Thursday, September 11, 2008
Puzzle by Caleb Madison, edited by Will Shortz
With its clunky-looking black squares of the diagram dividing the crossword into essentially nine little puzzles, this ugly duckling manages to evolve into a less ugly swan by merit of its gimmickry which can be entertaining -- a set of circled letters, A through E, to be connected in order to form a cartoon-like star, along with three squares containing a symbol for a star, and entries in explanation of the entire arrangement.
HOLLYWOOD (32D. With 12-Down, locale of the 4-Down) BOULEVARD (12D. See 32-Down) WALKOFFAME (4D. Theme of this puzzle), LOSANGELES (30D. City where 32- and 12-Down is found). Lashed onto the stars’ trajectory are the entries RACKETEERS (20A. Makes people offers they can’t refuse), VAMPIREBAT (55A. Nocturnal bloodsucker), ELAINEMAY (33D. “Ishtar” director) and ABDOMINAL (11D. Like some six-packs), adding a cut of cynicism to the glamorous.
Miss May is ironically joined in the director category by the great ERICH (3D. Filmmaker Von Stroheim).
Adding to the cut-throat of show-biz and beyond are the entries of SNEER, SLAM, RAP, LIE, LASH, GLARE, unaccounted TASTE, wrinkled NOSE, RANAT, WAR and even an ATEST (42A. Mushroom maker, for short).
The three squares containing the symbol for a star result in the across entries of NO*CH (15A. Request at a laundry); LO*TS (39A. Illumination of manuscripts, and others); RE*TS (64A. Options during computer woes); and the accompanying downs of A*TE (7D. Ancient Semitic fertility goddess); RE*EA (27D. Place for picnicking and dog-walking); and MU*D (57D. Yellow squirt?).
Overall, this crossword is a bit of a mad abstraction, not unlike the world that lets us walk upon sidewalk stars encased in cement shoes at the bottom of the river gurgling to rise to the heavens --
59D. “Wishing won’t make ITSO”!-----------------
For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.For the complete post, go HERE.
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We will never forget!
