"Alien Invasion"
The "invasion of aliens" was the addition of "et" to eleven clue answers; the cryptic rings spell CROP CIRCLE. Across. 1. c + alf's + kin 6. p(up + a)e 10. a(u)d + I 11. Pi(c)ker's 12. d + well13. ca(r)'s 14. pi(one)ers 19. mel(l)on 20. ton(y) 21. slow lane (anag.) 25. (t)railer26. dakar (anag.) 28. scam(p)s 31. co(s)mic 33. b(r)ay 34. cache (homophone) 35. raining (homophone) 36. once (hidden) 37. ernst (anag.) 38. intern (homophone) Down. 1. c + arp's 2. audile (anag.) 3. fi(e)nd 4. s(pl)een 5. (n)icer 6. p(e)ace 7. utrillo (anag.) 8. art song (anag.) 9. (l)essen 15. outstay (pig Latin) 16. ed + s + els17. b(l)ank 18. sleep (rev.) 19. mo(rr) + is 22. decreer (anag.) 23. came + r + as 24. crick (double def.) 26. dam(ag)e 27. a(pie)ce 28. sabre (anag.) 29. pla(i)t 30. dec + or 32. o + din
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/11/puzzler-solution/4327/
