The Puzzler
by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Snow Job
The twelve Across rows with no heavy vertical bars are fully occupied, one letter per square, by one or two entries apiece. Across clues are given in rows (labeled a-l for convenience), but the rows are listed out of order. When a row contains two entries, the leftmost entry’s clue is given first. In keeping with the slippery theme, each row has one letter that slides out of place and into the shaded central column. The letters ending up in that column will form an appropriately frosty phrase. Downs are normal. Clue answers include nine proper nouns.
See page 144 for Puzzler contest details. The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 134.
A cross
a. Learn by shifting “Snow Job” words?
b. Run behind small hill Filmmaker captures island bear
c. People outside criticize treatment
d. Celebrity from casino town won, discarding heart Herb bails out
e. In sum, eaten by troll?
f. Agree convertible is burning Wish to do some gardening around the second of April
g. Make a movie of six-toed, unusually hairy primate
h. Walk drunkenly, with hangover? Fight about official document for servant
i. Mention athletic shoe permit being rejected—that’s oddly moving
j. City found in America, ironically Feigning virtue after piano vanishes, promises to compensate
k. Fast month includes occupying motor lodge (two words)
I. I left a Spielberg movie, taking drive-in’s rear entrance
Down
1. Gifted jockeys move restlessly (6)
2. Circle globe with Glen covering ding-dong? (8)
3. Charles’s wile and Eric seemed confused (8)
4. Stock with great flexibility (6)
5. Farewell dinner announced (4)
6. Hillbilly saw sow (4)
7. Taking seat, whittle a Native American (8)
8. Elective, Broadcast I, not written in stone (8)
9. Lean left, absorbed by poster? (7)
10. Traveler’s game (4)
11. Some poetry has too much about love, ultimately (4)
12. A container on each side of one enclave in Rome (7)
13. Tube with imperfections sent back (5)
14. Skier doing poorly in Kentucky (5)
l5. Crowd in front of bishop’s post (4)
16. Guided a Spartan queen (4)
17. Safari jackets a long way off (4)
18. Excellent punishment (4)
NOTE: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only, It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, send an addressed, stamped long envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.
ANSWERS TO THE NOVEMBER PUZZLER
“Seasonality”
Circled letters can be rearranged to give THANKS. Across. 1. A-DORE (anag. + a) 5. MAC(RAM)E 11. LA(PIDAR)Y (rapid anag.) 12. EDOM (rev.) 13. (W)ANT 14. SEMIPRO (anag.) 15. SKIE(R)S 16. I-TA-LIAN (rev.) 17. S(A-UT)EED 18. A(CUT)-EST (set anag.) 25. PO(WE’RE)D 28. SI(M1LA)R (mail anag.) 31. A(ME-BA)’S 32. FLAC-ON (rev.) 33. REL-IN-KS 34. IN-K 35. SW-EDIS-H (side rev.) 36. PORTUGUE(S)E (s + anag.) 37. E(NIG)MAS (rev.) 38. NISAN (hidden) Down. 1. A-L(ASK)-A 2. GERM-A-N 3. OPT(I)MUM 4. EDERLE (anag.) 6. JAP(AN)ES-E 7. CYPRUS (homophone) 8. A-DOZE(n) 9. MO(LIE)RE 10. E-M(BE)DS 14. SEAT-O 19. C(RIME)AN 20. RUSSIAN (anag.) 21. MES(A)S 22. SPAN-IS-H 23. SWAHIL-I (anag. + i) 24. SL(A)LOM (rev. + a) 26. WELK-IN 27. ESP-ERANTO (a tenor anag.) 29. FRENCH (hidden peripherally) 30. HONDA (anag.)