Independent on Sunday 1008 by Quixote (7 Jun 2009)
Posted by nmsindy on June 11th, 2009
Special puzzle, because of 16 across. Thought it was going to be very difficult when I solved just one clue on first run through, but it became a bit easier after that. Solving time, 23 mins.
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
8 A RA(t) RAT This refers to Noah’s Ark where animals went in pairs and ended up on that mountain (Old Testament).
9 NEGATIVE (Evita gen)<
11 RING O Starr of the Beatles (relevant to 16 across also)
12 GRAN D (T) OUR
13 PRO TESTER
14 LAT(C)H
16 WHEN I’M SIXTY-FOUR Beatles song and I’m sure it’s in here as Quixote is passing that landmark. Best wishes from this blogger. Square as sixty-four is eight times eight. The rest refers to the lyrics of the song.
19 R AT ON(e)
20 CE LEBRATE (a treble)*
23 RU DIMENTS (mindset)*
25 anTIMONy Timon of Athens
26 DO (MINE) ER
27 TEHRAN (another)* less o i.e. loveless
DOWN
1 SAT RAP
2 RAINFOREST (a frontier’s)*
3 MA LONE Molly Malone – Dublin song
4 REP AIR
5 MAN DA (LA)Y
6 L I DO
7 SE (ARCH)ER
10 A Bill GATES
15 THOMAS MORE (home a storm)*
16 WAR BRIDE Cryptic definition
17 IGNOMI NuttY (I’m goin)*
18 XY (LO) SE (sexy)* wood sugar
20 CONTES(t)
21 B (first letter i.e. prime requirement) UTTER (say) & lit
22 EL NINO (online)*
24 DOMEstic