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Puzzles for October, 2020
with Editor comments

Thu 10/1/2020
EPICUNPCDLATE
NANONORADELVE
GRAONTROLOFFAL
TAOISMGIRDS
SADIESINGES
TRUEBETMIA
EGGSUMOOGRES
TOUCHTONEPHONES
SPOOLICETLAP
NEECONTALU
MANTRASTIED
SAVERFILMIR
TRICETWEENAGER
AGATEROARCAKY
GENGSANDSKLEE
Fri 10/2/2020
AMBERRELYBETA
CAIROAXIOMATIC
MINEOZENMASTER
ENGFROCKCAUSE
SCOOTERSSAL
ONLOWSCUTTLE
QUIDPROQUOHIT
URGEIDBETDIVA
ISHTESTSCORES
KETTLESMOLDS
WESPRECEPTS
AMBITPLANKARA
JAILBREAKPORES
ANKLEBONEIOTAS
RYESGNARTHYME
Sat 10/3/2020
SILKBOXERSATVS
ONEFINEDAYUHOH
PETCARRIERDELI
SSTNESTICICLE
FCCHEARTIES
PHARAOHSNOOTY
LUCYRUSTCRABS
AMTADSPEAKDAH
NAIADTARNPELE
NORMALSTROLLS
SENTINELEEL
ERVINGLOLASFO
TRESECOLOGICAL
TORTROSEPARADE
ORBSSTAGENAMES
Sun 10/4/2020 YOU'RE TELLING ME!
ADMIREACTUPHOTDATE
GODSENDDIANETRUEDAT
OCTOBERMAKINGMEBLUSH
MUMBAIEQUALSALTO
OUTOFYOURGOURDBYTES
WHARFBLARNEYOJOS
LUMPALISHOOGAS
SHAHSMISSINGTHEPOINT
THATDERAILROAR
BOOHOOSFLOWERPETCO
INFORITNOWDARNTOOTIN
GEHRYIROBOTOURSONG
TOESHANGRYSTET
ONLYASGOODASTHEAMITY
PEPBIOSAHAACRE
FLAGDIALINGCREEL
CAMRYCOMPANYYOUKEEP
OTOESAIDNONURSES
SOMETHINGELSEOATMILK
TWOPAIREXAMSSKIAREA
ANARCHYSTRUTAPNEWS

Sam Ezersky, 25, is an associate puzzle editor of The New York Times. He sold his first crossword to the paper when he was 17, just before starting his senior year at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va.

Eight years and 30 Times crosswords later, Sam says his professional goal is to "never, ever create an ‘ordinary' puzzle." His favorite clues/answers in this one are at 111A and 81D

Mon 10/5/2020
PINPATENTFDIC
ESEOLIVERTERI
RAWFOOTAGEMBAS
PIERREASPER
SARIMITRAIMI
HALFBAKEDIDEAS
LIEGEWOEFUL
ANGTMIHERSIA
CORONAPOETS
COOKEDTHEBOOKS
TRUSSEDSDICE
PISANSOOTHE
PRIGBURNTUMBER
EDENBREYERAMI
PASSRENEWSGEE
Tue 10/6/2020
HISSPATYADDA
ACTIARCHELIOT
LEONSOLESAMOA
FRIGHTFULOWNER
SCOURMME
FRACKANDRUIN
CODTYPEIODINE
AVIDUSCSEXT
LEVIEDHAHASSS
FRANKAMATEUR
ERAIDEAS
FRISKYBUSINESS
PIANOTAFTARGO
ANJOUAMOSMOTH
MEANTGASESSO
POW Wed 10/7/2020
TWASPIGGYPITA
GALAOSHEAEROS
ITLLPLOTSREUP
FETALASSRINGS
RODENTHBLEH
NCOSADSONGACC
ALTGEHRYDRE
NORMERITEDLOO
ACURASPYENEWS
KEELSTBIRD
TEALBARN
LOOKMANOHANDS
MUIRBUENOIRON
MINTAGREEEASE
ASKSSHOTSSTOW
Thu 10/8/2020
ALOEHOWIESIS
BABEBARONYTMC
SPARECHANGEARE
SMIRCHADDSIN
PIANOACAONICE
STEEDHARDCASH
PURSEDNCR
PASSEDTHEBUCK
KEAWANING
TWOCENTSLITER
SHOALYAPSTREP
HORRORONACID
OUTTIMEISMONEY
UGHHOOPLASEED
THYSTPATTSPS
Fri 10/9/2020
ECONMAJORHANGS
MANOAMANOEXERT
OLIVEPITSLEVAR
BIOLOYALATE
ACNETSPNOIDEA
NODSTOOATMASK
DEICERFLITS
SPACESTATIONS
PHISHARMATA
GAMENEENEARER
WHODATWOKDYER
BIBGODOTAPE
USTENIRONCROSS
SEINESLEEPONIT
HEEDSHDSCREENS
Sat 10/10/2020
WHAPMAMASASIF
HOVERCRAFTRENO
EBOLASCARETITO
TONICAMONGJED
CYANBOOBIRD
SOFACEDEBIOME
PLANETJACUZZIS
AMTMOJITOSALE
CASTIRONITSWAR
ENDONEGANPANT
PROPELSISLA
RIMMACJRIMHIT
OVIDTHEBAMBINO
BENDIMSUREOFIT
EROSNOUSETITS
Sun 10/11/2020 &pi;r<sup>2</sup>
DOTTEDISMOSTPUMPON
ORNAMENTALLENIGUANA
CONSPACYTHEORYNANTES
SEDALIAUSESSELA
HOMESENLACEPESTS
UNATWOTISHVAMPEBAT
BARGAINSATEANAEROBE
CULOTTESASSIGNSOBA
ATONEGOUTINLAWTIT
PONESPRUCEENOYES
RESPATORYSYSTEM
SPAMAOINNATEAMAL
HAWUSUALNAPSBRAVE
AREASEPTETSPOAGNEW
REIGNITELOCOINBOUND
PENNANTSLOOPTOYAGE
SURGEBITMAPABLER
TAPSSOUPFLONASE
OXIDESMISSISSIPPIVER
RENEWSALIKEELSINORE
EDGIERTSARREENGAGE

