A devilish piece of work today. Answer and anno of 17D for left for a first time commenter till 10 AM.
6. After tip off, arrest gangster with precious object (4) OPAL {cOP}{AL}
8. United, staff advanced through hilly areas (8) AVIATORS {A}{VIA}{TORS}
9. Fresh air reportedly in natural state (6) NUDITY {~ NEW DITTY}
10. Bookmaker's apprentice really disheartened by fiendish puzzle (8,7) PRINTERS DEVILRY {PRINTER'S DEVIL}{ReallY}
11. Proctor also covers exams (5) ORALS (T)
13. Old speech caused confusion in its ranks (8) SANSKRIT {ITS+RANKS*}
15. Robin's reproductive success dictated by this woman's urges to abort son (5,3) BIRDS EGG {BIRD}{S} {EGGs}
18. Extremely vile trick adopted by Salem gang! (5) COVEN {CO{VilE}N}
20. Hippies on Hamlet: "Deplorably diabolical" (15) MEPHISTOPHELIAN {HIPPIES+ON+HAMLET*}
23. Want 7 rupee skewers (6) DEARTH {DEA{R}TH}
24. College dances exotic, featuring Eastern rhythms (8) CADENCES {C}+{DANCE*} around {E}
25. Railways used irregularly, I am sorry to say (4) ALAS {rAiLwAyS}
26. Fill to the top with 14 pounds of sulphur (9) BRIMSTONE {BRIM}{STONE}
2. Excavated passage right inside house of the dead (7) CHARNEL{CHA{R}NEL} {CHAn{R}NEL} See comments
3. Stabilised at zero Fahrenheit after fluctuation (5) FROZE {ZERO+F*}
4. Is opposed to Mark deserting mistress in distress (7) RESISTS {mISTRESS}*
5. Grandparent mourns in yellow clothes (8) NANKEENS {NAN}{KEENS}
6. The Adversary in Cellular Jail, for instance (3,4) OLD NICK (D & CD)
7. Comic Relief pursuing a daily fresh start (9) AFTERLIFE {A}{FT}{RELIEF*}
12. He rallies assembly to make a ruckus (5,4) RAISE HELL {HE+RALLIES*}
14. European mistress for Indian doctor rings Emergency Medical Services with a social call (8) MEMSAHIB {M{EMS}{A}{HI}B}
16. Deer regularly clipped after sundown, animal is thus rendered impotent (7) DEHORNS {DeEr}{(-s)HORN(+S)} Tense mismatch?
17. Italian fare for small party retreats institute held in clubhouse (7)G?O?C?I GNOCCHI {CONG<=}{CH}{I} See comments
19. Golden circle encompassing secure city (7) ORLANDO {OR}{LAND}{O}
21. Where one might spend 7 hours outside a meat shop overlooking Long Island (5) HADES {H{A}{DEli}S}
22. Mountain feature regularly hindered orienteer on Annapurna peak (5) ARETE {Annapurna}{oRiEnTeEr}
Reference List
Gangster=Al (Capone), Advanced=A, Son=S, Rupee=R, College=C, Eastern=E
Right=R, Fahrenheit=F, Mark=M, Daily=FT (Financial Times), Doctor=MB,Emergency Medical Service=EMS, Institute=I, Clubhouse=CH, Golden=OR, Circle=O, Long=L, Island=I
Colour/Font Scheme
Across
1. Prince of darkness surrounded by fireflies' light due to this (9) LUCIFERIN {LUCIFER}{IN}6. After tip off, arrest gangster with precious object (4) OPAL {
8. United, staff advanced through hilly areas (8) AVIATORS {A}{VIA}{TORS}
9. Fresh air reportedly in natural state (6) NUDITY {~ NEW DITTY}
10. Bookmaker's apprentice really disheartened by fiendish puzzle (8,7) PRINTERS DEVILRY {PRINTER'S DEVIL}{R
11. Proctor also covers exams (5) ORALS (T)
13. Old speech caused confusion in its ranks (8) SANSKRIT {ITS+RANKS*}
15. Robin's reproductive success dictated by this woman's urges to abort son (5,3) BIRDS EGG {BIRD}{S} {EGG
18. Extremely vile trick adopted by Salem gang! (5) COVEN {CO{V
