A Puzzle by Zebedee
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
A warm welcome to Zebedee with their first Rookie crossword. This was an accomplished debut with only a few minor issues to address in the clues. The commentometer reads as 3/22 or 13.6%.
Across
8a First sign after circular motion might be trots (15)
REVOLUTIONARIES: The five-letter name of the first sign of the zodiac after a ten-letter word for circular motion. Whilst you can falsely capitalise a common noun to mislead the solver (for example Mark rather than mark), you should not put proper nouns (such as Trots) into lower case.
9a In charge after carpenter’s odd absence, Charlotte’s breathless (6)
APNEIC: The abbreviation for in charge after the even letters (odd absence) in carpenter. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. It is particularly unfortunate that after is used in the first two clues.
10a Contemptuous when cocaine mixed with flour isn’t discovered (8)
SCORNFUL: An anagram (mixed) of C (cocaine) FLOUR SN (isn’t discovered = outer letters removed from isn’t).
11a Initially people languish and get unwell experiencing pestilence…. (6)
PLAGUE: The initial letters of the second to seventh words of the clue.
13a .. infectious feature follows vomit: good (8)
CATCHING: A four-letter facial feature follows a three-letter word meaning to vomit all followed by the abbreviation for good.
14a Presume no conflagration (7)
INFERNO: A five-letter word meaning presume followed by the NO from the clue.
15a Hold up jerk, gaining love with weird style of dancing (7)
ROBOTIC: A three-letter word meaning to hold up or pinch and a three-letter word for jerk include (gaining) the abbreviation for love.
17a Want to enter contest and achieve stoppage (8)
BLACKOUT: A four-letter word for a want or dearth inside (to enter) a four-letter word for a contest.
18a Broken groyne yields sea-holly (6)
ERYNGO: An anagram (broken) of GROYNE. Although not technically wrong, anagram clues to obscure words are best avoided.
19a Irritating singer in cricket club is absorbed in shot (8)
SCRATCHY: A three-letter word for a singer or someone who betrays inside (in) the abbreviation for cricket club all inside a three-letter word for a shot or attempt at something.
20a Some pansies take a nap after midday (6)
SIESTA: The answer is hidden (some) in the second and third words of the clue.
22a Defunct body of people engrossed in out-of-date measures (6,2,7)
LEAGUE OF NATIONS: The OF from the clue and a six-letter word for people inside (engrossed in) a seven-letter old type of measurement of length.
Down
1d Small soft lament (4)
WEEP: A three-letter word meaning small followed by the musical abbreviation for soft.
2d Cryptically each Gen X could get yen here (7,8)
FOREIGN EXCHANGE: A reverse anagram when the solution provides a clue to EACH GEN X.
3d Novel church on unsafe surface arranged token for meal once (8,7)
LUNCHEON VOUCHER: An anagram (arranged) of NOVEL CHURCH ON SE (unsafe surface = outer letters of surface). I don’t think that unsafe surface is a good cryptic indicator to use the outer letters of the word).
4d Minutely examine cult of dead princess, possibly? (7)
DISSECT: Split 2’1, 4, this would indicate the cult of the former Princess of Wales.
5d Female abandons novel curtains for strangely bland (15)
UNCONTROVERSIAL: An anagram (strangely) of NOVEL CURTAINS FOR after removing (abandons) the abbreviation for female.
6d New church college garden finally in flower in Society Island perhaps (6,9)
FRENCH POLYNESIA: The abbreviations for new and church, a four-letter word for a college and the final letter of garden all inside (in) a seven-letter name of a flower. Society Islands in the plural form part of the solution. I don’t think that Society Island in the singular works. Also, in has already been used as a containment indicator in previous clues as well.
7d Queen is confused with leaders of gritty northern cafe ordering amino acids (10)
SEQUENCING: An anagram (confused) of QUEEN IS GNC (leaders – first letters – of gritty northern café).
12d Cut off from mains, estate’s secured (10)
LANDLOCKED: A four-letter word for an estate followed by a six-letter word meaning secured.
16d Keep away small posh bloke eating dehydrogenated hay (4,3)
STAY OFF: The abbreviation for small and a four-letter word for a posh bloke includes (eating) the HAY from the clue after removing the chemical symbol for hydrogen (dehydrogenated).
21d Make amends without a sound (4)
TONE: Remove (without) the A from a five-letter word meaning make amends.
Welcome to Rookie Corner Zebedee. With six long ‘uns I have to think that this is not your first rodeo.
