ACROSS
1 - Some mountaineers plan going back for mountains (4) - ALPS [T<-]
3 - Break and remodel empty Fiat car into a much faster vehicle (10) - {SPACE}{CRA(FiaT)*}
9 - Harry stayed around University for a period? (7) - {T{U}ESDAY*}
11 - More elegant banker could be less popular (7) - FinANCIER
12 - Stay in bed and hesitate to prepare a trap (3,2,4) - {LIE IN} {WAIT}
13 - Old artist has little time for a small time artist? (5) - {EX}{T}{RA}
14 - Mail manager is after the other woman (12) - {POST}{MISTRESS}
18 - Two members pay this for something expensive? (2,3,3,1,3) - AN ARM AND A LEG
21 - I followed a short English politician for an explanation (5) - {A}{LIB}{I}
22 - Cynic media unseats queen with one film (9) - {PrESS}{I}{MIST}
24 - Mother covered spy in colour (7) - {M{AGENT}A}
25 - A small shark morphed into an evil spirit (7) - RAKSHAS* (a+s+shark)
26 - Soldiers break up to surround a trail from the east (10) - {PAR{A}T}{ROOPS<-}
27 - Surveys housing for pupils? (4) - EYES [DD]
DOWN
1 - Can't run away after dumping cocaine for a fast buck (8) - {cANT}{ELOPE}
2 - Kids less than thirteen down third Ecstasy for American show (8) - PRETE(-e)NS(+e)E
4 - Drunk happily after saint left group (5) - PHYLApi*
5 - In pursuit of European hiding inside, CIA went round an eatery (9) - {C{AF{E}TER}IA}
6 - What a dishonest dairyman may never sell? (9,4) - CONDENSED MILK [CD]
7 - Hungry having missed dinner at first, devoured fly (6) - {AVId}{ATE}
8 - Two spies turned up for a race (6) - {TAR}{TAR}<-
10 - Keep quiet about Bangalore's claim to fame? Not at all! (4,7,2) - {DON'T MENTION} {IT}
15 - Drop pasta all over the place and get a punishment (9) - STRAPPADO*
16 - Great to land around capital of Meghalaya before end of day (8) - {AL{M}IGHT}{Y}
17 - They boast, so it gets crazy (8) - EGOTISTS*
19 - Practise with wing in the air (4-2) - {W}{ARM-UP}
20 - Hang around in underwear that is transparent (6) - LINGERie My COD
23 - Remove dress and streak after shedding last piece of negligee (5) - STRIPe
1 - Some mountaineers plan going back for mountains (4) - ALPS [T<-]
3 - Break and remodel empty Fiat car into a much faster vehicle (10) - {SPACE}{CRA(F
9 - Harry stayed around University for a period? (7) - {T{U}ESDAY*}
11 - More elegant banker could be less popular (7) - F
12 - Stay in bed and hesitate to prepare a trap (3,2,4) - {LIE IN} {WAIT}
13 - Old artist has little time for a small time artist? (5) - {EX}{T}{RA}
14 - Mail manager is after the other woman (12) - {POST}{MISTRESS}
18 - Two members pay this for something expensive? (2,3,3,1,3) - AN ARM AND A LEG
21 - I followed a short English politician for an explanation (5) - {A}{LIB}{I}
22 - Cynic media unseats queen with one film (9) - {P
24 - Mother covered spy in colour (7) - {M{AGENT}A}
25 - A small shark morphed into an evil spirit (7) - RAKSHAS* (a+s+shark)
26 - Soldiers break up to surround a trail from the east (10) - {PAR{A}T}{ROOPS<-}
27 - Surveys housing for pupils? (4) - EYES [DD]
DOWN
1 - Can't run away after dumping cocaine for a fast buck (8) - {
2 - Kids less than thirteen down third Ecstasy for American show (8) - PRETE(-e)NS(+e)E
4 - Drunk happily after saint left group (5) - PHYLA
5 - In pursuit of European hiding inside, CIA went round an eatery (9) - {C{AF{E}TER}IA}
6 - What a dishonest dairyman may never sell? (9,4) - CONDENSED MILK [CD]
7 - Hungry having missed dinner at first, devoured fly (6) - {AVI
8 - Two spies turned up for a race (6) - {TAR}{TAR}<-
10 - Keep quiet about Bangalore's claim to fame? Not at all! (4,7,2) - {DON'T MENTION} {IT}
15 - Drop pasta all over the place and get a punishment (9) - STRAPPADO*
17 - They boast, so it gets crazy (8) - EGOTISTS*
19 - Practise with wing in the air (4-2) - {W}{ARM-UP}
20 - Hang around in underwear that is transparent (6) - LINGER
23 - Remove dress and streak after shedding last piece of negligee (5) - STRIP
Liked use of Harry as Anagrind in 3a
ReplyDeleteCV's comment about a couple of clues in this crossword having shades of Gridman got me wondering.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you feel are traits unique to each of the THC setters?
I'll jot down mine:
Gridman - nice, fair and impish.
Sankalak - simple and elegant.
Neyartha - complex clueing and thematics.
M Manna - unpredictable.
Spiffytrix - consistently entertaining.
Cryptonyte - unafraid to experiment with new words and wordplays.
NJ - don't want to comment.
Deepak.Wonder whether you could convert your Fiat too.
ReplyDeleteBhavan
ReplyDeleteA very fair assessment, I would say.
@Suresh08:55
ReplyDeleteAm reminded of the story of some engineer converting his Nano into a more powerful machine capable of doing things which the maker would have never thought of.
But my question is: can it any longer be called Nano, the cheap car?
How many lakhs of rupees did the man spend in his pet project?
Really a very good crossword! I would say this is as good as the ones we find in a UK broadsheet. Most surfaces create an imagery and there is never a dull moment during solving.
ReplyDeleteThe clues are grammatically sound as well; the clues are distributed evenly around the many types (anag/charade/etc); there is not the sick [E] type clue; and some clever cluing in 10D and 20D.
It may not be appropriate to compare setters, but surely Spiffy works best for me!
We aren't comparing setters, we are only speaking about the distinguishing qualities of each of them.
ReplyDeleteCV Sir, I was not referring to Bhavan's comment when I said about "comparing setters". It was a general statement :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed 10D-very nicely worded-my COD.
ReplyDeleteNJ-Always trying to score one over the solver?
Bhavan @ 8:45,
ReplyDeleteYou said it all, I don't think anyone could put it in any better words