I thought this had everything you could ask for in a puzzle at the easier end of the Indy spectrum. Flawless clues, excellent surface readings, easier wordplay for the less familiar answers. Solving time, 22 mins.
Favourites today PROSAIC, PAID, RIDING BOOTS (best of all), KINGPIN, HEWING.
* = anagram
1 SQUARES Double definition matches = squares (vb)
5 PROSAIC P (parking) I (one) in (CAR SO)*
9 GEORGE ELIOT As it happens, nmsindy’s favourite writer so guessed early on. It reverses TOILE (material) EG (say) ROEG (Nicolas, English film director). Reversal indicated by ‘circulated’.
10 BRA from BRA(g)
11 VARLETRY Archaic word for ‘rabble’ (TRAVEL)* RY (railway)
13 DOSSER heaD (SORES)*
15 ANDY handy = useful to have around. Take away the two hs.
16 GARAGE BAND Amateur music (rock) group. RAGE (madness) in GAB (chat) AND (with)
18 CONFIDENCE Seamless join at secret/identity. ID (identity) in CON (criminal) FENCE (receiver of stolen goods).
19 WONK A person with an obsessive interest in one subject, definition, swot. Ken Turner tells us to turn ‘ken’ = ‘know’ around. Had a quick look to see if there was a Ken Turner the clue might refer to, there are a few Ken Turners turned up by Wikipedia but none jumped out as esp relevant but happy to be advised otherwise. The clue is of course perfectly fine without any such reference. Clue writing convention permits the false capital for Turner.
22 ABBESS A BiBlE (regularly = alternate letters) SS (Sunday School)
23 Oscar PETERSON Think from previous puzzles, Dac may have an interest in jazz. PET (favourite), ER (Elizabeth) SON (Charles, son of ER)
25 TAO first letters of That Affects Oriental, indicated by ‘leaders’ &lit, I guess
26 MOUNTAIN TOP (NATION OUT)* in PM reversed
28 RE (engineers) SERVE (perform duties) 18 is CONFIDENCE so defn is ‘lack of confidence’
29 REGIMEN Regiment less t (time)
DOWN
1 SEGOVIA GOV (ruler) I (one) in SEA (main). A town in Central Spain
2 UNO Hidden in fUN Occasionally. Got this from the wordplay, it was unknown to nmsindy and also to his dicts, but a quick look at Wikipedia reveals it as a well-known game played with special cards.
3 RUGGER RUGGE(d) (rough) R (right) &lit, I guess
4 SHEARWATER A in (WAS THERE)* R (river)
5 PAID P (penny or pence – small amount of money) AID (charity)
6 OUTMODED MO (moment = time) in (DUDE TO)*
7 AMBASSADOR’S AM (American) BASS (singer) A (Diana) DORS = former pin up.
8 CHARRED “chard”
12 RIDING BOOTS RID (free) IN G (good) BOOTS (chemists – UK chain)
14 MANCHESTER Ref Manchester United FC MAN (player) and last letters of stepS ouT
in CHEER (show of support)
17 MIDSOMER This refers to long-running TV series Midsomer Murders. DSO (Distinguished Service Order) in MIMER (speechless actor)
18 CHATTER horse = heroin = H in CATTER(y)
20 KINGPIN very well hidden in drinKING PINts. Definition: VIP
21 HEWING HugE WING (portion of poultry) Definition: cutting
24 MULE Double definition, drug courier and item of footwear
27 TOM Cruise Actor TO (as far as) M (Malta – international vehicle registration)
9AC – Should be Nicolas ROEG . I was having fun trying to get George Lucas in – thought the English was just an E
Great puzzle as always from Dac. So many clean surface readings, with 13A just pipping 12D as my clue of the day. Had to admit defeat on SEGOVIA and VARLETRY though.
Most of what I know about George Eliot I owe to your debut Listener puzzle Niall, so I would have guessed you’re a fan!
Segovia also 1st Marquis of Salobreña. Very nice, simple puzzle, elegantly clued.
Thanks nms.
As you say,a very good,fairly clued puzzle,with a good mix of clue devices.
I was also unfamiliar with “uno”,but easily solved from the wordplay.
Favourite clues 18 and 19 across and 18 and 21 down.
Apart from putting in outdated in 6dn initially whilst thinking Dac had made an error, silly me, otherwise quite a good enjoyable solve. So what’ve we got tomorrow? A lot of recent Thursdays have been really tricky if Eimi hasn’t set it 😉
19a?? 18d?? Gave up after I got 6 clues.Just when I thought I was getting the hang of the ‘I’ crosswords! Ah well! Maybe finish tomorrow’s
P.S must have been the mention of Man U that put me off!!