Guardian 26,129 by Boatman

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Found this very tricky, but lots of fun with a spooky theme. Favourites were 23a, 26a and 16d. Still not sure how to parse 3d.

Across

1,15 Long odds of tango and cha-cha foes dancing together (1,5,2,1,6)
A GHOST OF A CHANCE
=”Long odds”. (tango cha-cha foes)*

5 See 10

8 Awful, stumbling hag on dance programme missing trick, you say? (7)
GHASTLY
=”Awful”. (hag)* plus S[tric]TLY=”dance programme missing [the sound of] trick”

9 Harass people involved in wrongdoing (7)
TORMENT
=”Harass”. MEN=”people” in TORT=”wrongdoing”

11 Much to-do from zealotry at heart, on and on, using psychic powers on dead? (1,3,2,4,5)
A LOT ON ONES PLATE
=”Much to[-] do”. [ze]A LOT[ry], plus ON plus ON plus E[xtra]S[ensory]P[erception]=”psychic powers” plus LATE=”dead”

12 See 10

13 Communicate with those we miss, who bequeath £10? (5,1,4)
LEAVE A NOTE
=”Communicate with those we miss”; cryptically =”bequeath £10″

17 It’s not vital to get tipsy from potion (2,2,6)
OF NO IMPORT
=”It’s not vital”. (from potion)*

18 Seance appears really inexplicable at first but, as you say, it’s a fabrication! (4)
SARI
I think the def is “as you say, it’s a fabrication” => it’s a fabric [that is] Asian. S[eance] A[ppears] R[eally] I[nexplicable]

20 Blame the frost? He’s upset about a Xmas bloom (4,2,9)
STAR OF BETHLEHEM
=”Xmas bloom”. (Blame the frost He)*

23 Morse, perhaps, out in sound and vision (7)
SPECTRE
=”vision”. Sounds like ‘Inspector’ Morse, minus the ‘in’

24 Hollowly beatify dead souls? From the start, let them be (7)
BYGONES
=”let them be”. B[eatif]Y plus GONE=”dead” plus S[ouls]

25 Phantoms from below, heralded by sulphur (6)
SHADES
=”Phantoms”. HADES=”below”, preceded by S[ulphur]

26 Number (one transcending 50) and one of its qualities (6)
ELEVEN
=”Number”. E is a transcendental number, plus L the Roman numeral for 50, plus EVEN, one of the qualities of 50.

Down

2 ’70s rock instrument used in Wales (9)
GLAMORGAN
=”in Wales”. GLAM=”’70s rock” plus ORGAN=”instrument”

3 Perhaps put Boatman in work… (6)
OPTION
=”Perhaps put” [wiki]. Not sure of the wordplay – anyone?

4 Back pointless meeting: the man is after nothing? That’s a record (3,2,4)
TRY TO HELP
=”Back”. TRY[s]T=”pointless meeting”, where S[outh] is the missing point, plus HE=”the man” after O=”nothing”, plus LP=”a record”

5 It returns the part the Church keeps (5)
TITHE
=”part the Church keeps”. rev(IT) plus THE

6 French perhaps sing solver’s one anthem (8)
EUROPEAN
=”French perhaps”. Sounds like ‘you’re a paean’ = “sing solver’s one anthem”

7 Irrigation for Zimbabwe at last: an answer to prayers sent up (5)
ENEMA
=”Irrigation”. [Zimbabw]E plus rev(AMEN)=”answer to prayers sent up”

8 Creepy ghoul eats beast, exploits socially unacceptable growth promoted here (11)
GLASSHOUSES
=”growth promoted here”. (GHOUL)* around ASS=”beast” plus [u]SES=”exploits socially unacceptable”, where “socially unacceptable” implies ‘non-U’.

10,5across,12 Solver taking on psychic sees, as might appear hazily, the power of subliminal suggestion (3,6,2,3,7)
THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE
=”the power of subliminal suggestion” – it also places two instances of THEME in the grid. THEE=”Solver”, around both MEDIUM=”psychic” and (sees as might)*

14 After victory, reconstruct (liberate outright) (9)
VERITABLE
=”outright”. V[ictory] plus (liberate)*

15 See 1

16 Presented headless first, it’s said, for the dead came back (8)
RIPOSTED
=”came back”. [h]OSTED=”Presented headless”, with RIP=”it’s said for the dead” coming “first”

19 Soaring mountain road missing from visitant’s haunt (6)
PLAGUE
=”haunt”. rev(ALP)=”Soaring mountain” plus GUE[st]=”road missing from visitant”

