I only came across the Mandelbrot Set a few years ago on the Youtube channel Numberphile, which I find very interesting.

It struck me immediately as suitable for a crossword theme given it had both an image that would suit an endgame and a crossword-suited, second meaning of Mandelbrot Set – the name comprising ten distinct letters. I do like to sit on an idea to try and ensure that I have considered different ways of presenting it. However, if it is a theme I particularly like, I get worried that someone else will beat me to it, which has happened three times for far. When I did get around to setting the puzzle, I initially built a grid with just a grey area formed by the thematic letters, but on completion I still had quite a few fill options that would leave real words in the grey area of the grid so I figured that I could achieve more. A coloured border representing the fractal seemed to me a good enhancement.

I’d already thought to use a form of iterated formula in the clues, so replicating that in the grid in the form of clashes seemed a perfect way to help me achieve the coloured border, and make the grid fill more interesting for the solver. I decided that the number of sums in the grid should be the same as the clues, which, quite unnecessarily, made the border harder to achieve. I am not a particularly skilful grid builder, so I make up somewhat by perseverance. I won’t embarrass myself by admitting how long it took to achieve the new grid, but let’s think in terms of days and weeks rather than hours and days.

On completion of the puzzle, the only bit I wasn’t happy with was the direct manner of the clue gimmick revealing the theme. I had racked my brain trying to think how I could add another level to the puzzle, wondering how some of the better setters would handle it, but I couldn’t see it so settled with what I had.

Reading the comments made me see the puzzle from the solver’s perspective, with its flaws, which of course I should have been able to do at the outset. The main weakness appears to be the coloured border, which some thought the endgame would have been better without, and some thought should have been symmetrical in colouring. The latter would have been impossible for me with a grid that left real words, but probably doable without leaving real words, which I accept would have been the much better option.

I was aware that the theme wouldn’t suit everyone, so one solver’s comment that life’s too short to read about it didn’t really surprise me. However, I did think that those unfamiliar with the theme might enjoy a Mandelbrot zoom. One of the testers didn’t understand why the sums were necessary, which I probably should have taken more seriously. I thought they represented a thematic gimmick, but perhaps that was only for anyone on the same wavelength as me.

I really enjoyed setting this puzzle, and thought that I had done a good job with it, but realise now that it wasn’t at all as good as I thought it was. I should point out that there were more complementary comments than critical ones, but, being honest, I am in agreement with the criticism.

Posted on Friday, September 27th, 2024 at 7:37 pm under Setting the scene.
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