“Need a Lift” - new WSJ variety puzzle

[DavyGravy]

Paul Hunsberger gets the first post HEX WSJ variety cryptic. Congratulations Paul! Big shoes to fill. I can’t wait to tackle it!

[oldjudge]

What a great puzzle! Challenging and fun!

[Meg]

I just kept plugging away and everything became clear…….eventually. Some delayed gratification here.

[Jace54]

Excellent puzzle!

[Homer Buckle]

I was worried when I saw the puzzle was not a Cox - Rathvon puzzle. I should not have been. This was a great cryptic crossword that took me a long time to finish. I am in awe of the creators of puzzles like these

[Jeanrosz]

Stuck on 6d and 32a.. eventually I’ll get it. Different creator makes it more difficult. But a good puzzle for the dreary night…. Never mind. Got it all. Great puzzle!

[ChrisKochmanski]

Paul H. produces a variety cryptic masterpiece in his first WSJ outing! I’ll bet Cox and Rathvon are pleased to see it.

[Richard B.]

It would be great to see these every 4 weeks in rotation like before. Welcome Paul H!

[Nino]

I agree with all the previous comments, particularly Jeanrosz’, regarding 6D and 32D taking the longest to solve (and 6D being the last.)

While I prefer puzzles in which confirming that you’ve understood the instructions, is not the biggest challenge, I, too, found the puzzle to be challenging, and satisfying when solved. Although adding the element of determining the identity of the “helpful person” seemed superfluous at first, it did offer an additional check in the end (and a relevant word choice, at that. Actually, one might say a HEX-ian choice.)

[DCBilly]

I enjoyed the challenge. I thought the instructions feature of being meaningless without puzzle progress was Hex-ian.

[KayW]

A lovely WSJ debut from Paul Hunsberger. It took me ages to figure out what to do, but solving this one sure did give me a lift. And to think I was worried about the quality of the post-HEX cryptic puzzles.

[iggystan]

Wow, this one was fun. Took me a bit to get where the puzzle was going, but once I did it all fell into place. Excellent puzzle, Paul H.

[Naptown Kid]

I was not familiar with this setter but I’m very pleased to make his acquaintance! The puzzle was clever and fun with great payoffs on completion. Here’s hoping we see much more of Mr. Hunsberger in the future.

[BarbaraK]

I got stuck with the grid about half done. A comment on the WSJ site told me why, and I managed to finish. As a mediocre cryptic solver, don’t think I’d ever have figured it out on my own.

Still don’t understand the cryptic part of the clue for 3D. If anyone would care to explain in a PM, I’d appreciate it.

[KayW]

I got stuck with the grid about half done. A comment on the WSJ site told me why, and I managed to finish. As a mediocre cryptic solver, don’t think I’d ever have figured it out on my own.

Still don’t understand the cryptic part of the clue for 3D. If anyone would care to explain in a PM, I’d appreciate it.

I think behind a
DAYS OF OUR LIVES... a SOAP opera.
spoonerism for LAYS OF OUR DIVES...
pronounced LEIS (rings around the collar) of our DIVES (many a lousy bar)
tag is acceptable here. My interpretation.

[BarbaraK]

I got stuck with the grid about half done. A comment on the WSJ site told me why, and I managed to finish. As a mediocre cryptic solver, don’t think I’d ever have figured it out on my own.

Still don’t understand the cryptic part of the clue for 3D. If anyone would care to explain in a PM, I’d appreciate it.

I think behind a
DAYS OF OUR LIVES... a SOAP opera.
spoonerism for LAYS OF OUR DIVES...
pronounced LEIS (rings around the collar) of our DIVES (many a lousy bar)
tag is acceptable here. My interpretation.

Oh, thank you! Had most of that but was missing one piece.