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Puzzles for November, 2018
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (25)Jeff Chen (30)Jim Horne (6)Hide comments
Thu 11/1/2018
ESTATEADSURAL
SLAPONBOAPEPE
PITTEREGGPLANT
TAILORGALILEO
TENACEUNMAN
BPLUSNORISK
LOADSLECHFAT
OLDEJELLYPLOW
BOYNEVEPIANO
RETAGSELWES
SAMOAGEISEL
CHITTERSPRANG
HECTOREDASGOOD
MARETEATIEROD
ODORENDENRAPT

Mr. Ginsberg loves to play with convention. Check out this mind-bender from 2010.

Fri 11/2/2018
MSGGASCAPHBO
OLIVEGARDENERR
COMEATMEBROAAS
HOMERBELMATZO
APEDCAPOELHI
USOSCRABBLE
LOWBLOWKANSANS
IREELIETSRUT
LETMEINRENTSTO
TONEPOETDOI
TOLDSHIMSASS
CHOSETEDASKUP
AIDBOOZECRUISE
SNLTHRASHMETAL
ESESEXTOYANT
Sat 11/3/2018
MALALAPACTS
CAPEMANEMCEE
CARPAINTCORER
WANTADDIGRITE
IMTIREDVICODIN
NEONATEAMUSEME
DORATHEEXPLORER
DMX
SAINTPETERSBURG
IGNOBLERAPINOE
TRANSAMSTYGIAN
SETHNYCTWOPLY
PERESEMULATED
ATARIROSERED
TOPOLSNORED
Sun 11/4/2018 UNTHEMED
BOBSFORAPPLESMIDRIFF
AREWEDONEHEREOCEANIA
WIRERECORDERSTOETAGS
LORENKISSOSMONDSET
SNAPBONEBRIARSHEAD
POUTBEFOGSFANTA
DESCENTLEARNSDORSEY
INTOTOHALVESPORTERS
TRAPSBOWTIEMEME
KATIEHOLMESPARASAIL
OPENMINDEDBARMITZVAH
TDGARDENMASKINGTAPE
TEEMCORSETRENTS
RICHARDSORBETGECKOS
AMOURSFOULEDGOESAPE
DIRTYALFREDBRAN
INNSPRETTYMOOTSCAB
OLESENATEVATSCLOSE
COLGATEASBIGASAHOUSE
AVIATESCAYENNEPEPPER
REAPERSONEWAYSTREETS

What's this? A Sunday puzzle with the clearly deceptive title, "Unthemed"? You're not going to fool me!

And yet, that grid looks unusual for a Sunday. It has fewer blocks and more open squares by far than any NYT Sunday crossword ever. Could it actually be unthemed?

Why yes it is, and that makes it a rare treat. Themes are fun — they let you uncover hidden connections between answers, and they often help you solve the puzzle — but they have a downside. All that thematic material constrains the grid, forcing the rest of the answers to work around inconvenient letters in awkward locations. Then people like Jeff complain that "the fill" is suboptimal.

Themeless puzzles don't have that excuse, but then they have to deliver with great answers and clever clues. It takes a constructor with special skills to pull that off in a big Sunday grid. Patrick Berry has special skills.

I love this puzzle, and I hope it starts a trend. I wouldn't want this every Sunday, but now and then would be appreciated.

Today, we get great clues right from 1-Across. ARE WE DONE HERE is an evocative phrase. "Shade in the woods" is a terrific clue for FOREST GREEN. It goes on and on. Even the odd ars MAGNA, Latin for "great art," gets a fair clue with the anagram hint.

Jeff and I have decided to do "Jeff and Jim Cross Words" only on puzzles where we disagree, and he doesn't share my enthusiasm today. Let's see what he has to say.

