Solution to 12A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
ACROSS
1 But holding a long stick, she tries to stay stable (8) BALANCER {BA{LANCE}R}
6 Revolutionary tombstone inscription in place for soul (6) SPIRIT {S{RIP<=}IT}
9 Judge starts to upbraid defence over defence strategy (4) JUDO {J}{Up...d}{De...e}{Over}
10 According to reactionary: have sex without protections, heartily, to fill a place with people again (10) REPOPULATE {PER<=}{cOPULATe}E E from? What's the role of heartily? {Addendum - {PER}{cOPU:ATE}* - See comments)
11 Positive spin applied to the disputed clip (6) UPSIDE [T<=]
12 As discussed, issue suggests systematic studies (8) S?I?N?E? (Addendum - SCIENCES (~scion says)
13 One full of oneself somehow insists upon taking control of narrative (10) NARCISSIST {N{ARC}ISSIST*}
15 Notice the heads up display terminals! (4) ESPY [Tail acrostic)
17 After retirement, secretly date zombie character (4) ZETA [T<=]
18 Bradman set to be replaced as players' leader (10) BANDMASTER*
20 Regularly does so at each end — turns late! (8) DECEASED {DoEs+So+At+EaCh+EnD}<=
22 Dr. exchanged worn-out knife (6) DAGGER Anno pending (-r+d)DAGGE(-d+r)R - See comments)
24 Unrestricted exchange of gold stopping rapid slump (4-3-3) FREE-FOR-ALL {FREE F{OR}ALL}
26 On vacation, right to bump one off? (4) AWRY AW(-a+r)RY
27 These animals? They're on cars every now and then! (6) HYENAS {tHeYrE+oN+cArS}
28 Acquired a welcoming, fancy, nice, large estate (8) HACIENDA {HA{NICE*}D}{A}
DOWN
2 Patiala's queen set to lose spectacular site and lose control of automobile (9) AQUAPLANE {PAtiALAs+QUeEN}*
5 Cutting from liquor, I paid rent (3) RIP [T]
6 Bribe's breaking new ground at 50%, one argues (7) SOPHIST {SOP}HIST Anno pending (Addendum -{SOP}{HISToric} - See comments)
7 Perhaps sand is primarily littered all around their terrain, essentially? (9) ISLANDERS {SAND+IS+Li...d} over {thEir+terRain} &lit
12 Exposed innards of the menace rising to smother monarch (7) SKINNED {DENNI{K}S<=}
14 Christmas is back — came earlier, around the end of March (it changes frequently) (9) CHAMELEON {NOEL<=}<=>{C{marcH}AME}
18 Works on vacation, chasing top Oscar awards (7) BESTOWS {WorkS}<=>{BEST}{O}
19 Note: before 100, toy with a sex change (6,1) MIDDLE C {C}<=>{(-f+m)MIDDLE}
21 Getting rid of husband? Pay attention to discontented lady ahead of her time ... (5) EARLY {hEAR}{LadY}
23 ... Good republican husband killed in own churchyard plot (5) GRAVE {G}{R}{hAVE}
25 ... Burnt remains of second husband found under a tree (3) ASH {S}{H}<=>{A} Two definitions?
Reference List
Gold = OR, Right = R, Monarch = K, Christmas = NOEL, 100 =C, Husband = H, Good = G, Republican = R, Second = S
10a proteCtions (heartily)
ReplyDeleteYes: "... without proteCtions, heartily" = with C deleted.
DeleteCopulate-C. Good one!
Delete22a Ragged; worn out
ReplyDeleteYep. D-R exchanged in RAGGED.
DeleteAgain, a nice one. Thank you.
Delete6D Breaking new ground = Historic and 50% of that
ReplyDeleteYep!
Delete6d HISToric: breaking new ground
ReplyDelete+1
Delete16D Free + Purred ~
ReplyDeleteThat's it!
DeleteRe: 25d. Yes, two definitions in this one (and one wordplay, as noted).
ReplyDeleteWouldn't the clue still be good without 'Burnt remains'?