I do have some minor queries over parsing of some clues but I will await the wisdom of Prolixic for his explanations. But I did find 6d a little confusing – according to that unimpeachable source Wikipedia, 6d is made up of five island groups one of which is the Society Islands. However, my possibly incorrect reading of the clue suggests that 6d is a Society Island – it seems to be ‘back to front’ but I will be happy for it to be proved that I am ‘back to front.’
Smiles for 8a, 15a, 20a, 1d, and 16d.
Well done and thank you and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome Zebedee – as Senf says, I don’t think this is your first ride on the magic roundabout that is cryptic crossword setting.
I found the west friendlier than the east and I have only one query for Prolixic to explain in his review
Thank you – come back again soon – and in advance to Prolixic
Welcome Zebedee. Thanks for an entertaining puzzle (though just 22 clues is perhaps being a bit stingy).
I noticed a few things for Prolixic to pick up on (e.g. Trots in 8a needs to be capitalised) but they didn’t detract too much from the enjoyment.
I liked 22a, 2d, 12d and 21d.
More like this please.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Zebedee, with a clever puzzle which I enjoyed solving. Given the generally very good level of clueing, I agree with the earlier commentators that this is unlikely to be your first ever cryptic crossword. Most of your surface readings made sense although a very small number didn’t ring true.
I share Senf’s head-scratching regarding the topsy-turvy nature of 6d.
In 8a, “Trots” needs to be capitalised. You could easily get round this by making it the first word of the clue, e.g.: “Trots might be first sign …”
I am not sure if “unsafe surface” is OK in 3d to indicate using the U and E, and look forward to Prolixic’s take on this.
9a – I liked your cunning indicator for the American spelling of the answer!
Well done and thank you, Zebedee. More soon please. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome, Zebedee.
A grid made for a Nina (or two), but I couldn’t spot one. Quite a lot to like here, although a few of the surfaces were a little strained and could have been improved methinks. I would have preferred to see “absences” in 9a and I agree with previous comments regarding “trots” and “unsafe surface”. I felt “former” or “late” would have been more tasteful than “dead” in 4d and “in” was used on three occasions as an insertion indicator.
No stand-out clues for me, but I’d certainly be interested to see more puzzles from you. Many thanks, Zebedee.
Thanks for the puzzle Zebedee, I enjoyed it. Like others have said, almost certainly not your first.
I love a good reverse anagram, and 2d was quite nicely done. I liked 19a, 12d and 21d too.
Thanks again, and in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome to The Corner, Zebedee. I wasn’t very sure what to make of your style, perhaps that will become clearer when we’ve seen more from you, but at this moment I thought your shorter clues worked best. Have to agree with Silvanus when it comes to the use of ‘dead princess’, so many alternatives that would have been far more acceptable, neither was I enchanted by your use of ‘cat’ in 13a. Top clues for me were 14&20a plus 1d.
Hope we see more of your puzzles in the future.
An excellent RC debut. Mostly fine clues, a decent challenge and an enjoyable solve. There’s a few minor issues which ahve been mentioned above. I don’t have a problem with 6d; to me “in Society Island perhaps” is a definition by example referencing a random island in the Society group which in turn is within FP (the answer), an archipeligo compirising (according to Wiki) 121 islands/atolls. Being “in a Society island” is also being “in FP”. Looking forward to your next one!
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Zebedee. I enjoyed this puzzle although I had some points/queries which have been addressed by Prolixic. I was puzzled by “Charlotte’s” in 9ac until I realised just now that Charlotte is a city (more than one, actually) in the USA and which I see has been commented on at 4 above.
Thanks, Zebedee and Prolixic.
Thanks to Prolific and all commentators for the helpful critique and feedback. It is, in fact, my first rodeo, and I am happy to get through without falling off to often.
Welcome to the blog
Sorry, Prolixic.
Sorry, meant to say Prolixic.
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic. I’m sure that Zebedee will learn from your comments and bring us something more polished next time.
As has been said, this is an accomplished puzzle, Zebedee. I concur with much of what has already been stated.
Personally, I didn’t really enjoy having so many long clues. It gave me the feeling that the puzzle was somewhat imbalanced. And, like Jane and others, I didn’t like the use of ‘dead princess’ and ‘cat’. But these are minor quibbles. I liked the shorter clues best.
18a is a new word for me. I had to look that up in Mrs Bradford. I note Polixic has made a comment about anagrams of obscure words.
Thank you very much Zebedee, and well done! Follow Prolixic’s advice and I hope we shall see you again soon with a puzzle devoid of minor flaws.
Many appreciative thanks to Prolixic for the excellent review.