09.20.12 — FIRE

 

 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

 

Puzzle by John R. Conrad / Edited by Will Shortz

FIRE contained in six squares is the main feature of this Thursday crossword:

• [FIRE] AT WILL (1A. “Whenever you’re ready!”) with [FIRE] ALARM (1D. A prankster may pull one)
• LINE OF [FIRE] (8A. Dangerous locale) with [FIRE]WORKS (14D. Spectacular display)
• [FIRE] BOMB (29A. Molotov cocktail, e.g.) with [FIRE]ARMS (29D. Second Amendment subject)
• SPIT[FIRE] (45A. Battle of Britain fighter) with BACK[FIRE] (30D. Produce an undesired effect)
• [FIRE]STONES (64A. Radial choices) with RAPID [FIRE] (44D. Rat-a-tat)
• RING OF [FIRE] (65A. 1963 Johnny Cash hit) with CEASE [FIRE] (48D. Time-out, of sorts)

Other — ALAMEDA, ALIENEE, AM RADIO, AMUSERS, AVERAGE, BAY LEAF, DUE DATE, ET ALIAE, FOMENTS, IMPETUS, I SEE NOW, LANDSAT (17A. Remote-sensing orbiter), LET IT BE, LISSOM, ONE PAIR, PARAMUS, POMADES, SAN REMO, SNIPPET, SPOUSES, TINY TIM, TRIESTE, WHEEL IN.

 

Gustave Doré, Depiction of Satan, the antagonist of John Milton's Paradise Lost c. 1866

 

Mid-size — AMEBAE, ARIES, Lotus EATERS, INSTR, NENES, ON RYE, OSMAN, PSALMS, RETAR, SATAN (50D. “Paradise Lost“ figure), SKYLAB, SWANK.

 

Short stuff — ALA, ALG, AMY, BUL, CHE, EDO, EER, HITS, IMAC, IRS, “The wolf IS AT the door”, LEAR, MDIV, MUTE, ORE, PAP, PER, “You RANG?”, ROTH, RUR, THY, TSO, WED.

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Click on image to enlarge.

 

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 15. Property recipient, at law; 16. “Aha!”; 18. Riviera resort; 19. “Once in Love With ___”; 20. Adriatic port; 22. The “p” in the middle of certain abbreviations; 23. Smooth over, as a drive; 25. General on a Chinese menu; 26. Ritzy; 28. Year Michelangelo’s David” was completed; 31. Google stat; 32. Pond creatures; 34. Lotus ___ (listless race in Greek myth); 36. Play that introduced the word “robot”; 37. What’s that in Italy?; 38. Whence the phrase “Put not your trust in prices”; 41. Crasher of 1979; 47. Jobs creation?; 49. Friendly if a bit careless sort, supposedly; 51. Bonanza first; 52. One way to have ham; 53. Drivel; 54. Comedians, e.g.; 57. ___ broche (on a skewer); 58. Driving force; 60. Beauty shop stock; 62. Library receipt info; 63. And other women: Lat. — DOWN: 2. City on San Francisco Bay; 3. Dickens boy; 4. Lent’s start, e.g.: Abbr.; 5. Orch. Member; 6. “Laughable Lyrics” writer; 7. #1 album, for four weeks, before “Woodstock”; 8. Willowy; 10. Yucatán youth; 11. Poetic contraction; 12. Not-so-great poker holding; 13. Provokes; 21. “___ Beso” (1982 hit); 24. Garden-variety; 27. Bring by cart, say; 30. Produce an undesired effect; 33. Neighbor of Rom.; 35. Biblical possessive; 38. New Jersey setting for “Coneheads”; 39. Scrap; 40. Union members; 41. More dear; 42. Medium for lots of talk; 43. Seasoning from the laurel tree; 46. Apr. addressee; 52. Ottoman Empire founder; 55. Quiet; 56. French roast; 59. Japan’s ___ Period (1603-1867); 61. N. Afr. land.