Another week begins. Today's themed puzzle features the last names of four "Jacks," both fictional and real, "hidden" in names of other things.
I like the theme. All of the entries: SPARROWHAWK, LONDONBRIDGE, RUBYSLIPPERS, and BLACKFRIDAY are well-known and straightforward, and the revealer, HIJACKS, is simple and appropriate.
The long "bonus" fill, as it is sometimes called, was entertaining. LATINLOVER (3D: Don Juan sort) and EXTRAEXTRA (30D: Start of a newsboy's cry) are evocative and not frequently seen in puzzles. The puzzle also feels somewhat "Scrabble-y" with all the Js, Vs, Xs, and other high-value letters. Definitely more than usual for a Monday.
I thought the whole thing played slightly harder than a Monday usually does, too, perhaps because of uncommon answers like CABAL (1D: Group of schemers), SCOTCH (33A: Put the kibosh on), HIJAB (35D: Muslim woman's head cover), and SURREY (46A: Carriage named for an English county). And PERUSAL and MUSTERS could probably also be added to that list.
There's ABIT of EER, RARER, FRO, and EKES, but overall, the interesting entries and the solid theme are big SCORES that put this in the "yes" column.
- Horace
3:32
ReplyDeleteFun puzzle today. I like SURREY - reminds me of Oklahoma!