By Tom Toce
We all need something to rely on in this world, and you can rely on this paragraph. This puzzle is the brainchild of Jerry Miccolis. I helped him out enough with refining the concept and with some of the clues that we’re calling this a joint effort. Jerry is very generous.
The “unreliable narrator” is a literary device found in a wide variety of genres. One cannot take the narrator’s statements at face value. In a sense, all cryptic puzzles employ unreliable narration, but rarely as explicitly as here.
The seven long across entries represent instances of unreliable narration. They are clued separately, below the other clues. These “special clues” do not follow the standard cryptic clue format—they contain definitions of both a common phrase and our unreliable narrator’s version of that phrase. It’s the latter version that you should enter into the grid. It may help you to know that our narrator is reliably consistent in the manner of unreliability. Be aware, though, that the order of the special clues is not necessarily the order in which their entries appear in the grid; the correct mapping is for you to determine.
The letters that fill the circled squares in the grid, when arranged in the order of the special clues, will spell out the identity of our unreliable narrator. The circled squares to the right of the special clues are for your convenience in this regard.
The properly completed grid will contain three proper nouns (while two other entries are partially clued as such); all words but those three, including those in phrases, are playable in Scrabble. Beware of punctuation, which has been known to deceive. Thanks to Bob Fink and Eric Klis for test solving and editorial suggestions.
Across
7 [See special clues]
8 Outspoken meditator’s mouthful evidences a bit of resistance
10 Specifies conditions
11 [See special clues]
13 [See special clues]
19 [See special clues]
22 [See special clues]
26 [See special clues]
29 Angela, Tony ate some Italian ice
32 Period of time engulfed by tragedy
33 [See special clues]
Down
1 Regularly scoff at liberal
2 Bikini top over casual shirt for urchin
3 Jersey Boy’s concert?
4 Criminal charges over skirmish
5 Open-mouthed gawk at Marina
6 Daffy sound when longing to reveal upper leg?
9 Bird found in hibiscus
12 A fancy haircut generates hubbub
14 Raise hell, at first, over 34th prez
15 Mysterious doctor, that one
16 Tractor brand is expensive, we hear
17 Rob spun globe
18 I hear the preferred location for many travelers is an atoll
20 Nausea on the starboard side? Swell
21 Expression of surprise admitted by alcoholic
22 Eyesore, utter eyesore
23 Stark former flame of Prince Andrew returned books after eschewing undergrad degree
24 Glorious gold rush
25 Quit backing ancient board game
27 Sorry, I’m to disregard?
28 Hank danced with comic actress Madeline
30 Kind of pad for one of the Munsters
31 Career damage
Special Clues
Warms up the room and takes on a storyteller
Heavy precipitation causes great distress
Cleans up—but gets jittery—at Jenga
Quiet enclave for eavesdropping chef
Performing housework is what termites are good at
Carpeting at the lodge leads to unusual afflictions
She snorts, “She studies sparring”
TOM TOCE is an FCAS and a senior manager at EY. He is a member of the Jeopardy Hall of Fame.
Solutions may be emailed to ttoce@nyc.rr.com. In order to make the solver list, you should send him your solutions by October 1, 2023.
