05.17.07 -- SET

Above illustrations: Set represented in the tomb of Thutmose III (KV34); Set (serpent god), a character in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe and Conan the Barbarian stories. Maya Hieroglyphics Copan Museum, Copan, Honduras

Thursday, May 17, 2007

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Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld, edited by Will Shortz

The word SET set into a single square is the "theme" of this pleasant-enough crossword puzzle. If you want to call squeezing a single word into a space a "rebus puzzle", do so, (for further on "rebus puzzle" see 04.26.07 "Gouging, Glyphs, Graphs and Glitches), but in this case it seems there is no real set "rebus" or "glyph" image for SET, such as SET in mathematics, or elsewhere (well, actually, there is a SET in Egyptian hieroglyphics). So, SET will be written [SET] in the following paragraphs.

SIAME[SET]WINS (17A Ones with a family connection?) with [SET]OUT (18D Begin);

LO[SET]RACKOF (10D Fail to keep tabs on) with [SET]SIN (19A Takes root);

CUR[SET]HEDAY (36D Be very, very sorry) with FAL[SET]TO (46A Much higher than normal);

HOR[SET]RADERS (64A Shrewd bargainers) with [SET]TO (65D Scrap)...

and in the center of the grid...

BA[SET]EN (30D Decimal) which is (and here "SET" as a math term suits both entries) crossed with PE[SET]AS (41A Former European money)...

are "clued" by BOXEDSET (55A Special CD release...or a hint to this puzzle's theme).

Of course, when the “theme” words occupy as much a criss-cross area of the grid as do these, the remainder of the puzzle is a question of the constructor filling in the remaining space with the usual sustenance of words and abbreviations. Making their obligatory appearance in the line-up are (to be fair, in no particular order) LAPP, OSLO, DIVA, PITA, SOUP, STAB, SLAT, ECRU, PACE, TONED, PAW, ELLEN, DEICE, OREM, HARP, NERD, AVID and OVID (they work together), NINA, XING, OPAL, EDGY, BANE, ROAR, HARP, SYN, TRIP, REPS, ESTE, TASTE, ROAR, IBID, PAW, ASST, POND, ONIT, TASTE and TYPO (that’s the one!).

However, these regulars are all cloaked with fresh clues which make them no easier to crack than the less frequently seen HETERO (20A Straight), DEPORTED (21A Thrown out), AMERCE (59A Punish by fining), NIPAT (68A Lightly pinch), THEROSE (5D 1980 Bette Midler hit), AUSPICES (9D Patronage), CACKLE (31A Not just laugh), KEPIS (32D French military hats) and POORSHOT (41D Hardly a marksman) (remind you of anyone?).

Cool clues include 23A It’s not forked out; 46A Much higher than normal; 48A Studious sort, and proud of it (now that’s subjective!), 50A Single, for one: Abbr.;66A One of a noted nautical trio; 69A On tenterhooks; and 1A No-loss, no-gain situation.

All in all a this is a skillful, devious and witty crossword puzzle which should produce some seriously clenched pens!

That's all, folks!

For further commentary read Linda G at Madness, Crossword and Otherwise and guest blogger Evad at Diary of a Crossword Fiend. They will elaborate and fill you in on the fill!

Go here for The New York Sun Crossword Puzzle of May 17, 2007 and link to GREEN GENIUS commentary!

For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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