10.11.09 -- Author! Author!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

AUTHOR! AUTHOR!, Puzzle by Randolph Ross, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday crossword features 24 authors in twelve pairs with their last names doubling as a phrase of two words -- HARTE BURNS (22A. Bret and Robert’s treatise on acid reflux?); WEST LONDON (24A. Nathanael and Jack’s travel guide about Heathrow’s environs?); SWIFT WALKER (37A. Jonathan and Alice’s account of a pedestrian in a hurry?); SNOW WHITE (47A. C.P. and E.B.’s essay on purity?); CARR PARKER (59A. Caleb and Robert B.’s novel about valet service?); STEELE MANN (70A. Richard and Thomas’s book about a robot?); STOUT KING (83A. Rex and Stephen’s biography of Henry VIII?); WILDE SINGER (90A. Oscar and Isaac’s profile of Little Richard?); BROWN WOOLF (109A. Dan and Virginia’s story of a dark-colored predator?); POUND STONE (111A. Ezra and Irving’s memoir of a stand-up comic?); FOOTE BUNYAN (36D. Horton and John’s podiatry journal article?); WRIGHT PRICE (40D. Richard and Reynolds’s bargain hunting manual?).

Other -- The ARAPAHOE and the SIOUX are side-by-side in the crossword (85A. Ally of the Cheyenne, 86A. Another ally of the Cheyenne); 89A. With 100-Across, Naples opera house Teatro di SAN; CARLO (100A. See 89-Across). 69D. Stiller and MEARA and OMEARA (10D. Golf champ Mark) make a joint appearance.

Eight-letter entries include ASTAIRES (45A. Old dancing duo); IN NO TIME (7D. Very quickly); JUMPSUIT (19D. One-piece outfit); MOURNING (79D. Sad time); SIGNS OUT (83D. Leaves with notice).

Seven-letter -- BE A DEAR (55A. “Come on, help me out”); COERCED (59D. Browbeaten); IN A SPOT (105A. Stuck); LATER ON (39D. In the future); METE OUT (54A. Apportion); MOTORED (79A. Went by Saturn, say); NESCAFE (8D. Food brand with an accent); O CANADA (27A. It includes the line “The True North strong and free!”); OLD SOUL (86D. King Cole, e.g.); SCRIPPS (103A. Big newspaper company, informally); SNAPPLE (87D. Brand that has “Real Facts” on its products); THEOREM (26A. Prove it); UNTACKS (12D. Removes from a bulletin board); WIRED UP (78A. Very tense and excited).

Six -- BREEDS (55D. Holstein and Hereford); DAWSON (81D. Former capital of the Yukon); DIMPLE (73A. Golf ball feature); EAR LAP (91D. Bit of winter protection); 5D. Gertrude EDERLE, first woman to swim the English Channel); GRASPS (94D. Absorbs); HOW NOW (9D. Question to a brown cow); I STINK (53A. Admission of ineptitude); LET OFF (4D. Freed); LOST IT (96D. Stanford QB drafted #1 in 1983); OPERAS (25D. They’re on the Met schedule); 58A. OREGON Treaty, establishing the 49th parallel as a U.S. border; RETIRE (33D. Go to bed); SAY I DO (80A. Make a commitment); STIFLE (92D. Archie Bunker’s plea to Edith); TAP TAP (51D. Typist’s sound); TWO-HIT (71D. Like a really good game for a pitcher).

Five -- 52D. Give A DARN (care); AGNEW (14D. For whom Safire wrote the words “nattering nabobs of negativism); ALLEE (60D. Parisian walk); ANGLE (1A. Fish); ASKED (42D. Posed); ASNER (35D. “Fort Apache, The Bronx” actor); ATMAN (97A. Hindu soul); COOED (18A. Sounded soft and sweet); EDGES (75D. Noses out); ELWAY (96D. Stanford QB drafted #1 in 1983); 68D. “ELSA'S Dream” from “Lohengrin”; GAFFE (34A. Faux pas); GISMO (34D. Gadget); GLENS (94A. Dells); HENRI (41D. Artist Rousseau); 9A. HONUS Wagner, player on an ultra rare baseball card (in February 2007, the famous 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card sold for $2.35 million); LENIN (74D. Big Red); OMANI (20A. Gulf Stater); PEAKS (29A. Maxima) and PICKS (116A. Plays the banjo, e.g.); RAITT (61D. Grammy winner Bonnie); SLOPE (118A. Coordinate geometry calculation); STOPS (120A. Stations); SUE ME (44A. “Guys and Dolls” song); TABOR (321A. Diminutive drum); 114A. TUBAL litigation; WOODS (49D. Some drivers).

Short stuff -- ABT, ACHT, ADAM, AIT, AKU, AMOK and IMOK, ARLO, BOD, CBER, CESS, CIE, COBO, CREW, DADA, DIP, DOUX, EER, ELBA, EMU, END, ESTD, ETAT, ETC, FLAP, GAME, GORE and OGRE, HID, IMP, ISO and ITO, JANE, LEND, LUNG, MENS, MUS, NASD, NERO and NOAH, ONKP, PEI, POCO, POLE, ROBS, ROSY, SHUN, SIL, TESS, TOE, TROU, UNC, WAR, WEGO, WET, WHA, WIN, WTS.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. Walk away with; 14. Fictional Inspector Dalgliesh; 19. Name after “you”; 21. Willing; 30. To-do; 32. Team on the Thames; 40. “))) hoppen?”; 43. Prefix with metric; 50. South Dakota, to Pierre; 57. Nightmare figure; 62. Went undercover; 63. Hunk’s pride; 64. Flag holder; 65. Drop ___ (start to strip); 66. Small island; 68. Six-footer from Australia; 76. Advance; 82. British tax; 88. Ltd., in Paris; 96. Abbr. before a date; 98. He was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 113. Italian isle; 115. Breather; 117. Looking good; 119. Sentence shortened, for short. Down: 1. Berlin octet; 2. Preparer for a flood; 3. Colosseum spectacle; 6. Declaration of 1941; 11. Former stock regulating org.; 13. Part of R.S.V.P.; 15. Early vocabulary word; 15. Madly; 17. Department store department; 23. Emmy-winning Arthur; 28. Co. that dances at the Met; 38. Sweaty; 44. Keep away; 46. Judge who presided over 1995’s most celebrated trial; 48. “And away ___!”; 50. Sonnet ending; 58. When repeated, a Thor Heyerdahl title; 64. Javits Center architect; 67. Response to “How are you?”; 72. R&B and C&W: Abbr.; 73. Very sweet, as Champagne; 77. Temporary falloff; 84. ___ loop (skating move); 93. Baby-sitter’s headache; 99. Boundary; 100. Semi conductor?; 101. Janis’s comics partner; 102. Fleeces, perhaps; 104. Detroit’s ___ Center; 106. Little, in La Scala; 107. Cleaning up a mess, maybe; 108. Mrs. Dick Tracy; 110. Pkg. stats; 112. A.C.C. school.