I think that this is the third puzzle of this type by Rustic … and I’ve blogged all three!
Each clue is really two clues in one, and leads to two words symmetrically placed in the grid. Each part clue contains a definition of the answer, but the subsidiary indication omits a letter which must be entered in one of the perimeter squares in the same column or row. When complete, a quotation can be read in the top/middle/bottom row followed by the left/central/right columns.
A relatively straightforward puzzle, and about average difficulty for an EV. There was no indication in the preamble as to whether the quotation was to be found in the ODQ, and if so, which edition(s). All I can say is that it is in my 5th edition, and was revealed as:
Marriage is a wonderful invention; but, then again, so is a bicycle repair kit.
This is from Billy Connolly. One problem held me up somewhat: I initially failed to find “Marriage is a wonderful invention” in the index. There are quite a few entries for ‘Marriage’, and I didn’t spot that, some way above where it should have been, and omitting ‘is’, it was given as “Marriage a …”. Likewise under ‘Invention’. The second half was correctly listed under ‘bicycle’, so I got there in the end.
Solving time: about two hours.
Legend:
Definition in clue with / marking the division between the two halves
X = letters moved to the perimeter
ABC* = anagram
ABC< = reversal
abCDef = hidden
I have switched the clue numbers in those pairs where the first clue is to the second clue number.
| ACROSS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No | Answers | Clue and Explanation | |
| 1 36 |
ABUSERS CRAFTED |
They insult sailors with endless poetry / constructed skillfully about service education (7; 7) ABS (sailors) + [v]ERS[e] (endless poetry) / C (about) RAF (service) ED (education) |
|
| 35 5 |
SNELLS RUMPLE |
Praises pieces of gut for fishing / bottom by eastern crease (6; 6) SELLS (praises) / RUMP (bottom) + E (eastern) |
|
| 9 34 |
NASTY DRIVE |
When in eastern state disgusting / hurry from drummer to get triumph in Europe (5; 5) AS (when) in NY (eastern state, of the USA) / DR (drummer) + VE (triumph in Europe) |
|
| 33 10 |
EMILY OASES |
Girl from Lyme found / while in middle of cosy places of rest (5; 5) LYME* / AS in [c]OS[y] (middle of cOSy) |
|
| 11 32 |
INHABIT CHICKEN |
Occupy in biblical book one / bird with smart space (7; 7) IN + HAB (biblical book, Habakkuk) / CHIC (smart) + EN (space) |
|
| 12 31 |
TIMOR ONEGA |
Sea I am in beside / one grand lake (5; 5) IM (I am) in TO (beside) / ONE + GR (grand) |
|
| 14 28 |
ASHY ERIC |
Vote to include second dusty / man, one in city (4; 4) AY (vote) including S (second) / I (one) in EC (city, reference EC postal district for the city of London |
|
| 15 26 |
OCEAN GNARL |
Vast expanse round container / flowed back and left a lump (5; 5) O (round) + CAN (container) / RAN< (flowed back) + L (left) |
|
| 16 25 |
RESIGN ASTRID |
After right indication give up / beautiful Scandinavian girl throwing darts (6; 6) SIGN (indication) after R (right) / DARTS* |
|
| 18 23 |
PATELLA CARAMBA |
Cover for joint and initially utter an / expression of admiration about baron capturing sheep (7; 7) A (initially And) + TELL (utter) + A (an) / CA (about) B (baron) capturing RAM (sheep) |
|
| DOWN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No | Answers | Clue and Explanation | |
| 30 1 |
BONED MANIC |
One lord seized / crazy one in charge (5; 5) ONE + D (lord, Dominus) / AN (one) IC (in charge) |
|
| 2 22 |
BANDSAW UNREEVE |
Groups with cutting device / unthread endless gut on flighty female (7; 7) BANDS (groups) + W (with) / [g]U[t] (endless gUt) + REEVE (female ree, bird) |
|
| 3 29 |
EYRAS OIDIA |
Wildcats and young raptor / one in part of harem’s fungal stages (5; 5) EYAS (young raptor, hawk) / I (one) in ODA (part of harem); at best, the surface reading can be described as bizarre! |
|
| 21 4 |
TEACHER RIBBANDS |
Master with every indication of envy starting to rip / fine material from Rifle Brigade musicians (7; 7) EACH (every) + E (indication of Envy) + R (start of Rip) / RB (Rifle Brigade) + BANDS (musicians) |
|
| 5 28 |
ARABY NEALS |
Butler reaching unknown part of Middle East / strengthens fish, it’s said (5; 5) RAB (Butler) + Y (unknown) / EALS (sounds like ‘eels’); although ‘RAB’ is given by Bradford’s, RA Butler was a 60’s politician who died in 1982! |
|
| 27 6 |
REVEL MUSIC |
Rejoice in dance — / art form not at first usually suited to life with little moisture (5; 5) REEL (dance) / MUSIC (art form) – U (at first Usually) |
|
| 7 24 |
PRIMAL ANANKE |
Friend holds ream first / necessity of a Kane novel (6; 6) PAL (friend) holding RM (ream) / (A KANE)* |
|
| 8 20 |
SECONAL ACINOUS |
Heartlessly conceal crude barbiturate, / like a cluster of berries wild toucans at first abandoned (7; 7) CONEAL* / [t]OUCANS* |
|
| 19 13 |
LOFTS PRIOR |
Starts to leave fairly tidy storage galleries / before prince embraces Hera’s priestess (5; 5) initials of Leave Fairly Tidy Storage / PR (prince) embracing IO (Hera’s priestess) |
|
| 15 17 |
GOERS GENAL |
Run into scots grandchildren — energetic types — / cheeky language crops up (5; 5) R (run) in OES (Scottish grandchildren) / LANG< (language) |
|
Word count: 819
Draft saved at 6:53:33 am.