Sunday Times 4514 (2 Dec 2012) by Jeff Pearce

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 23:43

I found this the easiest puzzle for a while. Sub-25 minutes is pretty rare for me these days.

I think GOOSANDER was the only unfamiliar word, and even that rang a vague bell. The only clue that held me up at all was 1a, my LOI. I got stuck trying to insert IRAN into something.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this

Across
1 EGOMANIA = EG + OMAN + AI rev
5 GRIPe
8 RED-TOP = (EDiTOR)* + P
9 PORk + POISE
10 DIOR = DR about (I + whO)
11 ATTENDANCE = ATTEND + (ACNE)*
12 CHESTERFIELD = (HERETICS FLED)*
16 RAISE THE ROOF – dd
18 PROTRACTOR = PRO (for) + TRACTOR (a tower, i.e. something that tows) – I rather liked this one.
20 HERB – hidden
21 C + HANDLE + R – Raymond is the American writer of detective fiction
22 IMPAIR = MI rev + PAIR
23 A + DEN
24 PING-PONG = PIN (bolt) + GONG (medal) about Powell
Down
1 E(YES)IGHT
2 pOTTER
3 ALPHABETICALLY – cd
4 IN + PUT
5 GOOSANDER = (ORANGES DO)*
6 INSpECT
7 PRINCE CHARMING = PRIMING (providing brief) about (N + CE + CHAR)
13 SEROTONIN = (OR TENSION)*
14 FE + Expensive
15 C(O)URSING
17 ORCHID = (DIOR)* about CH
19 TARSI = (Run As Spock Is Taken)*
20 HIPPOcrates – The founder of Western medicine

3 comments on “Sunday Times 4514 (2 Dec 2012) by Jeff Pearce”

  1. Definitely the easiest ST puzzle for me, too: 21:14. It would have been closer to 16′, too, but I wasted 5 minutes agonizing over 5d. Never heard of the bird, but still, I should have figured it out a lot sooner. Thanks for explaining 19d; I had it from definition + checkers, but didn’t think to combine initial letters into an anagram. COD to 20d; nice surface. In 12ac, was ‘being’ necessary?

    Edited at 2012-12-10 01:06 am (UTC)

  2. 37 minutes with the intersecting couple, 22ac and 20dn taking me over the half hour, but still quite easy for a Sunday of late. The idea of taking initial letters of consecutive words as anagrist caught me out too at 19dn; I don’t think it’s a trick that has been employed very often.
  3. It was a nice 20 minute stroll after a late night, not too taxing but enjoyable. Red-top again !

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