Man
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Puzzle by Barbara Olson, edited by Will Shortz
Five inter-related entries MIDDLEMAN (34A Go-between, and a clue to 17-, 24-, 49- and 57-Across) along with SALAMANDERS (17A Newts and such), DISMANTLE (24A Take apart), PERMANENT (49A Salon job), and KILIMANJARO (57A Locale of Uhuru Peak) provide very little bonus in the course of solving this nice little Wednesday puzzle.
Bracketed by BASSETS (1D Stout-legged hounds) upper left and SEADOGS (43D Old salts) lower right, the grid is filled with delight and dementia.
ORACLES (2D Sources of wisdom), AHAB (5D Ill-fated captain), SON (6D Trinity member), STPAULS (37D Wren's cathedral), STRAD (37A Prized violin, briefly), THEMES (44A School papers), and OLIVIA (60A Lover of Cesario, in "Twelfth Night") provide fodder for TAS (41A Univ. staffers).
PORTA (52A ____ Potti), SNAILS (45D Garden pests), SCARABS (20A Nocturnal beetle), CONJOBS (48D Swindler's work) and SPAM (40A Canned fare since 1937) -- SSS (29A Deflating sound). OOP (16A Alley ____), ITT (19A "The Addams Family" cousin) and MIDDLEMAN provide comic relief.
TRESS (8D Long lock) brings to mind Rapunzel while SPUN (47D Worked like Rumpelstiltskin) and BAAS (55D Lambs' laments) POINTTO (Indicate, in a way) the NAIVE (51D Dewey-eyed) of HEART (32D Soul mate?) of childhood. Food fare includes ECLAIRS (3D Bakery treats), TARTARE (41D Rarer than rare), ONION (22D Something to cry over?), SPAM and SNAILS -- HOORAH (15A "Yippee!").
I'm all ASEA (53A Totally confused), but this puzzle hits THESPOT (38D X marks it)!
Illustrations: Top: Evolution of Man -- 34A with 17A, 24A, 49A and 57A. First row -- 43D, 37D, 37A; second 19A, 34A, 16A; third 8D, 55D, 47D; and pictured directly above, 57A.
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