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Sample Copy. Not For Distribution.

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Cryptic Crossroads


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Publishing-in-support-of,

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Cryptic Crossroads

Crosswords from 1Across.Org (Third Anniversary Issue)

Compiled by:

Sowmya Ramkumar

EDUCREATION PUBLISHING (Since 2011)

www.educreation.in


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DEDICATION

This compilation celebrates the third anniversary of 1ACross, our

facebook group on cryptic crosswords. It is dedicated to all the

members of the group as well as lovers of cryptic crosswords all

over the world.

On a personal front, it is also dedicated to the memory of my

sister-in-law Chandra Murthy, who passed away in Feb. 2017

after bravely battling cancer.

All sale proceeds and sponsorship will be used to support an

organization that is involved in cancer research and cure.


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This compilation is possible only because of the members of the

Facebook group 1ACross who gave their valuable time and effort

for this project. Short biographies and messages from each of the

contributors are at the end of their respective puzzles.

We thank our sponsors Mr. K. Alraee, Mrs. Farzana Ameen, Ms.

Uma Raghavan and a friend and well-wisher for their generous

financial assistance.

We are deeply indebted to Mr. Ramkumar for his invaluable

support and advice throughout the project. He was also the driving

force behind the sponsorship initiative.

We plan to donate all proceeds from the sale of this book and the sponsorship raised, towards cancer research and cure.


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FOREWORD

December 2014 saw the centenary of the first crossword and the

number of erudite articles that appeared to mark the occasion was

legion. While some writers did comment on the straightforward

definition type of crossword, most homed on the cryptic

crossword, with good reason: it almost inevitably offers more of a

challenge, more satisfaction and more fun. That is not to say that

the definition crossword cannot provide a smile or two as the Two

Ronnies reminded us with, „It‟s red, it smells and is often picked in

the garden (4)‟.

However diverse the styles of the contributors to this collection

may be, what shines through is a love of language that transcends

borders. All of this has been achieved by cooperation and humour

within an entirely troll-free corner of Facebook.

The frequently-quoted clue by the late, Bob Smithies (Bunthorne)

illustrated how a few simple words can provide an unforgettable

penny-drop moment: “Amundsen‟s forwarding address (4)”. Will

the puzzles here provide such a moment, too? It would not

surprise me!

There is a splendid variety of styles, often from those with

considerable experience of setting for various influential

publications around the world. Just how varied that is, you can

explore, in the short introductions that follow each of the puzzles.

What there is no doubt about whatsoever is that your purchase will

have helped others. All of those who have contributed to the task

of setting the puzzles and to the arduous editing tasks that

accompany publication have done so without reward other than to

know they will be helping others, as you have done.

Thank you,

Brian Dungate


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CONTENTS

S. No. Crossword Page

Acknowledgments

vii

Foreword by Brian Dungate ix

1. Rhapsodic Bacchanalia (by Avtaar) 1

2. 39/4 (by Mona and Bud) 4

3. Three Association (by Hasslethymi) 7

4. Blind, boundless love, that‟s it! (by Bingo) 11

5. Patchwork (by Bluejay) 13

6. GoTCHA (by Payusfair) 16

7. Shady (by Paws) 19

8. Mocha Break (by Chatur Vasi & Mover) 22

9. J‟s Maze (by Deepa & Manish) 25

10. Alfabulous (by Dr. Cleuss) 28

11. Vikings (By Balderdash) 32

12. Divine Madness (By Hitchhiker) 35

13. Easy as A-B-C (By Kriskross) 38

14. Vox Nihili (By Tatvam Asi) 41

15. Summer Magic (By Exa) 44

16. Huikau (By Kaona) 47

17. Many Rustams (By Gussalufz) 50

18. Bachelor Party (By Bestie Boys) 53

19. Now and Then (By Noam) 56

20. Mot-O-Cross (By Loks Subrahmanyam) 59

21. Valar Morghulis (By Ultarath) 62

22. Misterioso (By The Esoteric Two) 65

23. A June Anniversary (by Ganesh Nayak) 68

24. Solutions and Annotations 71


Cryptic Crossroads

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1. RHAPSODIC BACCHANALIA (BY AVTAAR)

Across

1 Put on something to wear without top, say (7)

5 Cool guys go downhill in some confusion (7)

10 Anchor fell (4)

11 Medicine containing a liquid with essence of codeine and

ibuprofen (10)

12 A Count's love for a handsome young man (6)

13 Doctor, let's play first game (8)

14 Attack boy on pavement (9)

16 Cheeky, extremely saucy fool goes inside (5)

17 Bar where service is often at fault (5)


Sowmya Ramkumar

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19 Union discussed wrong proposal (9)

23 American city designed a pool with 50% Aussie restyling

(3,5)

24 Stone horse inlaid with beryl trims (6)

26 "Smile, dears" - broadcast those who take you for a ride (10)

27 Regularly lurking around a young woman (4)

28 Rare, Byzantine, hifalutin county houses wanting exterior

walls (7)