Solution to Previous Issue’s Puzzle—Back Treatment
Main Theme: INVERSION Therapy
Bonus “Easter Egg” Entries: RESOD and DOSER (its INVERSION)
Across
1. ACID—Deletion, plACIDo (PLO deleted)
4. RESOD—Anagram, (so red) anagram
7. HELM—Hidden, Hidden in first letters H + E + L + M
10. MADAM I’M ADAM—Construction, MAD + AMI + MA + DAM
11. ONO—Deletion, hONOr (unlimited)
14. RISE TO VOTE SIR—Anagram, (soviet rioters) anagram
15. SHINGLE—Insertion, S (H) INGLE
18. RACECAR—Hidden, embRACE CARbs
22. WAS IT A RAT I SAW?—Anagram, (is at war awaits) anagram
24. TOP SPOT—Construction, TOPS + POT
25. NOTHING—Anagram, (in thong) anagram
28. RUM RUM I MURMUR—Construction/Hidden, dRUMs + fRUMp + IMU + heR MURder
32. BOB—Double Definition
34. EGAD AN ADAGE—Hidden, EnGlAnDs ArN cAn DrAw GeE (odd letters)
35. NEED—Homonym, “knead” homonym
36. DOSER—Anagram, (doers) anagram
37. RIDE—Construction, RID + E
Down
2. CHAIR—Insertion, CHA (I) R
3. DRAWS IN—Construction, DRAW + SIN
4. RAITT—Homonym, “rate” homonym
5. STARVE—Insertion, STAR (V) E
6. DRAFT—Construction, DR + AFT
8. EGO—Anagram, (GEO) anagram
9. MOO—Deletion, sMOOt
12. NOR—Hidden, NORway
13. ASSESS—Construction, ASSES + S
16. HOW-TO—Construction/Anagram/Hidden, HOW + inTel + O (who) anagram
17. LOTTO—Deletion, bLOTTO (after the first)
19. ASTRO—Anagram, (roast) anagram
20. ASWAN—Construction, AS + WAN
21. ART—&LIT, A + R + Titian
23. SESAME—Anagram, (ma sees) anagram
26. HUMIDOR—Insertion, HUM (ID) OR
27. DIODES—Double Definition/Pun, DI-ODES
28. RHO—Homonym, “row” homonym
29. URGED—Construction/Hidden, bURGEr + D
30. ULNAR—Anagram, (lunar) anagram
31. RAGED—Construction, R + AGED
32. BAN—Deletion, BatmAN (ATM deleted)
33. BYE—Homonym , “bye” homonym
Solvers: Steve Alpert, Dean Apps, Jack Brauner, Bob Campbell, Lois Cappellano, Laura Cremerius, Jared Dashoff, Todd Dashoff, Christopher Dickens, Mick Diede, Dave Dougherty, Deb Edwards, Jason Helbraun, Pete Hepokoski, Catharine Hornby and Bruce Harvey, Max Jackson, Ruth Johnson, Eric Klis, Paul Kolell, Mike Kosciuk, Ken Kudrak, Ben Lynch, Michael Manos, Dave McGarry, Jon Michelson, Becky Moody, Jim Muza, David and Corinne Promislow, Alan Putney, Ram Raman, Jay Ripps, Giacomo Santangelo, Dan Schwallie, Bill Scott, Andrew Shewan, Karen Skoglund, Sally Smith, Zig Swistunowicz, T. O. C. E. (Josh DenHartog and Sean Donohoe), Betsy and James Uzzell.
The Unreliable Narrator
We all need something to rely on in this world, and you can rely on this paragraph. This puzzle is the brainchild of Jerry Miccolis. I helped him out enough with refining the concept and with some of the clues that we’re calling this a joint effort. Jerry is very generous.
The “unreliable narrator” is a literary device found in a wide variety of genres. One cannot take the narrator’s statements at face value. In a sense, all cryptic puzzles employ unreliable narration, but rarely as explicitly as here.
The seven long across entries represent instances of unreliable narration. They are clued separately, below the other clues. These “special clues” do not follow the standard cryptic clue format—they contain definitions of both a common phrase and our unreliable narrator’s version of that phrase. It’s the latter version that you should enter into the grid. It may help you to know that our narrator is reliably consistent in the manner of unreliability. Be aware, though, that the order of the special clues is not necessarily the order in which their entries appear in the grid; the correct mapping is for you to determine.
The letters that fill the circled squares in the grid, when arranged in the order of the special clues, will spell out the identity of our unreliable narrator. The circled squares to the right of the special clues are for your convenience in this regard.
The properly completed grid will contain three proper nouns (while two other entries are partially clued as such); all words but those three, including those in phrases, are playable in Scrabble. Beware of punctuation, which has been known to deceive. Thanks to Bob Fink and Eric Klis for test solving and editorial suggestions.
