Weekend Australian, Sunday Times 623
The Basic Cotton Scandal
Normally we're insulted by dodgy (non-)editing, obscurity and bad clue writing. This week we've only got the latter to let us know our IQs are expected to be somewhere around room temperature. In particular, there's an excess of "cryptic definitions" (aka, in this case as in many, bad puns). This happens to be a clue form I'd ban if I had my way. In the strict sense, there's nothing cryptic about them if we consider that a clue should have a direct part ("definition") and an indirect part ("wordplay"). Very hard to write cryptic defs well. These are bulked out with double definitions: a clue type that should be strictly limited. Still, these things considered, this is a very easy puzzle. Took me a cup of coffee and two bits of toast and Vegemite® to get it done -- about the time it took to write in the answers. So here goes.
Across
1. DAVY LAMP. Cryptic def.
6. HOTHAM. Hot + ham.
9. CORNEA. Anag of "one car".
10. SCRABBLE®. Double def.
11. APPLE TREE. Cryptic def.
13. CARD. Double def.
14. ROSS. Inclusive.
15. EARTHMOVER. Anag and attempted &lit (since the whole clue indicates the def/lit). If you want an example of a good &lit, look across the page to the Times (8329/24,142), 17 across.
17. CORPULENCE. C + o(R)pulence.
19. INCH. Double def.
21. BEAR. B(e)AR. Code for E in radio comms.
22. OLD MASTER. Cryptic def.
24. WATER RAT. Water + rat(e).
25. NITWIT. Tin (reversed) + wit.
27. LOFTUS. F for fine -- as in pencils; not cotton.
28. RATIONAL. Anag of "on trial a".
Down
2. AVOCADO. A+V+O+cad+O.
3. YEN. Cryptic def.
4. A FAREWELL TO ARMS. Cryptic def?
5. POSER. Double def.
6. HORSESHOE MAGNET. Cryptic def. Surely Dot had her atlas out and could have found Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island?
7. TOBACCONIST. Anag of "basic cotton". Anyone seen one of these lately?
8. AT LARGE. Buggered if I know. Makes sense after two Campari and sodas.
12. PAST PERFECT. Straight charade.
16. RAN. Double def.
18. OREGANO. Anag of O + orange.
20. CORSICA. Anag of C + I across (minus final S).
23. DETER. Determine minus "mine".
26. TOO. Tool minus L.
