Special, Tuesday 25 Oct 2022, The Zodiac

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Special, Sunday 06 Feb 2022, The Zodiac

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Special, Sunday 25 Jul 2021, The Zodiac

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Special, Sunday 04 Apr 2021, The Zodiac

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Special, Sunday 13 Dec 2020, The Zodiac

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Special, Sunday 02 Aug 2020, The Zodiac

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
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ACROSS
1   Unusually large line to drink English tea (4,4)
5   Was money returned for tool? (6)
9   Rocky wet areas could be a source of salt (8)
10 Big name in performing arts (4)
12 Acquit individual involved in old charge (9)
13 Something happening at constant temperature (5)
14 Man abandoning thought isn't new (4)
16 Commanded submissive son to be banished (7)
19 Surprisingly, Pesci and Pacino, say, are remarkable! (7)
21 Model scholar - extremely knowledgeable (4)
24 Fellow with some desirable quality (5)
25 Doctor (plastic surgeon) leaves Aspen, perhaps, to become a member of an organisation (4,5)
27 A gamble for support (4)
28 Voice on the radio: Scandinavian journalist dead (8)
29 Reported murder in vehicle (6)
30 Panic in this year's awful! (8)

DOWN
1   Puzzle teaser for festive holiday (6)
2   Why the Queen raised a child (6)
3   Good to be idle in Japan (5)
4   Corrupt dealer steals money for gemstone (7)
6   Healthy batting record, breaking poor streak finally (2,3,4)
7   Police officer solved strange case in the end (8)
8   Rich source of oil that ONGC discovered off-shore in the beginning (4-2-2)
11 Mock exam before last paper (4)
15 Movie maker's story on top of mountain (9)
17 Material similar to most chalcogens (8)
18 Eat gruel somehow and manage (8)
20 Records work from start to end (4)
21 Spooner's middle-aged? Well, shame! (7)
22 Putting $1000 on racing horse is acceptable (6)
23 Lost a diadem having rings (6)
26 Valmiki at last covered by moving ants, becoming a sage (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at ZODIAC 5

Today's special has an additional interactive version using Exolve software developed by Viresh Ratnakar. Most probably next week onwards I will be using only the Exolve interactive version, unless there are any glitches today. Please indicate problems if any with your comments.

Enjoy.

Special, Sunday 12 Apr 2020, The Zodiac

Day 19 of 21 Stay safe at home

Three answers per commenter as usual till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please submit all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
9   (&2D) Doctor posted some info - a result about body fat (7)
10 Clear up old lowland (7)
11 They store pearls in variety stores around York, mainly (7)
12 That man drowned in strange watery fluid (5)
13 A place to stay, perhaps. Hint: Hotel (3,6)
15 Watch characters from Herge's "Tintin" (5)
16 If age is between 45 and 60 perhaps... (7)
19 Planned action without force (7)
20 Pretty woman in city might provoke harassment initially (5)
21 Umpire's position is fair and liberal, say (6,3)
25 Rule to kick-out people from apartment (5)
27 Quality of chemical I breathe (7)
29 Grapes mostly grow in the beginning of spring (7)
30 Story about retired judge (7)

DOWN
1   Result of nap? (3,3)
2   see 9AC (6)
3   Region of gas (not oxygen) (4)
4   JEE - detailed, complicated test for high-flyers (3,3)
5   Fashion designer quit (8)
6   Primarily something providing a reason to fight (4)
7   Glass bowls essential to wine makers possibly (8)
8   Energetic inmate thrown into a dungeon initially (8)
14 For example, setter's greeting to welcome knight coming back (5)
15 Son always separate (5)
16 Capital's new name - Troy (8)
17 Violently detain setter, admitted for mental illness (8)
18 Society, for example, is entertained by extremely eminent writer (8)
22 A French boy seen outside college, naked (6)
23 Work done on a birthday? (6)
24 Assemble together without hesitation, in slum area (6)
26 Partner can accept wife (4)
28 Building initially missing bar (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at THE ZODIAC 4

Enjoy.

