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Sunday, November 6, 2011
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Edited by Will Shortz
This Sunday’s sensational acrostic draws a quotation from The Time Machine by H. G. Wells — a science fiction novella published in 1895 for the first time and later adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It indirectly inspired many more works of fiction in many media. This 32,000 word story is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term "time machine", coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to such a vehicle. ~ Wikipedia
The quotation: THE PECULIAR SENSATIONS OF TIME TRAVELLING… ARE EXCESSIVELY UNPLEASANT. THERE IS A FEELING… OF A HELPLESS HEADLONG MOTION. I FELT THE… ANTICIPATION… OF AN IMMINENT SMASH. … NIGHT FOLLOWED DAY LIKE THE FLAPPING OF A BLACK WING
The author’s name and the title of the work: H G WELLS THE TIME MACHINE
The defined words:
A. Period of deterioration (hyph.), HALF-LIFE
B. Mononymic castaway of fiction, GILLIGAN
C. 1906 novel written mainly from the viewpoint of its canine character (2 wds.), WHITE FANG
D. Common sights in Memphis, EGYPTIANS
E. Sinister thing in an Ursula K. Le Guin title (2 wds.), LEFT HAND
F. Independent operator (2 wds.), LONE WOLF
G. Haven or hideaway (2 wds.), SAFE HOUSE
H. Showing a downside of popularity, TOURISTY
I. Storied roller in the animal kingdom (2 wds.), HOOP SNAKE
J. Harlan with multiple Hugos, ELLISON
K. Document on file with a preset format, TEMPLATE
L. Like the classic mad scientist Griffin, INVISIBLE
M. Sci-fi parody directed by Tim Burton (2 wds.), MARS ATTACKS
N. Remove a layer of skin from; peel, EXFOLIOATE
O. Having an awfully noxious smell, MEPHITIC
P. 1909 novel by the author of this puzzle’s quote (2 wds.), ANN VERONICA
Q. Place where you might do some pitching, CAMPSITE
R. Hailed; announced; presaged, HERALDED
S. Dissension that can undo a team or party, INFIGHTING
T. Reputed sayer of “An army marches on its stomach”, NAPOLEON
U. Forces that constitute the weather, ELEMENTS
The complete paragraph of the quotation: I am afraid I cannot convey the peculiar sensations of time travelling. They are excessively unpleasant. There is a feeling exactly like that one has upon a switchback - of a helpless headlong motion! I felt the same horrible anticipation, too, of an imminent smash. As I put on pace, night followed day like the flapping of a black wing. The dim suggestion of the laboratory seemed presently to fall away from me, and I saw the sun hopping swiftly across the sky, leaping it every minute, and every minute marking a day. I supposed the laboratory had been destroyed and I had come into the open air. I had a dim impression of scaffolding, but I was already going too fast to be conscious of any moving things. The slowest snail that ever crawled dashed by too fast for me. The twinkling succession of darkness and light was excessively painful to the eye. Then, in the intermittent darknesses, I saw the moon spinning swiftly through her quarters from new to full, and had a faint glimpse of the circling stars. Presently, as I went on, still gaining velocity, the palpitation of night and day merged into one continuous greyness; the sky took on a wonderful deepness of blue, a splendid luminous color like that of early twilight; the jerking sun became a streak of fire, a brilliant arch, in space; the moon a fainter fluctuating band; and I could see nothing of the stars, save now and then a brighter circle flickering in the blue. ~ The Time Machine, H. G. Wells
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Puzzle available on the internet at
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