"What Lies Beneath" by ajk

Formerly known as the “Sunday Summer Substitute”, editor Cap'n Rick now takes the helm for 'Smooth Sailing Sundays'. As The Commodores sang about Sunday morning, the SSS will focus on easier metas. SSS will also support smaller grids and will mentor new constructors on request. Puzzles released each Sunday around 8am Eastern. Nudges released same day at Noon Eastern. New constructors are welcome.
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ajk
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"What Lies Beneath" by ajk

#1

Post by ajk »

Happy Sunday.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last days of summer as we prepare to cross over to fall. Quite literally the last day for me, as the semester spans mid-August to mid-December, and I start teaching tomorrow. :x Anyway, I hope you manage to connect with the overarching concept of this one.

This puzzle started as something rather different, which didn't really quite work. Fortunately, @Abide came to the rescue and suggested a significant re-work which produced the version you see here. Many thanks to him for the idea, and to both him and @Wendy Walker for test solving the original version. And as usual thanks to @Joe Ross for tech support.

NOTE: as per the next post, 5 across clues are missing their asterisks: 17A, 19A, 27A, 41A, and 43A. Sorry about that! :oops:


The meta answer is a mythical or modern creature.

What Lies Beneath crosshare

What Lies Beneath PUZ

What Lies Beneath PDF

What Lies Beneath spreadsheet


Image

This one might play a little harder than the last, but fear not, nudges later today. And I am of course always available via PM for additional help. Reveal on Saturday.

Hope you enjoy!
cheers,
Alan
Last edited by ajk on Sun Aug 20, 2023 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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ajk
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#2

Post by ajk »

OK folks, mea culpa time. Due to some crossed signals that are entirely my fault, there are some asterisks missing from the clues. The Crosshare puzzle has been updated accordingly, but those solving in other formats should mentally or physically add an asterisk to the following across clues: 17A, 19A, 27A, 41A, and 43A.

I'm guessing that will be pretty useful info :oops:

In addition, here are your nudges:

That intro seems a little rambling, no? Do you see any links between some of the words in the first paragraph?

The grid contains five symmetric entries (now with asterisks!) that might be clued using the same word.

What overarching concept connects two places by spanning the gap between them, allowing you to cross over from one to the other?

OK, we found the bridges, now look at the title again.

If you were hiding under a bridge, the safest place is probably right in the middle.

Hopefully this oversight has not been too disruptive to your Sunday routine. :)

Also, bonus props to Hector, who solved the hard version. :o
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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boharr
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#3

Post by boharr »

SSSolved. Asterisks helped a lot. Didn’t need nudges. Thanks, Alan.
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Cap'n Rick
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#4

Post by Cap'n Rick »

SSSolved (with asterisks and nudges). Nice job, Alan!
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles here! Check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays" here!
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HeadinHome
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#5

Post by HeadinHome »

Got that almost immediately, no nudges needed! Was prepared for a method I had imagined in my head (maybe the one you first intended?) but it was not as complicated as that. Fun cluing, and cute puzzle!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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Meg
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#6

Post by Meg »

Sssolved. The asterisks really helped!
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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MatthewL
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#7

Post by MatthewL »

Sssolved. The asterisks were definitely needed (at least for me). Knew the answer right away, and then backsolved for the final step. Thanks for the puzzle!
Matthew
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ky-mike
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Location: Near Louisville Ky

#8

Post by ky-mike »

SSSolved with asterisks and nudges. Thanks for the Sunday diversion.
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ReB
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#9

Post by ReB »

Sssolved with help of asterisks and nudging
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MarkWoychick
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#10

Post by MarkWoychick »

SSSolved! Thanks, @ajk
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 contest-style (meta) crosswords that we've created to help raise money for cancer-related organizations - get the bundle at http://crosswordsforcancer.com
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whimsy
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#11

Post by whimsy »

SSSolved.
Untitledzzsnzke.png
Arrived late and missed the whole asterisk issue.
The answer was the kind I was hoping for!
Thanks, Alan!
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BarbaraK
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#12

Post by BarbaraK »

Sssolved. Needed the asterisks but not the nudges. Cute one!
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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Schmeel
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#13

Post by Schmeel »

Sssolved. Thanks for the puzzle!
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Darth
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#14

Post by Darth »

SSSolved. Thanksss.
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Bob cruise director
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#15

Post by Bob cruise director »

SSSSolved but needed the nudges. Thanks @ajk
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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Cinny
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#16

Post by Cinny »

Sssolved - asterisks were very helpful. Didn't use nudges, though. Thanks!
Cindy Heisler
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KayW
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#17

Post by KayW »

:crossed_swords: :rabbit: :snake: SSSolved - an advantage to a late start is the asterisks were already added. Fun one - thanks!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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hcbirker
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#18

Post by hcbirker »

Needed the asterisks but got there without nudges. Nice one Alan!
Heidi
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Bird Lives
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#19

Post by Bird Lives »

Sssolved. After I saw the first nudge, I realized that I wouldnt have needed it if I'd remembered a certain strategy for solving metas like this.
Jay
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benchen71
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#20

Post by benchen71 »

SSSolved, I think. Now to find the mechanism! :D
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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