This is the fastest I have solved a Neyartha puzzle, starred clues notwithstanding. Don't know if I'm getting better at understanding his style or he is taking pity on us and toning down. Either way, quite a few clues to enjoy here with the typical Neyartha style intricate wordplay. I hope the puzzle doesn't kick up a storm of protests.
Note: Starred clues carry no direct definition , but they all have something in common
ACROSS
7 E, when F happens to be the top grade? (6-4) SECOND-BEST (CD)
9 Branch in the Far East (4) AREA (T)
10 Renovation papers returned after seeing the reality outside (8) FACELIFT (FACT outside FILE<=)
11 Stinging plant that had almost curled up the pole removed by the model (6) NETTLE (NE(-s)(+T)TLEd)
12 *Tom’s affected by the entry of Romeo’s… (5) STORM (TOM'S* outside R)
13 *…raunchier version (9) HURRICANE (RAUNCHIER)*
14 *No force in the to-and-fro movement (7) TORNADO (TO-AND-fRO)*
17 *Acting to participate in the revolution (7) CYCLONE (ON inside CYCLE)
20 Charge by the subscriber on the unordained churchman (3,6) LAY, READER (LAY + READER)
22 Console the board (5) PANEL (DuD)
25 Controlled transformation of lead in explosive into uranium was undone (6) RUINED (REINED with U for E)
26 Broadcast in favour of the petition (8) PROCLAIM (PRO + CLAIM)
27 *Overhead a Celt (4) GALE (~GAEL)
28 Celt’s cue to chop the salad ingredient (3,7) COS, LETTUCE (CELT'S CUR TO)*
DOWN
1 Purist discards new chandelier (6) PEDANT (PEnDANT) This sounds like a clue for chandelier. Probably "discarding" would have made it clearer?
2 It may be cooked up on the spot (2-3) AD-LIB (CD)
3 Horse-man Charlie’s bizarre nature (7) CENTAUR (C + NATURE*)
4 Fools go back with colourless American flat fish (8) STINGRAY (NITS<= + GRAY)
5 Absence of stroke reportedly related to milk (6) LACTIC (~LACK + TIC)
6 Sheets and pillowcases found on live deciduous tree daughter transplanted to the top (3,5) BED, LINEN (BE + LINDEN with D moving to beginning)
8 Done with the race to invade (7) OVERRUN (OVER + RUN)
15 Prophetic visual featuring an Egyptian god (8) ORACULAR (OCULAR outside RA)
16 Extinct aquatic bird was doomed to failure (4,4) DEAD, DUCK (DEAD + DUCK)
18 Strange tale about the northbound imp in the flier (7) LEAFLET (TALE* outside ELF<=)
19 *Commotion resulting from 12 Ac. (7) TEMPEST (DD)
21 Animal raised in the Northern Territory was taken inside and leased (6) RENTED (DEER<= outside NT)
23 Cuts out the French from the clues on display (6) EVINCE (EVIdeNCE)
24 Inn getting letters from a hotshot elder (5) HOTEL (T)
Note: Starred clues carry no direct definition , but they all have something in common
ACROSS
7 E, when F happens to be the top grade? (6-4) SECOND-BEST (CD)
9 Branch in the Far East (4) AREA (T)
10 Renovation papers returned after seeing the reality outside (8) FACELIFT (FACT outside FILE<=)
12 *Tom’s affected by the entry of Romeo’s… (5) STORM (TOM'S* outside R)
13 *…raunchier version (9) HURRICANE (RAUNCHIER)*
14 *No force in the to-and-fro movement (7) TORNADO (TO-AND-
17 *Acting to participate in the revolution (7) CYCLONE (ON inside CYCLE)
20 Charge by the subscriber on the unordained churchman (3,6) LAY, READER (LAY + READER)
22 Console the board (5) PANEL (DuD)
25 Controlled transformation of lead in explosive into uranium was undone (6) RUINED (REINED with U for E)
26 Broadcast in favour of the petition (8) PROCLAIM (PRO + CLAIM)
27 *Overhead a Celt (4) GALE (~GAEL)
28 Celt’s cue to chop the salad ingredient (3,7) COS, LETTUCE (CELT'S CUR TO)*
DOWN
1 Purist discards new chandelier (6) PEDANT (PE
2 It may be cooked up on the spot (2-3) AD-LIB (CD)
3 Horse-man Charlie’s bizarre nature (7) CENTAUR (C + NATURE*)
6 Sheets and pillowcases found on live deciduous tree daughter transplanted to the top (3,5) BED, LINEN (BE + LINDEN with D moving to beginning)
8 Done with the race to invade (7) OVERRUN (OVER + RUN)
15 Prophetic visual featuring an Egyptian god (8) ORACULAR (OCULAR outside RA)
16 Extinct aquatic bird was doomed to failure (4,4) DEAD, DUCK (DEAD + DUCK)
18 Strange tale about the northbound imp in the flier (7) LEAFLET (TALE* outside ELF<=)
19 *Commotion resulting from 12 Ac. (7) TEMPEST (DD)
21 Animal raised in the Northern Territory was taken inside and leased (6) RENTED (DEER<= outside NT)
23 Cuts out the French from the clues on display (6) EVINCE (EVI
24 Inn getting letters from a hotshot elder (5) HOTEL (T)
SOLUTION GRID
23D - 'De' as 'the' in French? Is that correct? I thought it meant 'of' or 'from'
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it should have been "of" or "from"
DeleteSome holes in the grid today. Went chandelier shopping but got nothing. Did not evince sufficient interest in finishing the grid. Looked here for answers for the above two. The starred clues were easy & managed to pick the substitution clues this time too.
ReplyDeleteRegds 27a : Is overhead a homophone indicator ? Or should it have been overheard ?
ReplyDeleteAppears to be a typo, should have been overheard.
DeleteGot over the initial reluctance (due to starred clues) probably due to the two recent cyclones/ hurricanes. Bhavan is right in saying it is a comparatively easier Neyartha offering, though I still could not complete it, but better than waht I am able to do with his CW's.
ReplyDeleteStarred clues are only 6 (as neatly highlighted by Bhavan,Thank you) but seemed to be more.
Put in 'Lame duck" (dead duck)& 'Cabin'(panel)'ad hoc'(ad lib)and got stuck.
5D- 'tic' is ok for stroke or is it 'tick-k?
ABCDE : What I am looking forward to
ReplyDeleteAlarm the monarch tracking a rumour (6)
Looking forward to {Buzz} {er} as well :)
DeleteTheme became easy when the Hurricane anagram was solved. But did run into heavy weather with a few clues.
ReplyDeleteDon't know what to make of Neyartha's style, some brilliantly constructed clues and then some rather strange ones with mysterious surfaces. 6D takes the cake!
Managed most of it, but it took time to break some of clues down. Made a mistake with 22A and hence did not get evince for 23D.
ReplyDeleteLogged in late.
ReplyDeleteCartoon for 10A - Facelift and Botox?
What is the bottomline?
23D EVIDENCES [clues] - des?
ReplyDeleteI think evidence = set of clues is fine.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWorks if you assume 'From' does double duty.
Deletethe French from = de
But it doesn't say "set of clues"; just "the clues".
Deletede and des are 'from' in French .
DeleteMultiple clues together can be evidence. So clues=evidence holds.
DeleteAjeesh, I guess I mixed up the German (der) and the French (les). :D
Delete'de'- the French. Refer comments earlier saying it should be of the French)
ReplyDeleteRichard,
ReplyDeleteRead about 'botox,- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin