A smart, enjoyable puzzle. The minor grumbles were easily outweighed, for me, by the clever clueing.
Although this wasn’t the most demanding crossword, there was wit and originality in every aspect of its construction (the devices used, the vocab, the surfaces, the definitions). Thank-you, Artexlen.
| Across | ||
| 1 | BECALM | Still recalling cream lace bra cups (6) |
| Hidden in reversal of creaM LACE Bra | ||
| 5 | READJUST | Made out only to settle again (8) |
| Read [made out] only [just] | ||
| 9 | SHORTCUT | Quicker way to get Brie, perhaps (8) |
| Reverse clue: Brie(f) [short] | ||
| 10 | UNPLUG | Remove power from group of countries, with publicity (6) |
| UN [United Nations, group of countries] plug [publicity] | ||
| 11 | BRUNEI | Britain’s ancient symbol associated with island nation (6) |
| B [Britain] rune [ancient symbol] i [island] | ||
| 12 | ARSONIST | Boy is getting into craft that is lighter (8) |
| Son [boy] is within art [craft] | ||
| 14 | LOGANBERRIES | Fruit bats so near gerbil (12) |
| Anagram of so near gerbil | ||
| 18 | SKINNY-DIPPER | Thin bird, one barely in the water (6-6) |
| Skinny [thin] dipper [bird] | ||
| 22 | SPEEDS UP | Puts one’s foot down when finding drug and drink (6,2) |
| Speed [drug] sup [drink] | ||
| 25 | NOTARY | Official shop’s back yard (6) |
| Reversal of rat on [shop] y [yard] | ||
| 26 | OLIVER | Chef has duck, food rich in protein (6) |
| O [zero, duck] liver [food rich in protein] | ||
| 27 | SPINNEYS | Possessing passion, cuts back collection of plants (8) |
| Reversal of yen [passion] within snips [cuts] – shouh shouldn’t it be “collectionS” of plants? | ||
| 28 | ESTRANGE | Sergeant at sea is cut off (8) |
| Anagram of sergeant | ||
| 29 | ELATED | Overjoyed when told leader’s dismissed (6) |
| (R)elated [told] | ||
| Down | ||
| 2 | EXHORT | Strongly advise other doctors compromising vote (6) |
| X [vote] within anagram of other | ||
| 3 | ADRENALIN | Article about one way and another to serve up stimulant (9) |
| Reversal of I [one] lane [way] rd [road, another way] within an [indefinite article] | ||
| 4 | MOCKINGLY | In revolution, honour cold royal in a snide manner (9) |
| Reversal of OM [Order of Merit, honour] c [cold] kingly [royal] | ||
| 5 | RETRAIN | Gain new skills on public transport (7) |
| Re [on, about] train [public transport] | ||
| 6 | ABUTS | When guards save borders (5) |
| But [save] within as [when] | ||
| 7 | JAPAN | Country where first of two vessels is docked (5) |
| Ja(r) [vessel] pan [vessel] | ||
| 8 | SQUASHED | Female wearing outfit is pressed in (8) |
| She [female] within squad [outfit] | ||
| 13 | OAR | Bladed implement decapitating swine (3) |
| (B)oar [swine] | ||
| 15 | EXPENSIVE | No longer thoughtful, dear? (9) |
| Ex [no longer] pensive [thoughtful] | ||
| 16 | RURITANIA | Kingdom’s fruitarians peeled bananas (9) |
| Anagram of (f)ruitarian(s) | ||
| 17 | SKI POLES | Supporters of sportsperson, Europeans backing runner (3,5) |
| Ski [runner] Poles [Europeans] (can this parsing be right? Seems unsatisfactory in such a smart puzzle) | ||
| 19 | NOD | Assume upset will provide positive sign (3) |
| Reversal of don [assume, put on] | ||
| 20 | IMPASSE | Stop dinosaur’s admission (7) |
| I’m passé [dinosaur’s admission] | ||
| 21 | GROYNE | Engineering on grey hydraulic structure (6) |
| Anagram of grey on | ||
| 23 | ELVER | Continually holding line to get fish (5) |
| L [line] within ever [continually] | ||
| 24 | SIREN | Resentment between partners causes alarm (5) |
| Ire [resentment] within S N [South and North, partners in bridge] | ||
A terrific romp, Artexlen, thanks. And well done to Ringo. It was full of wit — for instance 18ac was quite easy, but Artexlen wanted to share a nice joke.
Quite enjoyed this one thanks eX. Wasn’t happy about 27 for the same reason as Ringo to whom ta for the blog.
Thanks Artexlen, for a splendid, not too difficult but very well written crossword.
Both you and Philistine (in today’s Guardian) restored my faith in what a crossword should be after last Wednesday’s several miles under par Guardian offering (one that incredibly annoyed me).
Thanks, ringo too.