Go-Betweens

[oldjudge]

The weekend WSJ variety is a Cox and Rathvon hex—lots of fun with a few less easy clues.

[Tom Wilson]

As usual, oldjudge speaks the truth: This one IS fun! (As if Cox & Rathvon ever let us down.)

[Jacksull]

Fun from Cox and Rathvon.

They have done their last acrostic for the NYT and last year retired from the Boston Globe. I wonder if they are stepping back from constructing puzzles after a career of almost 50 years. They’re the best.

[ChrisKochmanski]

We can hope that HEX do no more than slow down some. I’d really miss their puzzles — the variety cryptics, in particular. I remember feeling crushed when The Atlantic discontinued the “Puzzler” however many years ago that was.

[Tom Wilson]

That decision by The Atlantic scarred me for life. If Harper's ever does the same, I'm gonna need a support group.

[KayW]

Another winner from HEX!

...and just as I was going to type up my request for help interpreting 3 entries where I was stumped on either the answer or the wordplay, I took one last look and near-post-enlightenment struck.

[Barney]

Another winner from HEX!

...and just as I was going to type up my request for help interpreting 3 entries where I was stumped on either the answer or the wordplay, I took one last look and near-post-enlightenment struck.

A few years ago, people helped when asked.

Nowadays little if at all.

This isn’t a complaint; it’s a fact.

[iggystan]

Agree with everyone else, this was another fun HEX puzzle. I guessed at a few of the Go-Betweens just from reading them. I, too, had to read a clue or two over before figuring out the word play; they always amaze me that they come up with new and novel clues. (I will always help if asked, BTW.)

[Meg]

Enjoyed this as usual. I think every time I get the answer to a clue, a little dopamine is released inside my brain. It’s a series of lovely little Aha! moments. Thanks, HEX.

[Barney]

Agree with everyone else, this was another fun HEX puzzle. I guessed at a few of the Go-Betweens just from reading them. I, too, had to read a clue or two over before figuring out the word play; they always amaze me that they come up with new and novel clues. (I will always help if asked, BTW.)

Noted.

Before the WSJ curtailed its discussion forum, there were long conversations, questions, answers, help.

That ended, replaced now by a few insider homages to Henry, Emily and the puzzle. Frustrating and useless for those of us who’d like to learn.

I love Patrick Berry puzzles. But I don’t show up on every PB puzzle forum merely to extol him.

[iggystan]

Agree with everyone else, this was another fun HEX puzzle. I guessed at a few of the Go-Betweens just from reading them. I, too, had to read a clue or two over before figuring out the word play; they always amaze me that they come up with new and novel clues. (I will always help if asked, BTW.)

Noted.

Before the WSJ curtailed its discussion forum, there were long conversations, questions, answers, help.

That ended, replaced now by a few insider homages to Henry, Emily and the puzzle. Frustrating and useless for those of us who’d like to learn.

I love Patrick Berry puzzles. But I don’t show up on every PB puzzle forum merely to extol him.

I thought you might have been talking about help here in these forums. I didn't know that WSJ had a discussion forum, unless you are talking about the comments section on the puzzle page which requires a subscription to enter comments.

I'm not sure how to interpret your last statement. I usually comment on all of the variety and cryptic puzzles. (Not usually much discussion about the acrostic puzzles here.)

[Barney]

Agree with everyone else, this was another fun HEX puzzle. I guessed at a few of the Go-Betweens just from reading them. I, too, had to read a clue or two over before figuring out the word play; they always amaze me that they come up with new and novel clues. (I will always help if asked, BTW.)

Noted.

Before the WSJ curtailed its discussion forum, there were long conversations, questions, answers, help.

That ended, replaced now by a few insider homages to Henry, Emily and the puzzle. Frustrating and useless for those of us who’d like to learn.

I love Patrick Berry puzzles. But I don’t show up on every PB puzzle forum merely to extol him.

I thought you might have been talking about help here in these forums. I didn't know that WSJ had a discussion forum, unless you are talking about the comments section on the puzzle page which requires a subscription to enter comments.

I'm not sure how to interpret your last statement. I usually comment on all of the variety and cryptic puzzles. (Not usually much discussion about the acrostic puzzles here.)

Before the WSJ page was curtailed for time and subscribers, there were lively ongoing discussions, questions, hints that started vague and would become less so. It was great for learning.

This forum *could* do that but doesn’t. Seems the only people left have nothing to learn and little interest to help.

Just my frustration really.

[DavyGravy]

I enjoyed this puzzle. Not too hard - and I always like a payoff at the end.

[ChrisKochmanski]

That decision by The Atlantic scarred me for life. If Harper's ever does the same, I'm gonna need a support group.

In case you’re not aware, Steve Mossberg provides fun variety cryptics through his service called Square Chase. I get email notices from him; it seems like they’re twice per month or so, though I haven’t been keeping track. I don’t have a link for you, but it’s a Patreon thing (Steve doesn’t ask for much), so I’m sure you can find it with a search.

[ChrisKochmanski]

FYI, today (Sun Apr 23), The New Yorker’s cryptic is by HEX. It’s a fairly easy one (as TNY’s have been, at least recently), so for me the fun of it became: “How fast can I do this?” I didn’t time myself, but it seemed like 10 or 15 minutes.