29 In poor surroundings, everybody's starting to sing songs (7)

Down

2 Head of department designed proper device to measure out

medicines (7)

3 Country starts to regulate unsold rice and lentils (5)

4 Vessel carrying phony mobile and U-tubes (7)

6 Himalayan retreat turned up heads of many Indian kings kept

in sacks (6)

7 Uphill, a tea seller gets edgy (3,2,4)

8 Inject drug into unbalanced person, for starters (7)

9 New born baby dress, perhaps, is a collector's delight? (5,3,5)

15 Produce refined oil in a small, fortified tower (9)

18 Ontario building's address (7)

20 American granny pulls out of adaptation of “Hasta Manana” -

a street show (7)

21 Loutish Bill turned angry (3-4)

22 Pure and detailed – essentially grand old story (6)

25 Sovereign money… about $1000 (5)


Cryptic Crossroads

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ABOUT AVTAAR

& “RHAPSODIC BACCHANALIA”

My name is Sreenivasan (Sreeni). I live

in Pune, India. Am married with two

adult children, who incidentally are also

familiar with cryptic crosswords.

I started solving crosswords from

The Hindu in the 1980s, then started

trying grids from The Telegraph (India),

Economic Times and The Guardian.

Got introduced to setting through

the Cryptic Crossword Society and found it entertaining and

creative. I would rate myself as an average solver who can set

some decent clues. While I have set thousands of clues online, this

would be my 6th

grid.

Setting also gives satisfaction when, at least occasionally,

solvers get the Aha! moment. Apart from being a great stress

reliever, it also gives tremendous satisfaction when many solvers

get entertained with my clues.

1ACross is a great forum – there are many outstanding

solvers and setting clues for them is indeed challenging.

I try to set all types of clues but charades are my favourites.

I don‟t like printer‟s devilry and similar types of clues that are not

wordplay + definition or CD/&lit types, although do not mind

some leeway from strict rules. “Rhapsodic Bacchanalia” is a

partial anagram of the first letters of the crossword‟s clues – hope

solvers find it entertaining and lively.


Sowmya Ramkumar

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2. 39/4 (BY MONA AND BUD)

Please note that in a roundabout and strange, muddled way..

British spelling - a heavy measure, to boot - is featured in this

puzzle. Can you crack this message (34 characters.) Bonus

Question: - What type of anniversary does the theme of this puzzle

mark? (11) P----------

Across

5 Heard echoes briefly tail off (4)

7 Fair Lady‟s exaggerated greeting! (3-2-3-2)

10 Terrible place to locate a pub in - the very top! (8)

11 Indian firm leaves management to sign up (6)

12 Dying to entertain a lady - it‟s what cronies do (4,8)

14 Slowly get it into your head: you turn 51 at the end of this

month (6)


Cryptic Crossroads

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16 Government study arising from one-on-one cold case study

leaders held (6)

19 See Brian's nod? Devilishly pleasant and affable manner!(12)

22 Special salad: this heartlessly breaks down fat (6)

23 One who conceals a magical parasite, sucking out a country‟s

queen (8)

24 Bill sometimes gets laid here in Westminster (2,3,5)

25 Plot? It‟s terribly English (4)

Down

1 Measure up bringing in a couple of names for a pre-match do

(3,5)

2 The transport officer quickly gathered - a yokel's an idiot

running on three cylinders (6)

3 Worried chief pilot‟s heart‟s not in it - old age, perhaps (8)

4 His head's inclined to agree it's a biblical land, the German

concluded (6)

6 Birds of a feather, flocking together can be so determined (8)

8 JFK's meatier claimed status if Berlin had been Vienna? (6)

9 Manley sets Listener crosswords? That's nothing! (4)

13 Ayesha meeting with alien put on hold earlier as a cover-up

(3,5)

15 Leo Britt hit „Trouble in Tahiti‟, say (8)

17 Triumph over Voldemort's origin nearly quashing

controversy (8)

18 Some sent Ombudsman to cover up (6)

19 Outright inadequacies! Perhaps Nott claims to have witnessed

one of these? (6)

20 Raised part of the foot to march correctly (6)

21 Link made a mess of Potter's tool? (4)


Sowmya Ramkumar

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ABOUT MONA & BUD

Mona: I was introduced to crosswords by

my amazing son-in-law in 2014 and I have

not stopped learning since then. I‟ve made

friends from around the world, which has

been wonderful. The last year was

extremely traumatic for me personally, and

crosswords kept me sane. My crossword

friends were there for me during this

difficult period. I am so happy that Brian agreed to partner with me

for creating this themed grid. Brian is a hard taskmaster, but

exceptionally patient and generous...and, amazingly gifted too.

