Out of my league

[Lomax]

Brain power please :

In detail mercilessly criticize five veristic works (8)

[factor-fiction]

Hi do you know any letters please?

[Lomax]

Sorry, no. The whole crossword is out of my league but I'd like to understand the answers...

[factor-fiction]

Is this the CAM magazine?

[Lomax]

Yep, is there a complete solution posted somewhere? It's the hardest thing I've ever seen!

[factor-fiction]

I don't think so- here's the magazine.
http://issuu.com/camb...ce/docs/cam_66_lo_res
I don't think the next issue is out yet.
There is a poster on Answerbank called Maurice, I recall, who does this crossword and he has probably solved this one, so let's hope he sees your question

[slaney]

Anagram of veristic +v(five) minus R which is the additional letter in the wordplay.

[factor-fiction]

Well I can get VIVISECT but I'm not sure

[Lomax]

Thank you. That just leaves two questions
1) Why minus R?
2) Why vivsect?

Presumably "works" means anagramise?

[slaney]

Yes - vivisect is correct = In detail merciless criticize.
Works is the anagram indicator.

[slaney]

Lomax, if you read the preamble to the crossword it says
"The wordplay in each of the remaining clues generates the answer to be entered in the grid plus an additional letter"

[Lomax]

Wow, vivisect means "mercilessly criticise"? That's a stretch isn't it?

[Lomax]

OK, I understand the wordplay. Crazy stuff but I can parse the instructions at least.

[Lomax]

I'm going to work through CAM65 (where at least I have the answers!) to see if there's any hope for me.

Thanks for your help.

[slaney]

Have you a Chambers dictionary Lomax?
It's very helpful for this type of crossword - in there the definition of vivisect (in addition to cutting surgically) is "merciless and minute examination or criticism" so no stretch.

[slaney]

..and you're welcome!

[Lomax]

I do have a Chambers somewhere but mostly use a "medium sized" Oxford. I've always thought that Chambers was too large because half the words were Scottish! Prejudice eh?