Constructed by: Dan Caprera
Edited by: Will Shortz
Today’s Reveal Answer: Tractor Beams
Themed answers are SCIENCE FICTION VESSELS, each with a TRACTOR BEAM that SUCKS UP EARTHLY BODIES shown with circled letters in the grid:
- 58A Science fiction energy rays that might suck up earthly bodies, as depicted three times in this puzzle : TRACTOR BEAMS
- 14A Science fiction vessel : FLYING SAUCER
- 16D Trash hauler [Moooooooo!] : SCOW [COW]
- 35A Science fiction vessel : MOTHER SHIP
- 28D Place for a drink while traveling [Hooooonk!] : BAR CAR [CAR]
- 41A Science fiction vessel : SPACECRAFT
- 25D 1976 hit by Heart [Heeeeelp!] : MAGIC MAN [MAN]
Bill’s time: 9m 33s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
My wife and I are enjoying the final days of an extended vacation in Europe with a few days in London. I just managed to slip away to solve the puzzle, and write up this abbreviated post. I will get to the full post just as soon as I can.
Normal “service” will resume on or before Friday Feb 3rd, the day after we get back home to California.
Thank you for your understanding.
Bill
Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Contents of some college party shots : JELL-O
6 Reclining hero pose, for one : ASANA
11 Film special f/x : CGI
14 Science fiction vessel : FLYING SAUCER
17 She/___ pronouns : HER
18 Like a government led by thieving politicians : KLEPTOCRATIC
19 Comic strip cry : EEK!
20 Platte River people : OTO
21 Diesel found in street racers? : VIN
22 Costco unit : CASE
23 Ingredient in a hurricane : RUM
26 Cute, cutely : TWEE
28 Held in suspense : BATED
29 Peak whose name means “the high one” : DENALI
31 Some footwear fasteners : T-STRAPS
34 Adult stage in insects : IMAGO
35 Science fiction vessel : MOTHER SHIP
38 Fig Newtons manufacturer : NABISCO
40 Primeval : ANCIENT
41 Science fiction vessel : SPACECRAFT
44 East Coast Amtrak service with the fastest trains in the Americas : ACELA
45 Some cheerful folks : SMILERS
46 Heavy-handed sorts : BRUTES
47 Instrument with a pedal : HI-HAT
49 Part of an IV or an old TV : TUBE
51 Denver winter hrs. : MST
52 Site of a terrible fall? : EDEN
53 Org. in “The X-Files” : FBI
55 On the ___ : LAM
57 Helmed : LED
58 Science fiction energy rays that might suck up earthly bodies, as depicted three times in this puzzle : TRACTOR BEAMS
64 Chum : PAL
65 Performer who might step on some toes? : BALLET DANCER
66 On the ___ : SLY
67 Trusty companion for a knight : STEED
68 Gumbos, e.g. : STEWS
Down
1 Airport alternative to Newark Liberty : JFK
2 Building wing : ELL
3 Strong cleaner : LYE
4 Sass : LIP
5 Not flummoxed by : ONTO
6 Longest river entirely in Switzerland : AAR
7 Most urbane : SUAVEST
8 When “Time Warp” is sung in the musical “The Rocky Horror Show” : ACT I
9 German veto : NEIN
10 Path of a comet : ARC
11 Crib notes : CHEAT SHEETS
12 Gaggle components : GEESE
13 Cross : IRKED
15 2018 John Travolta flop : GOTTI
16 Trash hauler [Moooooooo!] : SCOW [COW]
22 Chili pepper or bell pepper, scientifically : CAPSICUM
23 Update, as a site layout : REMAP
24 Without shame : UNABASHEDLY
25 1976 hit by Heart [Heeeeelp!] : MAGIC MAN [MAN]
27 W.W. II war zone, in brief : ETO
28 Place for a drink while traveling [Hooooonk!] : BAR CAR [CAR]
29 Loud, unpleasant noises : DINS
30 Fly off the handle : LOSE IT
32 “Well, ___ escalated quickly!” : THAT
33 Stimpy’s chum of toondom : REN
35 Seconds or thirds : MORE
36 Quiet spot to moor a boat : INLET
37 Grps. organizing book sales or bake sales, maybe : PTAS
39 Half of D : CCL
42 One of seven in the Constitution : ARTICLE
43 Tallahassee sch. : FSU
46 Feature on either brother of Smith Bros. cough drops : BEARD
47 Lends a hand : HELPS
48 Unbeatable : IDEAL
50 Result of a leaky pen, perhaps : BLOT
53 Chi Psi, e.g., informally : FRAT
54 It’s bound to be eaten by livestock : BALE
56 Major corp. hirees : MBAS
58 Atlanta-based network : TBS
59 ___ Allen, host of “Chopped” on the Food Network : TED
60 Tolkien’s Leaflock, for one : ENT
61 One of a pair of “bullets,” in poker : ACE
62 Pokémon with a catlike appearance : MEW
63 One section of a H.S. yearbook : SRS
