Stats -We had a good response to “King’s Rule” and we got 33 unique submissions for this puzzle. Of those who submitted, only 14 got the full grid score of 30 and 13 people got the maximum possible score of 34. Here’s the Solution grid.
The following questions were asked at the end of the puzzle..
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- What are the two Ninas?
- What’s the connection of the Ninas to the title and the prelude to the puzzle?
- Who is the successful resister?
The correct answers to these were
(1) The first Nina is 101010, which is 42 in binary (in “bits” — i.e., “binary digits”). The second Nina is FORTY-TWO, which is 42, “fully spelled out.”
(2) The connection of the Ninas to the title/prelude is that Rule 42, as proclaimed by the king of hearts in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, said: “All persons more than a mile high to leave the court.” This arbitrary rule was intended to be used by the king to evict Alice, who had been rapidly growing in height (hence “it aimed to exclude a rapidly growing class of population”). The puzzle prelude refers to “this king’s rule” rather than “this king’s rule.”
(3) Alice resisted the rule and did not leave the court. ALICE is indeed the “successful resister” located “roughly” at squares 3, 7, 83/7, 13, 23. Here 83/7 is 116/7, identifying the 6th of the 7 white squares spanning positions beyond 11 upto 12. The letters at these five locations, respectively, are ICLAE. Anagramming them, as indicated by “roughly,” yields ALICE.
The number 42, of course, is also the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and its sequel novels. Most clue surfaces in this puzzle (all but 8a, 11a, 14a, 27a, 3d, 16d, 17d, 19d, 24d) refer to these books. “DNA” — used in a couple of clues — are the initials of Douglas Noel Adams, the late author of these gems.
Here are the Annotations.
Across:
7 Deep Thought: perhaps more charming to hide love, maintaining platonic overtures? (8) – CUTER around O M(-aintaining) P(-latonic)
8 Perhaps 1 or 8 or 100 (use binary entries at first) (4) – C U(-se) B(-inary) E(-ntries)
11 Treatment regularly used by “headier” gorilla? (4,3) – H(-e)A(-d)I(-e)R (-g)O(-r)I(-l)L(-a)
12 DNA penned new, universal, and original ideas for real (7) – GENE around N U I(-deas)
13 Zillionaire Zaphod retreated embracing a Caucasian person (5) – Reverse hidden word: (-zilliona)IRE ZA(-phod) <<
14 Draft opening of column on “Scenic Vacation / Bad Trip?” (9) – C ON S(-ceni)C TRIP*
15 Elated leader of Krikkit-robots to go back for maintenance (6)- UP K(-rikkit-robots) PEE<<
18 Gogrilla M., entrepreneur bearing regret (6) – LA M ENT(-repreneur)
22 Thor and Loki, perhaps running backwards bare-arsed with girl; Odin’s not in? (5,4) – ON<< (-a)RSE(-d) G OD(-in)S
25 Heart of Gold returns, oddly steers wretched person (5) OL<< S(-t)E(-e)R(-s)
27 One might take risks and charge in with more confidence (7)- (–IN SURER
28 Apprehension of Vogon AI lingers (7) Hidden word: (-vogo)N AI LING(-ers)
29 Shock creatures centrally inhabiting a small, unregarded yellow star in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the galaxy (4) – (-crea)T(-ures) in SUN
30 Draw world like Lamuella, suited well to idyllic, laid-back terminations (8)- (-worl)D (-lik)E (-lamuell)A (-suite)D (-wel)L (-t)O (-idylli)C (-laid-bac)K
Down
1 Charge with abduction I, Zem, unmasked (6) – Hidden word: (-abduct)ION I ZE(-m)
2 Veet is opportunistic, embraces upcoming rival (8) – Reverse hidden word: (-ve)ET IS OPPO(-rtunistic) <<
3 An emphatic type of intergalactic New Work Act shelved (6) – I(-n)T(-erg)AL(-act)IC
4 True, Stavro Mueller finishes ailing all over the place (8) – (-stavr)O (-muelle)R AILING*
5 Representative rewired Colin after removing the last bit of towel, getting InfiniDim credit openings (6) – CO(-l)IN* I(-nfinidim) C(-redit)
6 Finally, piano and violin playing around the conclusion of Gnab-Gib. Nothingness… (8) – O VIOLIN* around (-gnab-gi)B
9 Inexpensive headgear worn by hitchhiking Earth-born beginners (5) – CAP around H(-itchhiking) E(-arth-born)
10 Hotblack Desiato demise is to block a redistribution (5) – DEATH IS TO BLOCK A* (composite anagram)
16 The extent to which rock can absorb pop? Limitless! So, I try, desperately (8) – PO(-p) SOITRY*
17 Come out of terrible rut, drop indifference at last (8) – RUTDROP* (-indifferenc)E
19 Loudly contemplate liquor product (8) – MULL TIPPLE homophone
20 Inappropriate, extremely utopian BBC Guide segment? (5) – U(-topia)N FIT (referring to “fit” as the unit of BBC hhgttg broadcasts)
21 Slippery creatures that are somewhat froody beings on the outside (5)- FRO(-ody) (-bein)GS
23 DNA is back after adding top record-breaking “Restaurant at the End of the Universe” to trip (6)- DNA<< after (R(-ecord-breaking) R(-estaurant) after (-univers)E)
24 Phrasal structure from the Reverend’s metallic jazz instrument (6) – Spoonerism of TIN SAX
26 Sperm whale starts yearning for change of direction (6) – S(-perm) W(-hale) ITCH
Here is the scorecard (sorted by total score and then in the order of submissions received)
Congrats to Ramki who, once again, submitted the first all correct entry and to all others who managed to “max” the score.
22 people rated the puzzle as “Excellent”, 10 rated it “Good” and 1 rated it “Average”. Thanks to “Gussalufz” for a very entertaining puzzle. It was well appreciated and an amazing tribute to Douglas Adams.
Did you enjoy the puzzle? Do you have any feedback for us or for the setter. Do comment in the blog and let us know.