Mon 11/5/2018
THROBSTOPBOWL
AMINOHAHAUVEA
TOOTSIEPOPREAM
HOMESETERNE
GATEMANAREA
ARIDCAPNCRUNCH
SMELTROUEALI
BASACCENTSPAP
ANOKAYEABASH
GINGERSNAPALSO
RIOTROADMAP
INSITURENTS
CONNSOUNDBITES
EPICEDNAADORE
SETHLEGSTENET
Tue 11/6/2018
UNPAIDSPAUGLIS
POORMECALPOINT
DUKEOFKENTEENSY
AGESYINEONS
TAROTSTARKNAKED
ETSAHSVEEHALO
ICESAGEETAL
FOUNTAINSOFWAYNE
ATTATNUTFED
WRENMACBEEPAS
NOSYPARKERPSALM
COPARATASEA
BREADBANNERYEAR
LASSIIDSCOHOST
TYPEACOTHOISTS
Wed 11/7/2018
BUSTEDSNOWBALL
EMPIRECAMELLIA
GALPALANGLEFOR
AMISILLDEANS
TITHEEDITED
EDNAMODHOT
SPEEDONILPOGO
TILTATWINDMILLS
ALASBINYESYES
YENWANGALA
MIDGUTDITSY
SWEATPOETATA
PITCHOUTWHALER
AFRAIDSOEOLIAN
TIEONEONROYALS
Thu 11/8/2018
ADDLEANDSOHAD
LEVINCOATIRIME
LADPOWERBALOPEC
VIKESBIBOHNO
LAIDINLADARMORC
ODDTMISITPAT
PIETYEBBTIDE
GOWESTYOUNGMAN
INPHASEEPCOT
FIESTASSSTOO
LADTACOSALIVEBY
IMITENEJADED
NATOLADSUPERBOW
GLOPAIGHTANIMA
SIRBREESLEGGY
POW Fri 11/9/2018
CLOWNCARSTIAS
TREEHOUSESONME
RETROGRADEUDON
YDSGOAPEGRINS
FOODFOLIAGE
ARGUEDMIDAS
SEANSCONESTOGA
TAUNTALESTRAW
IDLEHANDSCREPE
LENDSTEASES
AMSCRAYSHIP
PUPAECREELSPA
PREKWAITLISTED
LACEINSOMNIACS
ELKSTEENAGERS

If, like Jeff, you like to track down puzzles by a constructor you love, this page is full of solving links organized by the people who made them. Print out your own book of great crosswords for on your next trip. An NYT Crossword subscription is required.

Sat 11/10/2018
STRIPPERSWARES
THEMOLDAUABOVE
YOGAPANTSTIMID
LUNAHOTDATE
OCTILEAIRLINER
FLUVIRUSNENE
FIRESRICOGMCS
ANNMAGNETOPIP
LEESREIDBSIDE
RIDENEWSCREW
AGERANGEWOOERS
COSPLAYWELT
TOQUEOPERETTAS
USURYZAPATISTA
PEERSALTWEEKLY
Sun 11/11/2018 ESCAPE ROOM
LEARAMENBASKSCHINO
ORSOLACKOCHREOATER
URSAGIGSRURALSWEDE
EDSELTASIMAREK
STRAUBPINCHEDICEPOP
LETTERSONTHEKEYSRYE
ORELATTESTSNEKOCASE
BADATEASYIPSONAT
SAINTSMTAWASNTME
SPHPOCOMEATSECOLES
PLACETHEMINTHECORNERS
AURORASEGUEDANEDEE
TSARISTMRSGASSES
SONASEAHATHNICAD
LASTGASPIVORIESMEDI
IVEREADNEWDOWNWORDS
LESSSONIELSENOILERS
OKDOKEVONDWEEB
OUTREJESSEIKIDORAN
UNITEARESTAIDANATO
ROASTISLEYSMOKSLED

Now that the contest is over, we can reveal the answer. The rebus squares have KEY in one direction, and a single letter in the other. Collecting those four single letters, we get A, T, W and Y. Placing them in the correct corners and reading the updated Down words gives us YOU ARE OUT NOW.

