Constructor: Rebecca Goldstein

Relative problem: Medium

THEME: BLACK SHEEP (31D: Familial outcast depicted thrice on this puzzle) — three “black” squares comprise names of several types of “sheep”:

Theme solutions:

• ASH(RAM) / EXT(RA M)AYO (34A: Place for a religious retreat + 21D: Sandwich order specification)
• CHEES(E WE)DGE / “HAV(E WE) MET” (56A: Slice of brie, e.g. + 45D: “Don’t I do know you from someplace?”)
• MORA(L AMB)IGUITY / (LAMB)ORGHINI (15A: Ethical grey space + 19D: Italian auto with a bull in its emblem)

Word of the Day: CHUB (56D: Cousin of a carp) —

Squalius cephalus is a European species of freshwater fish within the carp householdCyprinidae. It frequents each gradual and average rivers, in addition to canals and nonetheless waters of varied sorts. This species is known as the widespread chub, European chub, or just chub. // It is a stocky fish with a big rounded head. Its physique is lengthy and cylindrical in form and is roofed in massive greenish-brown scales that are edged with slim bands of black throughout the again, paling to golden on the flanks and even paler on the stomach. The tail is darkish brown or black, the dorsal fin is a greyish-green in color and all the opposite fins are orange-red. The dorsal fin has 3 spines and 7-9 gentle rays whereas the anal fin has 3 spines and 7-10 rays. The vertebrae depend is 42-48. It can develop to 60 cm normal size however most fish are round 30 cm. // The chub is distributed all through most of northern Eurasia […] It is most ample in small rivers and huge streams within the “barbel zone” the place there are riffles and swimming pools. (wikipedia)

• • •

It’s not simply that this puzzle was nicely made, it is that it unfolded, for me, in a method that made it actually pleasant. With trick puzzles like this (ones the place you actually bend the “regular” guidelines of the sport), there’s all the time that preliminary powerful half the place you might be questioning what the hell is happening, so that you push letters round and marvel why nothing’s coming collectively. And ultimately (god prepared) you choose up the trick. Maybe it is clearly nice, or not; perhaps the entire puzzle idea turns into evident to you in a single whoosh, perhaps you are still undecided what the purpose is. I prefer it greatest when my response to first getting the trick is “huh … innnnteresting” as a result of which means there extra “aha” to return. So, black squares that truly stand for letters or phrases, I’ve seen that many occasions. The query, all the time, is “why?” Today, I did the preliminary “I’m kinda misplaced” wrestle” after which lastly picked up “RAM” (actually wanted the “X” from BOX SET to see EXT(RA M)AYO).

It’s humorous wanting on the grid at this stage as a result of you’ll be able to see my clear up simply crumble proper the place it runs up towards the themers. Anyway, I used to be so joyful to get RAM first as a result of it left me to invest: is RAM a verb? a model of truck? is that this puzzle gonna characterize the entire rattling zodiac!? So I *obtained* the gimmick however I nonetheless did not *Get* it. Onward! And with nearly my very subsequent step, what ought to I encounter coming across the nook however a pleasant fluffy EWE!

And that obtained a giant smile. I weirdly wasn’t even pondering “sheep.” I really like when crosswordese (EWE!) will get upgraded to Special Element in a puzzle. I nonetheless had half the grid to go and I’d already had two “ahas.” But once more, I didn’t know the massive image: what is the revealer going to be? the place are the opposite sheep hiding and what may they presumably be!? The solutions to each questions got here as real delights. I really hit the revealer subsequent, BLACK SHEEP, which, yeah, strong. That is, in actual fact, what is going on on this puzzle: SHEEP are within the BLACK. But then—once more, by whole happenstance—I find yourself ending the puzzle up high (very unusual), and because of this I—once more, unintentionally)—saved the perfect for final: the hidden LAMB! MORA(L AMB)IGUITY / (LAMB)ORGHINI is only a incredible crossing by itself, however if you add the hidden “LAMB,” I believe it is actually magical, and a incredible place to have your entire puzzle come into sight. Anyone else attempt to park a FERRARI within the Lambo’s area at first? Pretty devilish that FERRARI match completely (however FERRARI’s emblem is, after all, a horse … of some variety). The theme gimmick itself (i.e. letters within the black squares) is pretty fundamental, however the idea right here was intelligent, and it unfolded in simply the fitting method for me. 

The fill was pleasantly assorted, and the one solutions I actually balked at had been SORORAL and HAHAS (the previous for its uncommon adjectivity, the latter for its inconceivable plurality), however neither reply is dangerous. In truth, I’m undecided SORORAL is not simply wonderful—it is the counterpart to the very acquainted “fraternal,” and it is solely as a result of we’ve got privileged brotherhood a lot (in struggle, in fraternal orders) and generalized it to all humanity (in liberté égalité fraternité, “brotherhood of man,” and so forth.) that it so outpaces SORORAL in its commonness. So it is a uncommon phrase, however a wonderful one. HAHAS actually has no excuse, however the remainder of the grid is so good, who cares? Loved AMY POEHLER. I keep in mind when she debuted as a NYTXW reply, in a puzzle made by … [checks notes] … hey, me! Like the EWE, the WEE LADS made me smile. Possibly the WEE LADS are tending the EWE. And WEE is an anagram of EWE. It’s all very Scottish, and I miss Scotland (I studied overseas there and later did analysis there, however have not been again in over twenty years). Love the HAIRBOW clue (29A: Accessory for Hello Kitty) as a result of it jogs my memory that Shortz as soon as rejected a puzzle by a good friend of mine that had HELLO KITTY as a solution as a result of he thought it was too obscure… Of course he then instantly encountered HELLO KITTY within the wild (in an airplane journal, if I keep in mind my good friend’s story appropriately), and marveled aloud at what a bizarre coincidence that was (not bizarre—HELLO KITTY was already a worldwide phenomenon at that time). Stunned to see HARLEM SHAKE right here! Hello, 2012! Is the HARLEM SHAKE actually nonetheless a factor!? Wow, I believed it was only a meme. A now-olden meme. Apparently there’s a actual dance by that identify, one which preceded the meme factor by many years. But, unsurprisingly, as wikipedia notes, “The dance that’s carried out on the web as a meme will not be the Harlem Shake.” 

No actual challenges at the moment exterior the theme. I had ERA for EON solely to have ERAS present up later, in order that was bizarre. No different weirdness although. Just a very good Thursday time.

Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld 

P.S. thanks for all of the sympathetic feedback yesterday re: the sudden demise of my beloved wee cat, Olive. We discovered in April that she had a severely enlarged coronary heart and that the prognosis was dangerous, however treatment gave her a very regular and fantastic six months. And then she simply went. Like that. It was terrible. But additionally merciful. I cherished her an entire, complete lot. I’ve had and cherished (and misplaced) a number of pets in my life, however she was hooked up to me in a method I’d by no means skilled. It was a pleasure and privilege to have had her in my life these previous two years. I do not know what else to say. Except, once more, thanks for the type phrases.