20. Hippies on Hamlet: "Deplorably diabolical" (15) MEPHISTOPHELIAN {HIPPIES+ON+HAMLET*}
23. Want 7 rupee skewers (6) DEARTH {DEA{R}TH}
24. College dances exotic, featuring Eastern rhythms (8) CADENCES {C}+{DANCE*} around {E}
25. Railways used irregularly, I am sorry to say (4) ALAS {
26. Fill to the top with 14 pounds of sulphur (9) BRIMSTONE {BRIM}{STONE}
Down
1. Party raised the bar (5) LEVER {REVEL<=}2. Excavated passage right inside house of the dead (7) CHARNEL
3. Stabilised at zero Fahrenheit after fluctuation (5) FROZE {ZERO+F*}
4. Is opposed to Mark deserting mistress in distress (7) RESISTS {
5. Grandparent mourns in yellow clothes (8) NANKEENS {NAN}{KEENS}
6. The Adversary in Cellular Jail, for instance (3,4) OLD NICK (D & CD)
7. Comic Relief pursuing a daily fresh start (9) AFTERLIFE {A}{FT}{RELIEF*}
12. He rallies assembly to make a ruckus (5,4) RAISE HELL {HE+RALLIES*}
14. European mistress for Indian doctor rings Emergency Medical Services with a social call (8) MEMSAHIB {M{EMS}{A}{HI}B}
16. Deer regularly clipped after sundown, animal is thus rendered impotent (7) DEHORNS {DeEr}{(-s)HORN(+S)} Tense mismatch?
17. Italian fare for small party retreats institute held in clubhouse (7)
19. Golden circle encompassing secure city (7) ORLANDO {OR}{LAND}{O}
21. Where one might spend 7 hours outside a meat shop overlooking Long Island (5) HADES {H{A}{DE
22. Mountain feature regularly hindered orienteer on Annapurna peak (5) ARETE {A
Reference List
Gangster=Al (Capone), Advanced=A, Son=S, Rupee=R, College=C, Eastern=E
Right=R, Fahrenheit=F, Mark=M, Daily=FT (Financial Times), Doctor=MB,Emergency Medical Service=EMS, Institute=I, Clubhouse=CH, Golden=OR, Circle=O, Long=L, Island=I
Colour/Font Scheme
Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous
What the devil!Satanic Skullduggery.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this diabolic challenge.
Had heard of Printer's Devil but Devilry was a cryptic crossword set by Afrit way back in 1932..as per Wiki.
Thanks SD & Ramesh for an informative blog
+1
Delete17D- GNOCCHI= Italian dumplings
ReplyDeleteCONG (Congress in short) retreats (back) I= Institute CH= Club House (held in by former two)
Great solving. Though I filled in with the Italian connection, I could not parse it.
DeleteAnother Italian connection for the congress!
+1
DeleteWell done
DeleteDark days indeed!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ramesh for the nice blog. How is 'Horn' connected to the theme?
ReplyDeleteYou remember the Onida TV devil?!!
DeleteYou must have seen the devil's picture with two horns and a tail
DeleteThank you CGB & Vasant. I was 'sound'ly thinking of the other horn.
Delete13A- Anagram fodder shown in dark (like def.)
ReplyDeleteFixed. Thanks
Delete2D- Excavated passage is 'Channel',isn't it? One N extra?
ReplyDeleteExcavate is removing the inner part. So, N is removed.
DeleteThank you KKR.
DeleteChallenging grid.
ReplyDeleteGot HADES through crossing letters but still could not anno till I saw the blog. Thanks Ramesh!
23A: 7 points to AFTERLIFE but death and afterlife are not synonyms are they?
ReplyDeleteAfterlife means life after death. So, it may be ok?
Deletedeath comes after(end of) lfe.
Delete