Mon 11/12/2018
WADEWNBASCRAP
OPELHOERUHURA
KEELSOVERCANTS
STICKAFORKINIT
SONWEEYES
ALIPELEBRO
GAGMEWITHASPOON
OGLEAAAEBAY
GOUNDERTHEKNIFE
SOUSADESST
ATENRAINT
COMETOTHETABLE
ENOLAPUTONAIRS
RAJASALOULEGO
BLINKRUNTLUST
Tue 11/13/2018
ASTROSEXYAWAY
STRAWWAKETOLD
HOUSEPETESAMOS
EACHHAIYAREN
STEFORTHEWINES
TABASLSTA
BABYSITESSELIG
ONEKAORTAAIME
OGRESBEARCUBES
TINUTENIX
HOOVERDAMESMGM
GUIDOHISJURE
ARLOGUESSNOTES
BALLGNATSHEBA
AMISSODSANDES
Wed 11/14/2018
JAMASOPSPJS
OFAGEPHATALAN
BFLATMAJORLANA
FALSEIDOLFINER
AIMSBEYOURSELF
IRAILBOTTLE
REPYOYOMAEXED
BEAARTHUR
RITETYRANTMAB
IMHEREERATO
BEARTRACKSELLA
BATHETHISISWAR
INGAGROWABEARD
TNUTWIKIMARGE
SOYBAESTEED
Thu 11/15/2018
HEROIBMPCNOSE
ALOUTIARAODIS
DUBISHONORTOAT
STEINEMMADONNA
TEDELEACOR
PEPGRACISME
STARRFEESSTAY
LANESENDABUSE
ACDCCADSTINTS
WHYIGHTAPOG
SEASVENIMO
ZINGERSALADDIN
OBOEMICROLOANS
REAMENVISTHEE
ATMSROSSISORT
Fri 11/16/2018
SHOUTINGMAIDS
NEWMEDIAEXTOLS
OILPAINTREININ
ODEGEORGSUMO
PITASBRIEFTEC
BETADRACHMA
TRALALATROOP
WHITEBLOODCELLS
ARDENKNEADED
SEEDIERTATI
SESCOUCHSTART
ASHECELEBLAW
ITALIEADELAIDE
LARSONNOBIGGIE
REESESTEPONIT
Sat 11/17/2018
ATFIRSTCHEAPIE
TRACEEELLISROSS
TELEVISIONPILOT
AXLESTASTYALA
CEOSERIESERAT
HSNCRUSTWROTE
KAINEDORIES
CRANKSHOWODD
BAABAAMOVER
ABDULWINEDLAT
SOILLEADSTECH
ECOLLAMAPESTO
THEBOOKOFMORMON
WORLDSERIESRING
ONATEARTWEEZES
POW Sun 11/18/2018 PORTMANFAUX
DARKAGESHEELSSTROS
AQUILINEMUDCATIWISH
MURDERCASEMURSEPESCI
PAIDADMADEUSESREAR
TESSSKIRESORTSKORT
CHARTEAUXSHIVA
LENSRBISSPASMINERT
URIHILOACAIAGRIP
BRADYBUNCHBRUNCHRAS
EPEEHALTERASMUS
GREYPOUPONGROUPON
NONREALPOEMGLUE
HAJSPACEPROGRAMSPAM
UTICAEVANEASEELI
HOBOSRIPITGEMSSETS
SERTANACLTYROS
BURNINGLOGBLOGRING
IMREDELLLOONINAREA
OMITSSALTEDPORKSPORK
TIETOSMARTSMAKESURE
ATSIXOASISEPILEPSY
Mon 11/19/2018
WEBBGONGABETS
HARIRHEANOVAK
ECIGIBETITALY
THECOLOROFMONEY
HOLYLAX
MAKEMEPAULSPA
ADREPSELFBARR
THESHAPEOFWATER
ROMEDIVEHBOGO
ICEFINEHEYNOW
ALEBULB
THESOUNDOFMUSIC
WIDOWORFFGYRO
OVINERIFEGNAW
DETERIPODYENS

It's interesting to see the evolution of clues. THE SOUND OF MUSIC has appeared many times. In 1959, it was a "Coming production about the Trapp Family." By 1962 it was a "Broadway hit." By 1978, it was the "Most popular film ever produced." Today's "noted" clue is the first time wordplay has been used for this answer.

