Independent Crossword 9188 by Monk (26-03-2016)

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The last paper copy of the Independent – but not the last puzzle. And one of my favourite setters as the sun finally sets on the printed paper.

If you don’t know already you can find the daily crossword at http://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent/ .As to whether this one will appear is not something I know, but were I a gambling man I suspect it won’t as from Saturday 2nd April the puzzle will be just another daily one, I believe. The paper promised a printed solution at http://independent.co.uk/solutionswinners26March – at present this only has the concise crossword answers.

All in all a very pleasant puzzle from Monk – certainly easier than many he has produced over the years. Just to clarify, I’m not saying it was easy just not as hard as the odder Monk puzzles can be.

Was there a theme? Whilst the grid layout made the perimeter ideal for a hidden message , there was not one I could see Xanadu and Enola Gay had me thinking of 1980’s pop music but not much else – no but it is a pangram – all the letters of the alphabet are in use.

However, the first three letters of the 3rd row state “FIN” – reminiscent of many a classic French film.  I have the suspicion there may be something more complex to be found. But maybe as good a way as any to sign off.

Favourite clue has to be 15dn though for pure brevity 16dn also deserves a mention as does 4dn, which I must admit I would almost categorise as a straight clue! There many other gems in there too – 25ac and 26ac read so well. Also nice to see Suzi Quatro get a mention !

Many thanks Monk – hope to see more offerings from you in the digital space. I’m still in a period of transition with the crosswords myself – still not back to a nice equilibrium yet with paper printed copies.

Key;

  • Anagram; Rev. reverse; Underline definition

Across

8 Threatening players getting a hole in one (8)

Men (players) + acing (getting a hole in one) = MENACING

9 Drew extremely unusual running head for circulation (6)

(ul (extremely unusual) + head)* = HAULED

10 Victim of roller breaking part of harbour (6)

RR(Roller as in Rolls Royce) in quay (part of harbour) = QUARRY

11 Focus, say, on backing Monk’s freedom (8)

Auto (Focus as in Ford Focus car) + Re. (no) + my (Monk’s) = AUTONOMY

12 Society relieved to welcome working veteran (8)

S (society) + eased (relieved) around on (working) = SEASONED

13 Republican figure of speech rejected in statement (6)

R (republican) + Rev (Trope – figure of speech) = REPORT

14 What might provide incredibly close images taken by half of TV crew (10,5)

(close)* + pics (images) in T (half of TV) + eight (crew) = TELESCOPIC SIGHT

18 French exchange students finally getting into British or French study of beliefs? (6)

B (British) + ou (or Frence) + RE (study of beliefs) around s (students finally) = BOURSE

20 Give too much time to cut excessive demand (8)

T (time) in over ask(excessive demand) = OVERTASK

23 Tradesman endlessly encouraged to stop dad (8)

Urged (encouraged) – u/d in Pater (father) = PARGETER

24 Foreign cheeses reportedly causing a little wind (6)

Homonym (Bries (Foreign cheeses) = BREEZE

25 A fellow setter coming back from French idyllic place (6)

Re (Anax (fellow setter)) + du (from French) = XANADU

26 A Kennedy in motorcade takes Ford by surprise? (8)

Jack (A Kennedy) in Cars (motorcade) = CARJACKS

Down

1 Almost stagger when inspiring stale air in shelter (6

Reel (Stagger) – l around fug (stale air) = REFUGE

2 Man perhaps following clean type of design (4,4)

Isle (Man perhaps) after Fair (clean) = FAIR ISLE

3 Jewish guys appearing in Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Mo (6)

Hidden (MINY ANd) = MINYAN

4 Contest wherein one carries over broadcast (3-3-5,4)

Ova (homoym of Over) as in eggs – straight clue = EGG-AND-SPOON RACE

5 Verbal ornamentation using “thrice” or alternative (8)

(thrice or)* = RHETORIC

6 Bos’n initially excited to enter vessel for fast race (4-2)

B (Bos’n initially) + up (excited) around urn (vessel) = BURN-UP

7 Damage tree with intermittently smashed up interior (8)

(Birch (tree) + mse)* = BESMIRCH

15 Bomber returned unaccompanied over camp (5,3)

Rev. (alone (unaccompanied)) + gay (camp) = ENOLA GAY

16 Bust head in tree (8)

Chest (bust) + nut (head) = CHESTNUT

17 Naked – good to leave nightwear off (2,3,3)

(nightwear g)* = IN THE RAW

19 Yank baby from grass under blanket (3,3)

Rug (blanket) + rat (grass) = RUG RAT

21 Touring our island, maybe spruce up old king (6)

Rev. Tree (maybe spruce) around GB (our island) = EGBERT

22 Violin teacher busks regularly to feed bassist rock chick

Suzi (bassist Rock chick – as in Quatro) around bUsKs = SUZUKI

 

 

 

 

11 comments on “Independent Crossword 9188 by Monk (26-03-2016)”

  1. Thanks twencelas
    You nearly got there with the Nina. Row 3 and column 5 give FINGERS CROSSED so presumably when Monk set this one there was still some doubt about the future of various puzzles.

  2. Doh missed the fingers crossed thanks gaufrid. Found this hard especially the lhs though as per usual once you’ve got it, they’re obvious. Thanks newcastle*

  3. Ps still not convinced fellow setter = anax is fair. Anax appears once a month. Ok we know him, and indeed owe him some dosh in my case, but i think it’s worse than an indirect anagram.

  5. Thanks twenceslas, and Monk for a puzzle that was not too hard.
    I spotted the nina but only after I’d finished the lot.
    So it was a nice extra.

    I could not parse 14ac, nor 4d.
    Now I see how they work, they must rank as some of the best in this crossword.

    I agree with Flashling about the use of Anax.
    I also thought the hidden solution of 3d was not up with the best.
    That said, altogether another very enjoyable puzzle by one of my favourite setters.

  6. Brilliant stuff – worthy of its star billing slot. Nina helped muchly with tricky SW corner, as did pangram. Fave clue 14a amongst several contenders. Thank you Monk.

  7. A worthy final (printed) prize puzzle from Monk, but I was pleased to discover that there is a prize puzzle in the Saturday i too, presumably not recycled as the others are, I think. But are there any plans for blogging these? I imagine there will be quite a few of us buying the i for the Inquisitor, who will also now be doing the Saturday prize puzzle there.

  9. Thanks Gaufrid.

    I wonder if the i will start commissioning their own original puzzles at some point. My impression is that even over just the last 5 years the quality of puzzles has improved significantly – or at least their consistency has. Before I knew the i puzzles were recycled I’d assumed they were b-grade puzzles rejected by other papers or ones from unknown setters. I’ve never felt as confident that I’d eventually get the answer with i puzzles as I have with those in the Independent.

  10. OPatrick @9 in some ways the i puzzles in recent years have been better than the Indy ones – for example the Virgilius puzzles which haven’t been in the Independent, I think, for about 6 years and after all the i has the pick of old Indy puzzles so can presumably just drop the poorer puzzles… but overall, if you’re right and the standard is improving – then that must be good news for future puzzles in the i.

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