossword, … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Brendan Emmett Quigley, Evan Birnholz, Jeff Chen, Jeremy Newton, Matt Gaffney, Patrick Berry
3 Comments