Settling Scores
It's basically the game ... in reverse.
Last night the North American crossword community came together for the 14th annual ORCA Awards, their first year with categories for cryptics. The ballot was stuffed with great puzzles, and we were surprised and deeply touched when High Definition was selected as the variety cryptic of the year.
Congrats to all the nominees, and to PiGuyN for winning in the non-variety cryptic category. We're so happy to see good work being done, so thrilled to see it recognized, and honored indeed to have found fans among the ORCA voters. Thanks to the families that indulge us, to the editors and collaborators that have pushed us along the way — especially our also-multiply-nominated ongoing editor, Andy Yingst, and our diehard test solvers Andy Stilp, John Sams and Dave Sanderman — and to you, our solvership, with particular warm regards to those we've gotten to hang out with on Twitch.
We were also honored to submit a clue to the 100th puzzle of Square Chase, the variety cryptic Patreon run by also-multiply-nominated Steve Mossberg (editor of our free puzzle Song of the Summer). Big ups on the milestone, Steve, and thanks for having us.
On main, it's board game night at The Rackenfracker (again). Thanks to Alex Boisvert for his invaluable Crossword Nexus variety solver, and thanks once more to our test solving and editing squad, and to you solvers. Happy puzzling.