The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

STARLIGHTS

Answers to all clues are seven letters long. They are to be entered with first letters in the appropriately numbered star nuclei, with the remaining letters orbiting sequentially, starting in any point and going in either direction. The 30 peripheral star points not shared by interlocking stars will contain an apt message beginning at the apex. Answers include one proper noun and two slightly uncommon words at 5 and 28. Punctuation in the clues may be used deceptively.

1. Doddering about, start to sing with feeling

2. Take a piece of pastry and straighten out errant mate

3. Constantine’s heart converted, like a flash of lightning

4. Container featured in baby kangaroo travel

5. Forming a ring, wipe out a king

6. Leader of underworld held in brutal thrashing involving a pipe

7. Run test, exploding charge

8. Feel sick, turning in money for housing dependent

9. Chief of staff—crooked and pompous

10. Shortstop breaking up run is Lucky

11. While eating, nitrogen enters upset stomachs

12. Official agreement about kid

13. Suspicious name on notes of debt

14. Collections of foreign-U.S. terms

15. Strain, swelter, struggle

16. Black places in crowds (two words)

17. Casters cast her!

18. 6,350—some gall!

19. Women can be seen in these conveyances—look inside

20. Several of Cousteau’s men at mid-ocean

21. Honors accorded to a patriot

22. For Callas, a fabulous place to sing (two words)

23. Lawsuit after loud party

24. Zero in—knife draws back!

25. Engines conk out less when tuned

26. Subjects to change, concerning Jaws?

27. “Sweetheart swapping” done in terse ad

Sea creature is stirring—warn King Henry

29. Compare quarter-back with a spearman

30. Butcher’s heart is in baked goods and candlesticks

31. The craziest, coolest cats!

32. Covers up to $1000 damages

33. Gives supreme cries of pain

34. Primarily screech owl’s weapon

35. Ten kids should be disciplined with greatest consideration

36. Splitting up is moist!

37. Small fry cuts the lawn around hotel

Note: The instructions above are the special instructions for this month’s puzzle. It is

assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, write to The

Atlantic Reprint Department, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 99.

Answers to the November Puzzler, “DECIPHERMENT”

Clue answers are “de-ciphered”— i.e., all O’s are removed. First letters of Across answers spell “'I am sick of love’—Bible" (from “The Song of Solomon”).

Across. 2. I’M-PORTS 6. ALL-OT (rev. of to) 10. MON-SOON 11. SOMNOLENT (anag.) 12. ISOTHERM (anag.) 14. C(L)0P 17. KETONE (hidden) 18. OVERBLOWN (pun) 19. FORMS (double def.) 22. LOCO-MOTIVES 24. O-ATMEAL (anag. + o) 25. VOL-ANT 31. EPI-TO-ME (pie anag.) 34. BOOTLESS (pun; double def.) 35. INMOST (anag.) 36. B-0ILER 37. LESSONS (homophone) 38. EN(V)OYS (anag. + v) Down. 1. COMIC (hidden) 2. INSOLENT (anag.) 3. MO(S)T 4. ROSE (double def.) 5. TOM-OR-ROW 6. A-LONE (anag. + a) 7. LECTOR (anag.) 8. LO(ND)ON 9. TOOTLES (anag.) 13. HO(BB)LE 15. PRIM-0 16. HOLOCAUST (anag. + us) 17. KNOT (hidden) 19. F(i)LIP-iN-0 20. OMEN (rev. of Nemo) 21. PARBOIL (anag.) 23. M-OLESTS (anag. + m) 26. A-TOLL 27. TENORS (homophone) 28. STONE (anag.) 29. B-LOOMS 30. PESOS (anag.) 32. P-ROBE 33. M(ONE)Y