DeleteJust-A second husband found under a tree. Cryptic.
Typo. "second husband...."
DeleteYes, it could have been that, but I chose this version for a minor reason. Will get to that soon...
DeleteJust to follow up on this (now that the theme has been revealed and my notes have been posted), I just made the surface exaggeratedly macabre to fit the theme and end on an exaggeratedly thematic note (for the crossword as well as the mini tale told by 21d, 23d, 25d).
Delete8d. "Ripped" is the anagrind, and "discovered" for taking off outer letters. Def is "fibre"
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the enjoyable time and the clarifications. Purring happily!
ReplyDeleteSince none of the non-regulars/novices have got 12A it is ooen to the newly promoted regulars and not the hard core regulars!!
ReplyDeleteHere is a big novice taking a very wild swing at it:
DeleteAs = Since
"Discussed Issue" in systematic way (regularly)
dis C uss E dis S ue
CES suggesting in SINCE
{S{C}I{E}NCE{S}}
Definition: Studies
Nice try, but "systematic" cannot really be used for picking letters at regular intervals, IMO. And there is no indicator in the clue for splicing in C, E, S into SINCE in this manner (certainly "suggests" cannot describe that complex operation).
DeleteAh you're absolutely right... had felt it was a little too wild
DeleteAnother perspective can be (maybe something that makes a little more sense...but still wondering whether it is wild)
DeleteAs = Since
Discussed being a homophone indicator
Issue = Child = Son = S
Suggests indicates it's not completely an accurate homophone:
To give: {SCIENCE}(~since) {S}
Definition: systematic studies
Now I'm all out!
After the answer to 12A is in someone can identify the theme and theNina
ReplyDelete12A now open to all. So also identification of Theme and Nina
ReplyDeleteAll hallows eve :Halloween!
DeleteOh! 31st Oct is Halloween day!
DeleteNice identification. Couldn't spot the Nina nor the theme words.
DeleteSome theme words I noticed-
DeleteSpirit, Zeta(?),Deceased, Dagger, RIP, Ash, Grave, Istle(?),
No idea about Nina.
SCIENCES= ~SCION SAYS - issue=scion; suggests=says; as suggested=hp indicator
ReplyDeleteAh! So that's what it was!
DeleteGreat Solve!
DeleteThanks Vasant
DeleteHomophone indicator is 'as discussed'. I was a little unsure about scion/son.
ReplyDeleteSoory. Scion/ scien
ReplyDeleteHere are my notes for this crossword:
ReplyDeleteNotes
This crossword is seasonally themed on Halloween, a festival to celebrate the dead.
ALL HALLOWS' EVE can be seen as a nina running across the third row from the top and continuing across the second row from the bottom (Halloween is a contraction of All Hallows' Evening).
These entries are thematic:
5d. RIP.
6a. SPIRIT.
12d. SKINNED.
20a. DECEASED.
22a. DAGGER.
23d. GRAVE.
25d. ASH.
27a. HYENAS.
Additionally, the surfaces of the last three down clues (21, 23, 25) tell a short, macabre tale that fits the theme. Perhaps the tale might remind the reader of Susanna's Seven Husbands by Ruskin Bond!
This puzzle is a pangram.
Personal notes
A couple of nice space-related things happened around the end of September, when I was wrapping up setting this crossword. Jupiter was the closest it has been to earth in nearly 60 years, and that provided the perfect motivation for me to set up my backyard telescope again and enjoy its magnificent sights. And on September 26, we earthlings watched in breathless awe the live telecast of a spacecraft slamming into the asteroid Dimorphos—a first-ever "planetary defence" test!
Sorry for not posting Viresh's notes earlier. I was in an area with no internet, attending my School batch's 55th year get-together
ReplyDeleteNo worries at all! Hope the get-together was fun!
DeleteIt definitely was a great two days of fun. Heading back today
DeleteGreat to be with school mates! Surprising you are still able to be in touch- College yes but school rare.
DeleteWe are nearing 60 years of passing out of college- just 15 months away!
I now get why you found 'Burnt remains' necessary.
ReplyDelete