Independent 7077 by Glow-worm

by

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def

I had a torrid time with this. I missed the pub theme completely because I thought that 23 and 11 related to the answers in 1 ac and 8 rather than something that appeared in the clue. I was also lost on 25 across.

Across
1 Vernier: Ernie (Wise, Eric Morecambe’s partner) in VR.
5 St Paul: (A plus + t[heology])*.
10 Genetic code: Genet ode around ICC (International Criminal Court). This one held me up for a long time because I was convinced it was Gide around something.
11 Pub: Ref to the pub name in 1ac. I’m not sure I entirely understand the “one inclined”, though.
12 Needle and thread: (neaten laddered h[ose])*.
14 Gin rummy: In + r[aw] in gummy.
15 Eases: [L]eases.
17 Sagan: Saga + n – probably referring to Francoise Sagan.
18 Bar Codes: Cryptic/double def.
21 Amusement Arcade: (Use men) in tarmac* + hom. of “aid”.
23 Inn: Inn name in 8 down.
24 Americanise: (See a minicar)*. Excellent CD – “use gas rather than petrol”.
25 Keeper: “Evans, maybe, going from Pole to Pole ?”
26 Knees Up: K[ing] + nee + sup.
Down
1 Vegans: &lit. Initial letters of “virtuously eschew..”.
2 Rendering: DD.
3 Intolerance: (corni[c]e leant)*.
4 Reclaim: Hom of “reek lame”.
6 The: Odd letters of “It’s hue”. Also a reference to the fact that the “the” in the pub names is ignored in constructing the other answers.
7 Ample: [S]ample.
8 Libidos: I bid in sol<.
9 Monday: (Many do)*.
13 Haemorrhage: (Omagh rare he)*.
16 Scenarios: (So Iran’s)* around CE.
17 Seasick: (K[ennels] + case is)*.
18 Beeper: B + [k]eeper.
19 Rethink: [T]rek around thin.
20 Beweep: Beep around we.
22 Ulnae: Even letters of “Rutland area”.
24 Ale: This may be a word for drained with the initial letter removed, but I can’t think of one. If not, then it must just a CD reference to drinking a pint of ale without the foam head.

17 comments on “Independent 7077 by Glow-worm”

  1. Hi NealH
    The ‘one inclined’ in 11a and 23a refers to the words in italics in 1a and 8d.

    25a is a dd, Thomas Godfrey Evans the former England wicket keeper and the metal bar that is put across the poles of a horseshoe magnet when not in use. I needed help with the Evans (thanks Eileen).

    24d I thought this was [p]ALE (drained as in pallid)

  4. I went for Francoise because she is generally described as a writer whereas Carl is described as an astronomer, physicist, popularizer of science etc. Obviously he has written books, so it could be either.

  5. You’re right Neal,

    I must admit I’d never heard of Francoise, but Carl wrote about the Cosmos; surely the most “epic” subject?

  6. I didn’t twig how the pub theme worked until right at the end, after a lot of head-scratching – could there be a pub called “The Seasick Sailor”? “The King’s Libido?” Then I saw BAR CODES and thought the four answers might give coded clues to pubs. That’s what doing too many barred cryptics does to you!
    By the way, what’s a VERNIER?

  7. Mick H
    Vernier – a short scale sliding on a graduated scale to give fractional readings; a small auxiliary device that enables a piece of apparatus to be adjusted very accurately (Chambers).

  8. It’s an extra scale of measurement which sits on top of the normal scale and allows more precise measurements. Invented by Pierre Vernier. It came up a few weeks ago with a clue which punned on the similarity to the writer Jules Verne i.e. Vernier = more Verne-like.

  9. I’m with the Francoise crowd, definitely. Her Bonjour Tristesse was a worldwide hit, and deservedly so in my view! Not that I would identify with any of her heroines of course, or her own lifestyle.

    I don’t get on with Glow Worm all that well when compared with many of the other Indie writers, but I feel this was the best of the offerings I managed to complete to day. Only the Times left, with the Telegraph snobbily I admit ignored, to complete!

    Thans to NealH.

  10. This was pretty tough, I thought. I really liked AMERICANISE.
    Before the theme became apparent, I’d pencilled in I ON for 23 across, i.e. one inclined …

  12. I’m not happy about “existential principles” for GENETIC CODE at all – am I missing something, or being too pedantic about the biology?

  13. I found this hard but got there in the end but didn’t understand 25A or 4D. Having seen the explanations I think 25A is very obscure but fair (I’m old enough to remember Godfrey Evans, but using Prior or Foster would have given younger solvers a better chance). I think “emitted” as homophone indicator in 4D is very dubious.
    I also have problems with 12A, which I don’t think quite works as an & lit. I don’t see any way “They carefully” can work as an anagrind.

  14. Very difficult, as I almost always seem to find Glow-worm nowadays. I don’t find the statement (above, under SETTERS) that he is “easy” at all accurate. Many answers that I didn’t understand, that were explained here with varying degrees of convincingness.

    Can someone tell me how rendering = exchanging (2dn)?

  16. Thanks as ever to all bloggers – your responses are much valued.

    Eimi’s preferred dictionary is Collins, so I try to limit the use of Chambers and cross-check wherever possible.

    However, as I suggested to Eimi this time, a DD clue for KEEPER would not have worked with the limited Collins definitions. Although I offered a revised clue: “He may stump – from Pole to Pole?”, Eimi was kind enough to keep my original clue, with its vague reference to Edgar (the explorer) Evans – as well as to Godfrey.

    I live in hopes that, if I seem difficult at times, I’m nonetheless fair….

    Regards

    Glow-worm

  17. I don’t know if he counts as well-known enough but using Jack Russell as the wicket keeper would have made for a great surface reading.

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