Chris

@Andrew Jim Horne says “this crossword has only 54 black squares — a new record for a 21x21 grid.” So the constructor seems to be congratulating himself for breaking a record. Which makes everything make a lot of sense knowing that this grid was done for him, and not for others to enjoy.

@Dan Sullivan Someone always says this when a lot of people don’t like the puzzle. I didn’t even hate this one. It was middling for me. But come on. A lot, lot, lot of people disliked it. That doesn’t just “say something about them.” (As if it’s somehow immoral or rude to dislike something?) Please stop encouraging the NYT and its constructors to *not* learn from the things that didn’t work.

@retired, with cat Why is this sentiment so popular on the NYT comments section? “You don’t like this puzzle? Well he is a reputable famous artist so you are not entitled to your opinion!” I thought the readership was intelligent. Appeals to authority or name-dropping don’t make for a very rational argument. I’ve seen good hard puzzles and bad hard puzzles. This isn’t about the puzzle being hard. And I don’t need to know Mr. Quigley or his history to judge his work for myself. Appeals to reputation are nonsense, someone’s work should speak for itself. Though @retired, with cat seems willing to worship whatever comes out of Mr. Quigley’s head without so much as glancing at it because of his reputation, the rest of us will continue to make judgments for ourselves. I may also guess you’re a personal friend (or maybe even the constructor himself), so please say hi to Quigley for me.

@Barry Ancona Yes. ATLOWEBB? It sounded awkward when I entered it. Sure enough, searching it gives results only for “at a low ebb,” and the definitions barely match the clue. So much fill felt forced in with modified phrases and obscure trivia. I’m more surprised at the people who will defend a puzzle no matter what. If you can’t call a puzzle bad, then there is no such thing as a good puzzle, because you hand that title to every single one. It’s ok to criticize, because maybe then the constructor will spend more time next time revising the themers if they don’t allow for a more natural, smooth fill.