POWER GRID
Yowza! Quite a grid today. A super-chunky, open affair that sets a new low for black squares in a Sunday grid. And as far as I can see, the only theme is Mr. Quigley's mastery of open space. Power Grid indeed.
B.E.Q. always challenges this solver, and it started right away in the top left, where I could find entry only with the gimme "Fictional character who says 'Here's to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick'" (ROMEO). The next Down clue "Mechanism that controls a camera's aperture" seems a little off to this photographer, whose answer would be either "f-stop" or "shutter." IRIS isn't a word that I have heard used when referring to a camera. Of course, maybe videographers use it...
Moving on, I liked PROMISEME ("Pinky-swear?"), and on the other side of the top I liked both MOTHEREARTH (Nature personified) and MUSICALNOTE (Step on a scale?).
And I appreciate the disturbing clue "Fish that passes the 'mirror test' of self-recognition" (MANTARAY). Ugh. Sometimes it seems like humans are the only creatures on this planet without a consciousness...
This puzzle was also notable in that it contained two of the most obscure entries I have ever seen - IMMIX (Amalgamate) and MIDINETTE (Shopgirl in a Paris boutique). Never heard of either. The crosses were ok for those, but I had to guess both As in TARAROAD (1999 Maeve Binchy novel) which crossed ARIE (____ Crown Theater (downtown Chicago landmark)) and YOLANDA (Reality TV star Hadid). Luckily, it all worked out.
- Horace
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