Across
7 [See special clues]
8 Outspoken meditator’s mouthful evidences a bit of resistance
10 Specifies conditions
11 [See special clues]
13 [See special clues]
19 [See special clues]
22 [See special clues]
26 [See special clues]
29 Angela, Tony ate some Italian ice
32 Period of time engulfed by tragedy
33 [See special clues]
Down
1 Regularly scoff at liberal
2 Bikini top over casual shirt for urchin
3 Jersey Boy’s concert?
4 Criminal charges over skirmish
5 Open-mouthed gawk at Marina
6 Daffy sound when longing to reveal upper leg?
9 Bird found in hibiscus
12 A fancy haircut generates hubbub
14 Raise hell, at first, over 34th prez
15 Mysterious doctor, that one
16 Tractor brand is expensive, we hear
17 Rob spun globe
18 I hear the preferred location for many travelers is an atoll
20 Nausea on the starboard side? Swell
21 Expression of surprise admitted by alcoholic
22 Eyesore, utter eyesore
23 Stark former flame of Prince Andrew returned books after eschewing undergrad degree
24 Glorious gold rush
25 Quit backing ancient board game
27 Sorry, I’m to disregard?
28 Hank danced with comic actress Madeline
30 Kind of pad for one of the Munsters
31 Career damage
Special Clues
Warms up the room and takes on a storyteller
Heavy precipitation causes great distress
Cleans up—but gets jittery—at Jenga
Quiet enclave for eavesdropping chef
Performing housework is what termites are good at
Carpeting at the lodge leads to unusual afflictions
She snorts, “She studies sparring”
TOM TOCE is an FCAS and a senior manager at EY. He is a member of the Jeopardy Hall of Fame. Solutions may be emailed to ttoce@nyc.rr.com. In order to make the solver list, you should send him your solutions by October 1, 2023.
Solution to Previous Issue’s Puzzle—Back Treatment
Main Theme: INVERSION Therapy
Bonus “Easter Egg” Entries: RESOD and DOSER (its INVERSION)
Across
1. ACID—Deletion, plACIDo (PLO deleted)
4. RESOD—Anagram, (so red) anagram
7. HELM—Hidden, Hidden in first letters H + E + L + M
10. MADAM I’M ADAM—Construction, MAD + AMI + MA + DAM
11. ONO—Deletion, hONOr (unlimited)
14. RISE TO VOTE SIR—Anagram, (soviet rioters) anagram
15. SHINGLE—Insertion, S (H) INGLE
18. RACECAR—Hidden, embRACE CARbs
22. WAS IT A RAT I SAW?—Anagram, (is at war awaits) anagram
24. TOP SPOT—Construction, TOPS + POT
25. NOTHING—Anagram, (in thong) anagram
28. RUM RUM I MURMUR—Construction/Hidden, dRUMs + fRUMp + IMU + heR MURder
32. BOB—Double Definition
34. EGAD AN ADAGE—Hidden, EnGlAnDs ArN cAn DrAw GeE (odd letters)
35. NEED—Homonym, “knead” homonym
36. DOSER—Anagram, (doers) anagram
37. RIDE—Construction, RID + E
Down
2. CHAIR—Insertion, CHA (I) R
3. DRAWS IN—Construction, DRAW + SIN
4. RAITT—Homonym, “rate” homonym
5. STARVE—Insertion, STAR (V) E
6. DRAFT—Construction, DR + AFT
8. EGO—Anagram, (GEO) anagram
9. MOO—Deletion, sMOOt
12. NOR—Hidden, NORway
13. ASSESS—Construction, ASSES + S
16. HOW-TO—Construction/Anagram/Hidden, HOW + inTel + O (who) anagram
17. LOTTO—Deletion, bLOTTO (after the first)
19. ASTRO—Anagram, (roast) anagram
20. ASWAN—Construction, AS + WAN
21. ART—&LIT, A + R + Titian
23. SESAME—Anagram, (ma sees) anagram
26. HUMIDOR—Insertion, HUM (ID) OR
27. DIODES—Double Definition/Pun, DI-ODES
28. RHO—Homonym, “row” homonym
29. URGED—Construction/Hidden, bURGEr + D
30. ULNAR—Anagram, (lunar) anagram
31. RAGED—Construction, R + AGED
32. BAN—Deletion, BatmAN (ATM deleted)
33. BYE—Homonym , “bye” homonym
Solvers: Steve Alpert, Dean Apps, Jack Brauner, Bob Campbell, Lois Cappellano, Laura Cremerius, Jared Dashoff, Todd Dashoff, Christopher Dickens, Mick Diede, Dave Dougherty, Deb Edwards, Jason Helbraun, Pete Hepokoski, Catharine Hornby and Bruce Harvey, Max Jackson, Ruth Johnson, Eric Klis, Paul Kolell, Mike Kosciuk, Ken Kudrak, Ben Lynch, Michael Manos, Dave McGarry, Jon Michelson, Becky Moody, Jim Muza, David and Corinne Promislow, Alan Putney, Ram Raman, Jay Ripps, Giacomo Santangelo, Dan Schwallie, Bill Scott, Andrew Shewan, Karen Skoglund, Sally Smith, Zig Swistunowicz, T. O. C. E. (Josh DenHartog and Sean Donohoe), Betsy and James Uzzell.
