*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition.
A début? Certainly not a setter I’ve come across before. I didn’t find this unduly taxing, but everything was very well put together. There’s a handful of minor queries regarding wordplay that I’m sure someone can clear up for me.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 7 | YOGI BEAR – (BIG + )< “through” YEAR. |
| 9 | SANSEI – (SANE + I) “taking in” S. |
| 10 | ADZE – hom. of “ads”. |
| 11 | INFRASONIC – (CAIN FOR SIN)*. |
| 12 | DEBATE – DEE “holding” BAT? “Host once holding club” is the wordplay, but I can’t find a source for “Dee” meaning much other than the river. |
| 14 | NEPENTHE – (PEN + THE) “on” NE[-w]. |
| 15 | SPINAL – (PLAN IS)*. |
| 17 | ADRIFT – DR “inside” AI + FT. |
| 20 | SEDIMENT – SENT “about” DIME. |
| 22 | HAGGIS – dd. |
| 23 | ETON COLLAR – (LEARNT COOL)*. |
| 24 | BEAT – B[-o]E[-o]T[-i]A. |
| 25 | GEODES – D[-i]OGE[-n]ES*. |
| 26 | AGNUS DEI – I’m not sure what this has to do with Islam or Shoreditch, I must admit. |
| Down | |
| 1 | HOODLESS – dd. |
| 2 | AIDE – IDEA with the “A” moved to the front. |
| 3 | VENICE – presumably something like “V. Nice” but I can’t quite crack it. |
| 4 | ESCARPED – ESCAPED “carrying” R. |
| 5 | ANNOUNCING – ANN + OUNC[-e] + IN + G. |
| 6 | NEWISH – WHEN* “about” IS. |
| 8 | REFUND – FUN “in the RED”. Very good. |
| 13 | AFICIONADO – cd? “Devotee of the Spanish tongue”. |
| 16 | ALEHOUSE – (HE + AEOLUS)*. The clue expands to “Best but no Stella”. |
| 18 | THIRTEEN – (R + TEE) “held by” THIN. |
| 19 | STELLA – TELL “in” SA. McCartney, of course. |
| 21 | ESTHER – S “in” ETHER. |
| 22 | HARING – dd. Keith Haring, artist, 1958-1990. |
| 24 | BEST – ref. George Best. |
Hi Simon
12ac: You’re too young! Simon Dee was a DJ and chat-show host in the late 60s.
3dn: nearly there: it’s VE[ry]NICE
26ac had me baffled at first, but the homonym is in the clue. Shoreditch being in the East End (tho pretty trendified these days), Islam = ‘is lamb’ = His lamb, i.e. the lamb of God!
There’s also a topical Nina.
I think 13 is as you suggest a CD, the answer being a Spanish word (originally.)
I’m guessing it’s one of the regulars using an alternative pseudonym for the occasion: Ascalon was apparently the name of the sword/lance used by St George to slay the dragon.
Quite right, Testy, but which one? I’ll leave it to him whether he wishes to break cover.
Since it’s a cros sword I think I can guess.
Although it is quite hard sometimes, The Independent’s puzzle is fast becoming my favourite. Today’s was an example of why, with a lovely, welcoming and topical reference around the edge that didn’t draw attention to itself. I got it when ‘H A V E’ appeared at the top of the grid. I wonder if any of the other papers thoughtof our national hero today?
I agree with Mr Harris that this one was nicely balanced, in other words not too hard, but AGNUS DEI was at the edge of ‘very creative’! And like Eileen- I’m afraid I too remember Dee Time.
Thank you.
Rather surprising the setter didn’t use Jack Dee for 12 ac. “Comedian hosting club discussion” would have worked just as well and been a bit more up-to-date. I didn’t follow Agnus Dei – I only remembered it was a religious statue and didn’t realize it featured a lamb.
‘Host once hosting’ sounds better to me, but then it would.
Ah, so does that meen Ascalon=Tees=one of our frequent posters?
Thanks, Shirley, glad you’re enjoying them. I’ve just been editing a week’s puzzles that will blow your socks off, including a Virgilius that I think might be his best yet.
Re Neal H’s comment at 8. Agnus is Latin for lamb so literally ‘lamb of God’
This was great, but I don’t think I’d have managed to complete it had I not spotted the Nina about halfway through!