On the LAM
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Puzzle by Nancy Salomon, edited by Will Shortz
MYLITTLERUNAWAY (38A 1961 Del Shannon lyric [and title of this puzzle]) runs the fifteen squares across in the center of the grid and is a clue for seven three-letter single-square entries of the word LAM, forming fourteen down-and-across entries containing the single-square word of LAM. Cleverly placed asymmetrically and randomly in the grid the single-square LAMs give a chaotic simulation of running away -- even the grid has a look of motion with its agitated look of swirling squares. Nearly all of the entries utilizing LAM have a relation to being on the lam and the pairings are wonderful:
B E D LAM (1D Total chaos) with C LAM M I N G U P (19A Not giving the police any more information)
C A LAM I T Y J A N E (9D Frontier sharpshooter) with D O N T B LAM E M E (17A "It's not my fault!")
A LAM EDA (10D Tree-lined promenade) with A LAM O S (15A Southwestern trees)
F L I M F LAM M E R Y (28D Con games) with A F LAM E (47A Fiery)
LAM E D (33D Hobbled) with C LAM O R (32A Hubbub)
LAM E N T (55D "Ah, for the good old days," e.g.) with P I E A LAM O D E (54A Double dessert)
LAM A S (60D Eastern priests) with S T R E E T LAM P S (59A Some crime deterrents)
Other entries without the single-word entry of LAM that relate to being on the lam include ELOPE (6D Get together without fanfare?) which hangs dead-center at the top of the puzzle like a clue in itself to the rest of the puzzle; IDING (16A Job at a lineup); ASKFOR (25A Seek); SIGNPOST (4D Help provider); AWRY (35D Out of kilter); EYED (Got a load of); FUROR (48D Prelude to a revolution); and if on the lam ASEA (12D Between shores, maybe), a BOSN (18D Cap'n's underling) to tell a whale of a TALE (63A Something that's spun) or a pirate STORY (23D Level) to whatever AIMS (25D Ends).
HERA (5A Goddess whose bird was a peacock), CANA (9A Water-to-wine town), LEROI (13A Enemy of la Revolution francaise), POPES (22A Long line in Rome) give heft, while KAYE (36D "The Court Jester" star, 1956) brings levity, and ANITA (64A Soul singer Baker) and ETTA (67A "Tell Mama" singer James) do a duet all the way down in the right corner at the end of the puzzle.
NORMARAE (40D Field part), CLOTH (32D Cleric's attire), GOR (20A Brit's oath), JAKE (34A Hunky-dory), KALE (27D Long green), APPLE (50D Jobs creation), HADUP (5D Hosted at one's penthouse, say), and RISER (51D Alarm heeder) are deviously, but cleverly clued entries.
Nancy Salomon puzzles are always a class act -- I think she could scribble in the dark hanging upside down and the result would be a superior crossword!
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Incidentally, I ran across the following today, prior to the puzzle: Train Surfing in Soweto.
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Abridged commentary of The NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD IN GOTHIC.
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