Brian: I‟ve loved crosswords for many

years and have had the good fortune to

rub shoulders with many of the leading

lights in the UK. I have had puzzles in

the Magpie and - as a member of Qid - in

the Listener and have even set

crosswords for a leading sherry producer

in Spain. Today (at 78) it‟s a great source

of fun, sparring with the many hugely talented setters, mainly from

India and the Indian diaspora via Facebook. I am delighted to play

a small part in assisting a worthy charity there along with my

internet friends - not least Mona - my charming and delightfully

modest co-setter, whose skill deserves a wider audience. I hope

that this venture will be as successful as the crossword calendars

produced annually for the leading charity for the blind by

crossword compilers in the UK, in association with the RNIB and

BBC Children in Need. Congratulations, dear reader, on your

purchase and support. I am sure that other crossword enthusiasts

both in India and around the world will follow your example. Oh,

pray that I find each abroad! (5,4,3,7)


Cryptic Crossroads

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3. THREE ASSOCIATION (BY HASSLETHYMI)

Across

1 Graduate and US soldier met 14 kings (4)

3 14 of them are in the yard (4)

8 14d untied rope with a Brechtian creation (10,5)

10 Missile shelter built around dump (7)

12 Expensive food? Don't get me started! Daughter is annoyed (7)

14 Age of this group is reviewed there (5)

15 Bed, for example, could be made up from 14 of these (5)

16 Pen's extremely scratchy with this tip shoved in (3)


Sowmya Ramkumar

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18 14... 15... Ease off (3)

22 Resists relocating Chekhov's famous 14 (7)

25 Attack smart swagger (7)

26 Stray goose followed blessed comedians, of which there were

14 (7)

30 Allows solids to cover iron ship (9)

31 Baby in one developed externally (9)

32 Jumping spider embraced old times (7)

34 Studies southern Channel Islands French in church on Sunday

(8)

35 Stuffy? Gluttonous? That's about right! (8)

38 Media lens misrepresented gigolos (6,3)

39 Measure faint noise that's been broadcast across the North (9)

40 Element number 14 starts to heat itself up markedly after

burning (7)

41 Scent outrage (7)

42 Cinders appears in silica shoes (3)

43 Work with America and the Orient (3)

44 Express cool melody and tone (3)

45 Final sign is half glazed (3)

Down

1 Red team occupies planet on time (7)

2 14:15? Well I never! (3)

4 Personality of Oscar, for example (3)

5 Multiplies by 14, after dividing 42 and 20 by firstly base plus

50 (7)

6 I get frustrated before I see enthusiasm outside for the mood of

the times (9)

7 Grips mouths (9)

8 9 children? No, just the one! (3)

9 Calculate 14 plus 15 (3)

11 Noblemen ahead of their time but on a different footing (5)


Cryptic Crossroads

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13 14 22 of Greek mythology, overweight and extremely

egregious (5)

17 14 of them working together on the road might direct you to

smuggle flimsy seconds (7,6)

19 They were 14 and they wrote about bent resistors (6,7)

20 Chocolate substitute is made from starch with nothing added

(5)

21 Wife gets the man's indicator added to acid cocktail (7,4)

23 Otherwise ingests bran or vegetables (6,5)

24 Earthquake's epicentre? (5)

27 One who instructs cheater to make amends (7)

28 There are 14 that can't be made by mixing up Victorian with a

railway pass belonging to us (7,7)

29 Motorway illuminated by leading members of Indian army

reserves (7)

32 Greek character is held up after a quiet start (3)

33 Bond maybe pays survivorship annuity at last (3)

36 Unspoken act replaced it (5)

37 I heard you invested in some new hardware (5)

44 14 + 15 = 1? (3)


Sowmya Ramkumar

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ABOUT HASSLETHYMI

& “THREE ASSOCIATION”

It has been a year since I threw in the

towel and left full time teaching in the

Cambridge treadmill to start a new life

in the Shropshire countryside with my

partner, two cats, two pianos, a

harpsichord, hundreds of books and

assorted other essentials. Since then,

I've spent my time settling into village

life by learning how to ring church

bells and keep rabbits and moles under

control.

Crosswords have remained an important part of my life

throughout this transition. My interest was kindled, when I was

about 14, by observing my parents taking a crack at the Daily

Telegraph crossword. By the time I was at university, I could solve

the occasional DT, Times or Guardian crossword fully, and started

solving daily. My first foray into setting came with a friend's 30th

birthday, when a group of us set a celebratory birthday crossword

based on milestones in her life, without using any software. Later, I

became a crossword mentor for colleagues and also started using

crosswords as a teaching aid for my students.

Setting regularly since 2013, I have successfully compiled my

first hundred into a digital book and am now comfortably on my

way to the second century. I've also set for local publications such

as Preston Pages and West of the Clee magazine and also have my

website at www.alvsmith.com.

This crossword came to me as a flash of inspiration as the

obvious way to celebrate the third anniversary of 1ACross. It looks

more complicated than it is! Thanks to the software, the grid shape

was already there - you just have me to thank for the clues! Happy

birthday, 1ACross!!


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Cryptic Crossroads

11

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