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Here’s the Solutions grid


The Oracle’s NINA is colored in Yellow and it runs across the top and the bottom rows (so that you can’t say you  can’t see it)

The Oracle’s so-called “Autograph” is in the middle in Red. Its an Ambigram (reads the same even if you turn the puzzle upside down)

The Oracle’s Self-portrait is in Blue and the  two “O”s (glasses) connect the Autograph with the Self-portrait. The self-potrait also can be seen even when the grid is turned upside down.

In addition to the NINA. the second special feature is that the grid is a Pangram (using all letters of the alphabet in the solutions)

 


 

Here are the Annotations:

Across: 12 ANIMATOR* around O, 13 FEM(ME FAT)ALE, 14 BET, 15 M REUNITES*, 17 AKHAKITEE* , 21 (OIL PAINTING-PITON)*, 22 T(RID)ENT Shiva’s weapon, 25 AB SURD, 26 E R A, 27 Reverse anagram (IN A USSR)*, 30 Acrostic, 32 Telescopic, 34 ~CUTIE, 36 Telescopic, 37 ADD*, 39 A Lx2, 41 NO. as abbreviation for Number, 42 DD, ounce=OZ., 43 OM, code for Oman, 44 DD, 45 Telescopic, 48 DD, 50 Abbr. of Vice Chancellor= VC for Victoria Cross, 51 DD, 52 < of 41=NO, 53 JOGs, 55 CD, 61 IL O, 62 DD, 63 A BRIDGE, 64 DD, 66 INTIMATE D, 70 HOLI DA(Y E)D, 73 AD 0, 74 UN SCRAMBLES, 75 PRO CLAIMS.

Down: 1 O(I L)MAN, 2 (USUAL TIN)*, 3 LO A N, 4 Y ALE, 5 DD, 6 LOFT-L, 7 O MIT, 8 LE A K, 9 SAGAn, 10 GLACIAL* around U, 11 (ENCYCLOPEDIAS-CYCLOPS*)*, 16 Telescopic, 18 ORATE*, 19 (LIVESTOCK-COLTS*), 20 DD, 22 Acrostic, 23 D OVER*, 24 TOT AL, 28 IN STAN T, 29 Telescopic, 31 ROW* NG, 33 DD, 35 DD, 37 A FT, 38 sunDAY, 39 A CE, 40 (DAD-D+L), 44 MO (Modus Operandi, Moment), 46 O MEGA, 47 E COL I, 49 NI(E)CE, 54 GIAN TESS, 56 E(MEN<)A, 57 Telescopic, 58 N(O)D E, 59 COR GI, 60 CONMEN* around I Y, 62 USRINK*, 65 Telescopic, 67 MAR E, 68 TA ME, 69 D O LT, 70 HOP E, the last thing in Pandora’s box, 71 CD, 72 DELhI, 73 A S H.


Here’s the link to the “Hall of Fame

Thanks to “The Oracle” for this enjoyable puzzle and to all of you who participated.

By Sowmya

Sowmya is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and independent financial consultant based in the Middle East (Bahrain). She is a puzzle editor at Amuselabs. She has set over 1,300 crosswords for various publications including over 1000 mini crosswords, cryptic crosswords (under the pseudonym Hypatia for The Hindu) and themed crosswords for Cat.a.lyst (part of The Hindu Businessline). Sowmya runs the Facebook group 1Across where seasoned cruciverbalists interact while setting and solving clues. She has published three compilations of crosswords viz Cryptic Crossroads Volumes 1, 2 and 3. She Tweets cryptic clues daily @somsram

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