Harper’s September ‘23 “Hex Signs”

[CromsFury]

The September Maltby is now online!
(Not a bad way to start the week.)


Good Luck!

[oldjudge]

This bad boy kicked my butt for a while but finally I finished it. I’ll never love Maltby’s clues but I do like his puzzle construction. Overall, I enjoyed this one more than most, maybe because it was a challenge.

[Nino]

This one has been brutal for me. In 4 decades, including The Atlantic, Harper’s, NYT, and WSJ, no cryptic has ever stumped me, but this may turn out to be the first. Has the upper left corner, with 7 and 13 been tough for others?

[oldjudge]

The top portions, both left and right, were my last fills. If you want any help with any clues please message me. Good luck!

[Nino]

WHEW! Finally got it, I THINK...

7 was the last to fall. While it completes the 36-letter border, satisfies the definition for 7, and is checked by 8 and 13, I'm not sure about the wordplay. I'll be interested in seeing the solution|explanation for it, next month.

[Tom Wilson]

That was the last one for me, as well, and I'm similarly iffy on the wordplay. I'm claiming completion, though, after three days (and nights) of head-scratching and back-solving. My finished grid also contains an F-bomb and the name of a large Asian country two rows down. I'm hoping that's not an intentionally subliminal message!

[ChrisKochmanski]

Very tough for me, but very fun too. Many clues provided delightful ahas. My favorite Maltby in some time.

[Tom Wilson]

So true, Chris. I labored over some of those clues until the richly satisfying "aha's" arose. Too many favorites to single any out, but there were many!

[Eckless]

Agree this one was tough...but fair! (Agree on #7 being a bit iffy.)

[Nino]

Yes, I saw the F-bomb, also, and thought that I had made a mistake, because I didn’t think that Maltby would intentionally put it there, or allow it to stand, if it randomly was created.

[CromsFury]

I filled the whole grid except 5, 6, and 13.

Even using the K-POP . . . I am at a loss.

From the clue I thought I knew 5, however given 2 and 10, it will not work.

[Naptown Kid]

This one took me 3 days. I agree with all posters that this was Maltby’s toughest offering in a while. I also could’ve totally figure out the wordplay in number7, but had the entry early based on the definition. My last solve was Number 18, and I needed the last letters standing in the K-Pop formulation to get it. In fact, I used K-Pop for my last 3 solves. A rewarding solve, I thought.

[CromsFury]

This one REALLY fought back.

We certainly got our money's worth this month.