The Puzzler

OFFERINGS

Answers to the six italicized clues are offered to solvers as gifts, along with an unclued, explanatory two-word salutation at 40 Across. All else is normal. Answers include five proper nouns.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 96.

ACROSS

1. Cases of strikebreaking poets? (9)

9. Marginal quiet spells for pens (6)

10. South African fighter losing heart (4)

12. Steal the show from a guest, rudely grabbing piano (7)

14. Desires object belonging to Fidel’s comrade (6)

15.Stogie upset Craig (5)

16. For the most part, tolerate Ollie’s partner (4)

19. Nobody’s spoken for sisters (4)

20. Farm, before (4)

21. Bill’s taking in island sounds (6)

23.Company C varied milk at nine withan assortment of nuts (8,3)

26. Wagon’s loaded with a jeweler’s weights (6)

28.Buddy married date, perhaps (4)

30.Handshake of silly prig (4)

31.One riding in cool old jalopy (4)

33.Musketeer’s feeling of pity after beheadment (5)

36. Guard ready to eat small crabs (6)

37.Copper tossed on his pillow (7)

38. Rowboat out of water carries nothing (4)

39. Part of Arabia fragmented part of Nigeria (6)

DOWN

1.Blossom failing farther down (6)

2.Time article held by villain in playending event (7)

3. Oddly, ballad has feeling of ennui (5)

4.Bum leg Bub reset is something to chew on (6,3)

5. Check for weapons, eliminating foremost danger (4)

6. Quite a past in melodrama (4)

7. Ask individual to go fly a kite (6)

8. Groups of sailors sail in the sound (5)

11. By looking funny, Jack lost (6)

13. Mauritanians holding Patty Hearst (5)

17. Flavoring in sea crackers (5)

18. Candy on peel eaten by none (9)

22.Seafood swindle by Greek character (6)

24. Wizard’s home in tree, up with musical toy (5)

25. Quickly crams minimal legroom (7) 27. Maker of gold god among the Norse (6)

29. Camels chewed cactus (6)

30. Indecent word in Howl (5)

32.Go head over heels, topsy-turvy, about a Middle Eastern dish (5)

34. Dance music for a choir, within limits (4)

35. Boom box (4)

Answers to the March Puzzler

“COMPACT DISC”

The packed letters spell JAM SESSION. Radial. 1. C-RUSH 2.T(H)IN-E 3. HARPO (rev.) 4. B(L)ARE 5. VODKA (anag. - r) 6. ER(N)IE 7. L-ENDS 8. JIG-SAW 9. (g)ROUND 10. ORGAN (anag.) 11. KI(L)TS 12. INSID-E (anag. + E) 13. D-RONE (D + anag.) 14. GOURD (hidden) 15. SI-M(PL)-E (rev.) 16. STALE (anag.) 17. LARGE (anag.) 18. STA(R)VE 19. POTENT (anag.) 20. NO(i)SES Concentric. A.l. C(HORDE)D 2. JA(UNTIE)R 3. EL-EVEN B.l. S(TALK)ING 2. D(OLD)RUMS 3. TAR-P-S C. 1. R(EH-EARS)ING 2. SNOOPS (rev.) 3. RESTS (homophone) D.l. HI(PBO)NES (bop anag.) 2. RAISING (homophone) 3. LEGATO (anag.) E.l. UN-RAVEL 2. WOR(KE)D 3. DI(ALTO)NE