We all need something to rely on in this world, and you can rely on this paragraph. This puzzle is the brainchild of Jerry Miccolis. I helped him out enough with refining the concept and with some of the clues that we’re calling this a joint effort. Jerry is very generous.
The “unreliable narrator” is a literary device found in a wide variety of genres. One cannot take the narrator’s statements at face value. In a sense, all cryptic puzzles employ unreliable narration, but rarely as explicitly as here.
The seven long across entries represent instances of unreliable narration. They are clued separately, below the other clues. These “special clues” do not follow the standard cryptic clue format—they contain definitions of both a common phrase and our unreliable narrator’s version of that phrase. It’s the latter version that you should enter into the grid. It may help you to know that our narrator is reliably consistent in the manner of unreliability. Be aware, though, that the order of the special clues is not necessarily the order in which their entries appear in the grid; the correct mapping is for you to determine.
The letters that fill the circled squares in the grid, when arranged in the order of the special clues, will spell out the identity of our unreliable narrator. The circled squares to the right of the special clues are for your convenience in this regard.
The properly completed grid will contain three proper nouns (while two other entries are partially clued as such); all words but those three, including those in phrases, are playable in Scrabble. Beware of punctuation, which has been known to deceive. Thanks to Bob Fink and Eric Klis for test solving and editorial suggestions.
Across
7 [See special clues]
8 Outspoken meditator’s mouthful evidences a bit of resistance
10 Specifies conditions
11 [See special clues]
13 [See special clues]
19 [See special clues]
22 [See special clues]
26 [See special clues]
29 Angela, Tony ate some Italian ice
32 Period of time engulfed by tragedy
33 [See special clues]
Down
1 Regularly scoff at liberal
2 Bikini top over casual shirt for urchin
3 Jersey Boy’s concert?
4 Criminal charges over skirmish
5 Open-mouthed gawk at Marina
6 Daffy sound when longing to reveal upper leg?
9 Bird found in hibiscus
12 A fancy haircut generates hubbub
14 Raise hell, at first, over 34th prez
15 Mysterious doctor, that one
16 Tractor brand is expensive, we hear
17 Rob spun globe
18 I hear the preferred location for many travelers is an atoll
20 Nausea on the starboard side? Swell
21 Expression of surprise admitted by alcoholic
22 Eyesore, utter eyesore
23 Stark former flame of Prince Andrew returned books after eschewing undergrad degree
24 Glorious gold rush
25 Quit backing ancient board game
27 Sorry, I’m to disregard?
28 Hank danced with comic actress Madeline
30 Kind of pad for one of the Munsters
31 Career damage
Special Clues
Warms up the room and takes on a storyteller
Heavy precipitation causes great distress
Cleans up—but gets jittery—at Jenga
Quiet enclave for eavesdropping chef
Performing housework is what termites are good at
Carpeting at the lodge leads to unusual afflictions
She snorts, “She studies sparring”
TOM TOCE is an FCAS and a senior manager at EY. He is a member of the Jeopardy Hall of Fame. Solutions may be emailed to ttoce@nyc.rr.com. In order to make the solver list, you should send him your solutions by October 1, 2023.