Special, Sunday 23 Jun 2019, The Zodiac

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
8   Breakdown of maltose releases energy, more or less (6)
9   People go live here (2,3,3)
10 I, for one, make a molten necklace initially (3-5)
11 Some part of test at Eden Gardens (6)
12 One grows these flowering plants (6)
14 Reverend's absolutely offensive expression! (5,3)
16 Kill chief for territory (6)
18 Boy died in explosion; journalist survived (6)
21 Say, Xi Jinping's style of delivery (8)
23 Surprisingly, Uber's first patent is excellent (6)
24 Check-box? (6)
26 Church built by scholar with glass (8)
28 Bill about to enter election; gets support (8)
29 Scientist's work is done (6)

DOWN
1   Can doctor be seen in bed with Scarlet? (5-3)
2   Type of document (4)
3   Perhaps Andhra Pradesh's and Telengana's tastes may be different (6)
4   Hitting double-century is possible (5-2)
5   Essential protein recreated without R&D and suchlike (2,6)
6   First time an English batsman retires, exhausted (4)
7   Brother's first restaurant (6)
13 Spooner says, "M'boy is a saint!" (5)
15 Trap pets running around university (3-2)
17 Setter's message, containing some truth, is memorable (8)
19 Chairman's bad credit backed by gold (8)
20 Doctors seen around new lab, getting licenses (7)
22 Saves groups of people, reportedly (6)
23 Relative's internal sickness is terminal (6)
25 Story location (4)
27 Around one, boy rested (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at THE ZODIAC 3

Enjoy.

Special, Sunday 21 Apr 2019, The Zodiac

As this is a 13x13, only TWO answers per commenter are permitted till 6 PM  (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide both your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
7   Dress of eskimo? Not! (6)
8   Notices a woman go back and forth (6)
9   Not without additional luck (4)
10 Screen teachers from one end to the other (8)
11 Fix current pattern (7)
13 Found in chest, or some trunk (5)
15 Online post: "Dwarf put inside bars" (5)
17 Perhaps Vladimir Lisin managed to take over most of revolutionary business (7)
20 Therefore, American boss fires one assistant cook (4-4)
21 Food sent back to the city (4)
22 Property of English government (6)
23 The French rave about butterflies, in the future (6)

DOWN
1   Soldier's tendency to surrender (4,2)
2   Timeless New Stone Ages (4)
3   Plant bed badly spoilt without oxygen (7)
4   Old kings were stars perhaps (5)
5   They get what's left? (8)
6   Harry, please spend some pounds and get square frames (6)
12 Rebellious hero immediately gets a way to control Resistance (8)
14 Animal enthusiast chased by a lion, oddly (7)
16 Sound of gushing water in rundown hotel? How so? (6)
18 Design Armani for a pilot (6)
19 One kidnapped by the female dacoit (5)
21 Gloomy, upset poet (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at THE ZODIAC 2

Enjoy.

Special, Sunday 03 Mar 2019, The Zodiac

Welcome to our new setter THE ZODIAC. Bouquets and brickbats welcome.

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
8   Timid one winces initially; letting out a cry (4)
9 & 10 Athlete from America in bit of legal trouble initially (5,4)
10 see 9A
11 Pure cash? (6)
12 Sister takes jewellery for brothers (8)
13 Very old, hence allowed to enter Order (8)
15 Flawless in judgement (6)
17 Mystery of brilliant animal following father (7)
19 Expression of anger about Indian mother's use of language (7)
22 Took a pistol to capture animals (6)
24 Demolishing remarkable houses around Gandhinagar to start with (8)
26 Island where art is regularly stolen by nearly insane gangster initially (8)
28 Sick Malaysian rejects any new dish (6)
30 They are dropped in shock? (4)
31 Ultimately, the sculptor in Paris lost to this painter (5)
32 Present condition of a relative (2,2)

DOWN
1   Half the limestone content retrieved (4)
2   Mashed guacamole almost causes loss of vision (8)
3   Throw some dynamite inside English bar (6)
4   Girl, trapped in curse, becomes a spirit (7)
5   Bribe son to become more elitist (8)
6   Musician is one wearing new boots (6)
7   Criticise small delay (4)
14 Vitamin deficiency can be awful (5)
16 & 29 Protective wear that is passed around (5,4)
18 Doctor presents honours (8)
20 Guy with a broken leg, left to be an explorer (8)
21 Mostly dry region - a US state (7)
23 Desperately aspire for applause (6)
25 Sees six models (6)
27 Glance at "Performing Flea" (4)
29 see 16D

Across Lite version can be accessed at ZODIAC 1

Enjoy.