Skip Ahead to the End - September 23, 2022

[ricky]

Just went out to list subscribers. Blog post later today.

[Meg]

Done and done. Thanks, Ricky.

[boharr]

Got it. Nice one, Ricky.

[lbray53]

Got it. Very clever.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Submitted. But I got a small nudge, which helped to keep me focused, so I’ve withdrawn from what is surely shaping up to be a titanic, no-holds-barred battle for the LD sticker. I hope the fray doesn’t leave our field of Muggles too bloodied.

Good one, Ricky! Very much worth the month’s wait!

[Cinny]

Solved and confirmed. Fun one. Thanks, Ricky

[ricky]

Finally got the dang blog post posted.

Deadline extended to compensate for my tardiness.

http://www.lexicondevil.live/2022/09/pu ... o-end.html

[benchen71]

Great puzzle! I really liked the way this one unfolded.

[LesY]

Just got to this one and I agree — it’s really good!

[ricky]

SOLUTION:

The title, "Skip Ahead to the End," is a hint that start and finish of each one of the long theme entries can be combined to make a shorter word:

R/OUSE
P/ASS
H/OG
SH/ARK

Each one of those shorter words can be found at the beginning of a clue for another word in the grid:

COMETO
NARC
LUAU
DIVE

"Skip ahead to the end" again with these entries by discarding all but their first and last letters:

CO
NC
LU
DE

And you get the meta answer: CONCLUDE.