Solution to Previous Issue’s Puzzle—Back Treatment
Main Theme: INVERSION Therapy
Bonus “Easter Egg” Entries: RESOD and DOSER (its INVERSION)
Across
1. ACID—Deletion, plACIDo (PLO deleted)
4. RESOD—Anagram, (so red) anagram
7. HELM—Hidden, Hidden in first letters H + E + L + M
10. MADAM I’M ADAM—Construction, MAD + AMI + MA + DAM
11. ONO—Deletion, hONOr (unlimited)
14. RISE TO VOTE SIR—Anagram, (soviet rioters) anagram
15. SHINGLE—Insertion, S (H) INGLE
18. RACECAR—Hidden, embRACE CARbs
22. WAS IT A RAT I SAW?—Anagram, (is at war awaits) anagram
24. TOP SPOT—Construction, TOPS + POT
25. NOTHING—Anagram, (in thong) anagram
28. RUM RUM I MURMUR—Construction/Hidden, dRUMs + fRUMp + IMU + heR MURder
32. BOB—Double Definition
34. EGAD AN ADAGE—Hidden, EnGlAnDs ArN cAn DrAw GeE (odd letters)
35. NEED—Homonym, “knead” homonym
36. DOSER—Anagram, (doers) anagram
37. RIDE—Construction, RID + E
Down
2. CHAIR—Insertion, CHA (I) R
3. DRAWS IN—Construction, DRAW + SIN
4. RAITT—Homonym, “rate” homonym
5. STARVE—Insertion, STAR (V) E
6. DRAFT—Construction, DR + AFT
8. EGO—Anagram, (GEO) anagram
9. MOO—Deletion, sMOOt
12. NOR—Hidden, NORway
13. ASSESS—Construction, ASSES + S
16. HOW-TO—Construction/Anagram/Hidden, HOW + inTel + O (who) anagram
17. LOTTO—Deletion, bLOTTO (after the first)
19. ASTRO—Anagram, (roast) anagram
20. ASWAN—Construction, AS + WAN
21. ART—&LIT, A + R + Titian
23. SESAME—Anagram, (ma sees) anagram
26. HUMIDOR—Insertion, HUM (ID) OR
27. DIODES—Double Definition/Pun, DI-ODES
28. RHO—Homonym, “row” homonym
29. URGED—Construction/Hidden, bURGEr + D
30. ULNAR—Anagram, (lunar) anagram
31. RAGED—Construction, R + AGED
32. BAN—Deletion, BatmAN (ATM deleted)
33. BYE—Homonym , “bye” homonym
Solvers: Steve Alpert, Dean Apps, Jack Brauner, Bob Campbell, Lois Cappellano, Laura Cremerius, Jared Dashoff, Todd Dashoff, Christopher Dickens, Mick Diede, Dave Dougherty, Deb Edwards, Jason Helbraun, Pete Hepokoski, Catharine Hornby and Bruce Harvey, Max Jackson, Ruth Johnson, Eric Klis, Paul Kolell, Mike Kosciuk, Ken Kudrak, Ben Lynch, Michael Manos, Dave McGarry, Jon Michelson, Becky Moody, Jim Muza, David and Corinne Promislow, Alan Putney, Ram Raman, Jay Ripps, Giacomo Santangelo, Dan Schwallie, Bill Scott, Andrew Shewan, Karen Skoglund, Sally Smith, Zig Swistunowicz, T. O. C. E. (Josh DenHartog and Sean Donohoe), Betsy and James Uzzell.