21 A historic drink at pub (5)
ALEPH
=”A, historic” – the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. ALE=”drink” plus P[ublic] H[ouse]

22 Potions said to cause livid hue (5)
BREWS
=”Potions”. Sounds like ‘bruise’ = “said to cause livid hue”

30 comments on “Guardian 26,129 by Boatman”

  1. Thanks manehi and Boatman. Mostly good stuff but I don’t get STAR OF BETHLEHEM = Xmas bloom – it blooms in the spring. And is there an intrusive hyphen in to-do (11ac). I thought a to-do (noun) was different from to do(verb)

  2. All correct, without aids, but more by luck than judgment. There were some that I failed to parse (including ‘option’ and ‘eleven’) and I’m not keen on the word splitting in 10d etc. I thought that the clue for ‘glasshouses’ was over-contrived, but, no doubt, it will be the clue of the day for others. Being picky, I would say that ‘Amen’ is a response to prayers, rather than an answer: answering prayers is within the remit of a higher authority I’m told.

  3. Thanks manehi. There were some mildly bothersome bits, like OPTION, and others identified above. The puns in 23a and 6d were awful (but of course acceptable). Three of my first four in were the long ones at 1, 20 and 10, and that is always a little unsatisfying. Still, it was enjoyable, and aid was needed for the LOI, 16d.

  4. Thanks, Manehi – Glad to see that you successfully avoided most of the snares that I left for you! You’ve correctly identified the definition in 3Dn and, well, I’m sure someone will put you out of your misery with regard to the wordplay. I’ll take another look at lunchtime if not.

    Cholecyst – I happily accept your botanical clarification. As to that troublesome hyphen, Ximenes would have endorsed your position absolutely. I have read and thought about what the great man had to say on the evils of inserted punctuation, and I have decided that in this instance (and I do in most cases tell my students that they must start by learning how to follow Ximenean rules consistently) ignoring the rule introduces many opportunities for fun but no real unfairness – once you know that that’s my game, you’ll mentally strip all punctuation from my clues and parse them accordingly. It’s a bit like remembering to look both ways when crossing a road – you’d feel unfairly treated if you expected all traffic to come from one direction, but not so if you were aware that there was no such restriction.

    Molonglo – Of course the puns are awful! We are groan-ups, are we not?

  5. I thought that “option” (3D) was derived from a slight grammatical error -“I” (Boatman) in “opt on” -to choose or select. But surely if the setter is speaking it should be “me” rather than the subject pronoun “I”. Just a thought. There is also some issue as to what the “its” refers to in 26AC. Fifty might be even, but eleven certainly is not.

    Thanks manehi. Thanks Boatman. A most intriguing puzzle.

  6. Yes, tricky but enjoyable solve.

    Thanks manehi; I don’t get 3d either. I would have thought that OPT IN is the work, but that leaves o=Boatman. The I=Boatman, which you would expect, leaves OPT ON, which I don’t see equates to work. Perhaps Boatman can explain later.

    I did enjoy the ‘groan-up’ puns. Strickly Come Dancing, indeed!

    Some of my favourites were GLAMORGAN, RIPOSTED and SPECTRE.

  7. Those of you who are still feeling lost in 3Dn – I’ve just noticed that there is a (perhaps surprisingly rare) typesetting error in the online edition (don’t know what the print format contains) – the proof read “Perhaps put Boatman in work – a lot of it”, which I think will make you all feel happier. The fried brain-cells will regrow in time.

  8. But punctuation works both ways . somethines the setters need it I think? But you say are noyt Ximenean so fair enough. There were some bits I did not like but that is normal for me in Guardian puzzles!

    Tomrrow I fly to India to be in Buddhist retreat for an indefinite period. Mucj love to you all!

    Sarwa Maitri
    Rowland

  9. Boatman @7: the print version has the same error.

    Thanks Manehi for explaining 8A. I had the answer without understanding the dance programme reference. Perhaps I should get out less!

  10. Just been reading out the puns to Mrs Trailman. We’ll, you’ve got to have a laugh haven’t you? Something that a few of Boatman’s colleagues might ponder.

    Mrs T also had to check OPTION for me. The print edition has the same typo. Not sure it’s a great clue even as amended, but no matter, there are plenty here that are. GLAMORGAN top of the list for me.

  14. With the revised clue, 3D makes more sense, though no-one has commented on it yet. OP=”work” + TON= “a lot of it”.

  15. Thanks Boatman and manehi

    3dn was so obscure that I blanked the fact that I hadn’t done it before coming here!

    I think the splits in 10dn etc. are fine, as the entries in the grid (THEMES and SAGE) are both valid words.

