The Stickler Weekly 54 Solution

It’s often said that the job of a setter is to entertain solvers, provide them with a diversion that evokes a sense of pleasure during and after solving. For some solvers, entertainment is all that matters, that is, it doesn’t matter necessarily how good the clues are as long as they have a sense of fun about them, use interesting techniques, and touch on things that solvers can relate to. The emphasis is on the big picture, not the detail, and the odd superfluous word, dodgy definition, or wrong tense, doesn’t interfere with their fun. They probably want to know how the wordplay works to add to their enjoyment, and this isn’t quelled even if the wordplay is faulty. Clues with humour or that are slightly risque raise a wry smile, and popular references make them feel up-to-date. Difficult crosswords that can’t be finished will probably elicit a negative response, as the entertainment factor has to extend right across the crossword. These solvers will solve any crossword that provides what they need but rarely compare the crosswords or setters at a technical level because that’s not what’s important to them.
I think there are setters out there who aim to entertain with every clue. I don’t think it’s possible without compromise, so I resist the urge to force something to happen, and settle for consistent, sound clues, which I hope, for most, provides entertainment enough.