POW Tue 11/20/2018
ARCSSAGETCPA
POLOSAFLACLOU
POULTRYFARMEUR
MEARAARTNANA
RAZZIEAWARDS
LOLPOORGAGA
APEDROSSRASPS
VAMOOSEOPENMIC
SLOTHYMCAOUTA
NEHIEARPDAB
BOWLINGALLEY
ABELGUNONEAL
LEDWESTERNASIA
MSGMATTEESTER
SEEDROOLTONE
Wed 11/21/2018
RAHMESQSSHAKE
OGEEFEETYOUIN
TRADEFAIRDURST
EDENSIEGSOLI
LEBARONALTERER
OSUOVAMANCAVE
OTTNEKOSTA
MOTTREEFSTHAI
ASPDOESOPT
PACKRATRYEMPS
ONLEASHTERSELY
PTASSEENIATE
TIMORFLIPFLOPS
AFOULESTOSWAP
BARTSDEEDANYA
Thu 11/22/2018
EMERALDRAPPELS
LORELEIITSALIE
HEADLESSCHICKEN
ISTOOACHETOUT
UKRAINE
BOTTOMLESSPIT
ALARBEESUGAR
LAKEBEDPRORATA
ARENATAOIVAN
ENDLESSSUMMER
INHASTE
SMOGDARALENDS
TOPLESSSWIMSUIT
ONEUNITATATIME
PODESTAYACHTER
Fri 11/23/2018
BBCAMERICAUFOS
ABOMINATESHALT
SQUILLIONSALMA
ESPKITTABULAR
CBSTVSOLING
PTBOATITSYNRA
OILERAPBIOLIZ
CMONCSPANJOVE
KEWBRIARLAVER
ETSAAASSABERS
TRASHYSPURS
CAPITOLABCAWE
OVALLEADPENCIL
MERLANIMANIACS
BLTSSALARYHIKE
Sat 11/24/2018
SWIPERNOSWIPING
HIGHMAINTENANCE
IDLESPECULATION
MEOWSTENCHTSE
SROMHZSHOJI
TRESSSLEAZY
STATECARESTEE
BRATTHREESOSA
ATPAREATSDIRT
MADMENNICHE
AIDANCALCAT
KANBEEPERBOFA
ACCOUNTINGERROR
THECLAWSCOMEOUT
YERTLETHETURTLE
Sun 11/25/2018 SILENT FINALES
ARETHALAIRSNOTECARD
RAISESAGNEWAPOLOGIA
ASTARISBORNEMISSPELL
LAHRSURGEALAISSEI
ESCAPEPROTEGEE
EARBYEALLRIGHTSASHE
FLOSSAGONYNUANCED
TIRANEICBMMAINDRAG
STEVENNETNIATIRADE
EWOKSMODEMSOPER
BARDSSEMIPROSEUBERS
ATOBFURIESTHUMB
THAYERTADBRRSPECIE
TESTKITSBRIOSTRADA
LETHEANGMAILESSES
ELSERUNNINGLAPSETAT
BESTCASEDIANNE
ETHELITSSHELFALES
SHALLOWSUNCALLEDFORE
SEALEVELSHARISETTLE
ENSENADAALBEETEASER
Mon 11/26/2018
WOKEELBACHASM
OHNORAINLOCKE
WIENERDOGEATIT
SOWSOLSARI
SCREENERDVDS
HASHTOVSEEN
DINNERDATEPLO
ODDROWIRALAW
LEIBANNERDAYS
EMTSIDOGUYS
DESIGNERDRUG
GMOSEVEBAG
CROONINNERNERD
BOONEPAIRALIA
SEDERATMSSTAY
Tue 11/27/2018
VOWEDABCSTUB
CROCUSROLEERE
REMAKEFRIEDEGG
ARENTNOMINEE
CANDIDATESAINT
HEISTSHOELETS
IRSOATYRHO
COMPUTERPROGRAM
ETAOUSTERA
SWATDRIPHOTEL
UHURAEDITORIAL
NONAMESLATIN
GOTTARUNGHOULS
OPISILTSOLEIL
DIESETHTESTY
Wed 11/28/2018
RIBMIFFTAPPED
ONELINERORELSE
GATORADESTRATA
UPTONINESYEN
ETEHENCEAPSES
ROOHOWTO
BADACTORHAWKED
OLAFUSERIDIRE
AMYFLAVOROCTA
RASCALONLOOKER
AREELAPU
TEMPORUBIKPAD
OLEOATESIAGO
WIELDSINESCROW
ESTERSONRECORD
DESOTONYETWAY
POW Thu 11/29/2018
ATMOSTASTROS
REACTORSCHNOOK
MANDELAGRANOLA
ALLWELLNOWFIT
NAILSLEILATTE
IDEAIYAWTBOER
YRCGNUORPS
KEAORE
POWERBREAK
SIMIOUNDAZUNI
ANITATYEBEGIN
LETBRACEROUSC
ANTIFOGNATASHA
DUEDATEINCITES
STROBETHRASH

Clues and grid numbering here match how this crossword appears in print. Some electronic versions will differ.

Fri 11/30/2018
CROCEALTAANT
HOLDMYBEERSAWS
EPICPOETRYCNET
ZENTUTORCONEY
SYNSACOLYTE
DEFANGAPHIDS
ALIVEALIENATED
FIRESBONOSAGE
TESTTUBESPITON
THERESRECESS
ORDERLYTORE
HEADSRAISAGTO
MYNATONEITDOWN
SECTCANINEUNIT
SEEUDONDIEGO
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