    I think a question mark after “Xmas bloom” would have made STAR OF BETHLEHEM perfectly OK – the plant might flower in Spring, but the star it is named after is definitely a Christmas feature.

  16. Thanks manehi and Boatman (for the puzzle and for bravely entering the fray).

    I enjoyed this a lot and didn’t find it too tricky. The enumeration for the very long answer did have me foxed for a while until I got the crossing M from BETHLEHEM and the solution came to me instantly. I rather like compilers to play with punctuation and word boundaries. As long as the words in the lights are genuine (in this case THEMES and SAGE) I don’t mind if the definition reads somewhat differently.

    Of course, I couldn’t parse OPTION from the clue given!

    I liked the vision of Ann Widdecombe conjured by 8a, but my favourite was the compact 21d (though to be pedantic, ALEPH, despite being the ancestor of the Greek alpha and the Roman A, denotes a glottal stop rather than a vowel).

  17. Great fun – many thanks to Boatman and manehi. Now that OPTION is explained, all is well. My favourites were ALEPH and GHASTLY.

  18. Most enjoyable, full of groans and laughs. I loved 26A and 2D but wondered about “used” in the clue for 2D – would often indicate an anagram and “70s rock instrument in Wales” would be just as clear, wouldn’t it ? Minor quibble !

  19. Thanks, manehi and Boatman.

    Thanks for explaining the extra e in 26a. E for exponential has occurred three or four times in recent history, and I have missed it every time – I must remember to watch out for it in future. I even dismissed the meaning of “one transcending” being “transcendental”, as I thought it was probably too obscure for non-mathematicians.

    “The medium is the message” is Marshall McLuhan, of course; not that I ever understood it!

  21. I would like to register my appreciation of Boatman for his willingness to take part in the discussions both here and on the Guardian site – not many other compilers do (Arachne an honorable exception – can anyone think of any others?)

  22. Since there a few less familiar names here already I thought I’d add another (I’ve been lurking for several years but I don’t often anything worth adding by the time I read the blogs).

    Thanks to manehi for the blog and to Boatman for an enjoyable challenge. Thanks also for the explanation of OPTION – after yesterday I did wonder about the dotty ellipsis. As others have said GLAMORGAN was amusing, but I did wonder what Paul might have been tempted to do with it. I found this easier than the last two days, but that may just be a wavelength thing – LOI was RIPOSTED. I’m not sure why Xmas had to be abbreviated as “a Xmas” sounds a bit ugly, but I suppose it can be justified because it meant that the anagram could have been either side of “upset”.

  23. Thanks, Boatman (or should I say Charon?)for a creepy puzzle and manehi for the blog.

    An enjoyable puzzle that made a welcome break from writing Christmas cards.
    I liked SPECTRE as I loved Morse. Also GLAMORGAN and STAR OF BETHLEHEM, which lights up the garden under the olives.
    Something for everyone here, I thought.

    Good luck, Rowland, if you are still with us.

    Giovanna xx

  24. Apart from 3dn with “Boatman” in the clue this didn’t feel like a Boatman puzzle at all. Maybe my memory is playing tricks but I don’t recall him setting so many long answers before. I found this puzzle more accessible than some of Boatman’s previous offerings, and it was certainly none the worse for it.

    The clue for GLAMORGAN raised a smile, and the RIPOSTED/SPECTRE crossers were my last ones in. OPTION went in with a shrug and now I know why …….

  25. muffin @21 – I agree that it’s great if the setters participate. You ask: “Can anyone think of any others?” Paul has occasionally popped in here I think.

  27. I am with the majority- option and eleven I got but not with understanding. For some reason I had Rose of Bethlehem before I realised my error (maybe thinking of Rose of Sharon). Aleph I was glad to get and it prompted the finish with ‘shades’ and ‘brews’.

  28. Well I enjoyed this. It just rattled along steadily with lots of aha moments and smiles.

    Until of course all that was left was 3d!!!

    Entered OPTION without much conviction. All explained now. (Thank you for the extra “fun” Guardian!)

    Thanks to manehi and Boatman

  29. The “intrusive” hyphen in 11d was not at all “troublesome”. The expression ‘to-do list’ sprang readily to mind. I won’t be taking Boatman’s advice to strip the punctuation from his, or anyone else’s, clues. Six clues in this puzzle feature ‘?’.

  30. I toyed with “outrow” for 3d until the correction was announced. I decided that the ellipsis was one definition, being the “out row” of dots, (we didn’t have an “in row”), and the rest of the words would refer to a competitor in a boat race.

    It just shows what our minds can do…

    Many thanks all.

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