Award Winner

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Solution grid
Letters spell GOLD STAR.

Across

  • 1.
    OPTIC: O(P)TIC
  • 5.
    ALPINE: A + L(P)INE
  • 10.
    DIET: DIET (2 defs.)
  • 11.
    EDEN: E + DEN
  • 12.
    EXTRA: E + X + TRA (rev.)
  • 13.
    GALLIC: G(ALL)I + C
  • 14.
    BLEST: B(L)EST
  • 16.
    ULNA: ULNA (hid. rev.)
  • 17.
    KYUSHU: KY + U + SHUt
  • 19.
    GENES: GENES (“jeans” hom.)
  • 22.
    GOULET: GOULET (anag.)
  • 25.
    TACT: TACT (“tacked” hom.)
  • 27.
    ELOPE: ELOP + E (rev.)
  • 30.
    LUGNUT: LUG + NUT (“tun” rev.)
  • 31.
    UNDUE: UNDUE (“undo” hom.)
  • 32.
    OMAN: O + MAN
  • 33.
    RUIN: RUINg
  • 34.
    AISLES: A + ISLES
  • 35.
    HYENA: H + YEN + A

Down

  • 1.
    ODES: mODES
  • 2.
    PIXEL: PI + X + EL
  • 3.
    TETONS: TET(ON)S
  • 4.
    COULEE: COULEE (“coolly” hom.)
  • 5.
    URGE: sURGE
  • 6.
    LOUSY: LOU’S + Y
  • 7.
    IDLES: IDLES (“idols” hom.)
  • 8.
    NEIGHS: NEIGHS (“nays” hom.)
  • 9.
    ENCHANT: pENCHANT
  • 14.
    BUGLE: BUG + LE
  • 15.
    TASTE: TAS(T)E
  • 16.
    ANGELOU: ANGELOU (anag.)
  • 18.
    BON AMI: BON AMI (anag.)
  • 20.
    EMPATH: EMPATH (anag.)
  • 21.
    SUNDAE: SUNDAE (“done, say” spoonerism)
  • 23.
    ANGUS: A + NG + US
  • 24.
    ELATE: E + LATE
  • 26.
    CHAIN: CH(A)IN
  • 28.
    OTIS: OTIS (odd letters)
  • 29.
    MENU: MENU (hid.)