Gary Larson, of Edmonds, Wash., is a retired comedian. He spent the last 15 years of his career entertaining on cruise ships, where crosswords were a way to pass the time between shows.

One day a clue-and-answer combination in a New York Times crossword cracked him up, and he thought, "Why don't I try making one of these? I love writing jokes. How hard can it be to fit them into a puzzle?"

He found out. This is his 592nd puzzle. It's his fourth in The Times.

Mon 10/12/2020
BESTFRANBANAL
AVERLEGOALIBI
BARITONESNACHO
ENVOWEETDHON
ELLEBROILERS
RATEDRAINTI
AMITYBINGACDC
MMMAMALGAMRUE
POETALESAMINO
ACIDYGRATES
ENDZONESAGRI
KIAASABROCOE
EVILSGOODTHING
BERETLANEISTO
YAYASETONDMVS
Tue 10/13/2020
EBAYBETAFALSE
BELAEPICETAIL
BLOWININTHEWIND
STENCILSALADS
EGOSSORE
KNOWINGWINKYOS
CONANEMODENT
USERCRAFTASEA
PEATHARBLOBS
SSNTOWINGWINCH
DROPNORA
LOONIESONATAS
WINWINSITUATION
EFLATPREPOMNI
STYNENAPSMEET
POW Wed 10/14/2020
ASSAYALPPLAZA
CHUTESHEOATES
TANTOHANGLOOSE
IMGAMESARIPTA
VULCANSALUTE
AKNOTEGGON
MOSSKUSHLOIRE
OKSVICTORYVEX
ARESOKYRANEST
BASICAFROS
CANIGETALIFT
APULYLESPITON
HOPEFULLYIMAGO
OLDERBIODIGIT
KOOKYEDUSTONE
Thu 10/15/2020
EFLATSPECBOAS
PLATYNADALIME
SESUPAUSTRALIA
OUTLIERSTUB
MRSFREEDOMMEA
EISFAYKANG
COFFEEPOTSOORA
AWORDTRUTAROT
VEGETRAMPOLINE
ETIMHAMSRA
SONREPOMENTAP
OAKMACARONI
DOWNUNDERDIDGE
OPRYOINKOODIR
STYXTOTSSTYES
Fri 10/16/2020
HONORSORSEDAM
AMAZONBATFLIPS
LADYDIIMALLSET
THEMSTHEBREAKS
SARAISLES
NEEDEDHELMS
HEADTRIPMORE
ACCIDENTSHAPPEN
NCAAACIDTEST
SEISMICETSY
UTAHNSASS
JUSTASITHOUGHT
ZEPPELINEMIGRE
ENCODINGENTREE
EASTAGEDISOWN
Sat 10/17/2020
QUINCUNXCAIRNS
UNDERSEAANTEUP
EMOTICONSALTII
BANSGNASHLUST
EDTADARAT
CELTSTUDSANNA
IRATERESTOCK
ICKIERLABFEE
CLEMSONNEWAT
EATSPUMASTHOR
CFONIHENE
HOBSENSUEDJED
EUROPEHATFIELD
STALAGATTENDEE
TIGERSPLUSSIGN
Sun 10/18/2020 TITLE BASIN'
YOSHIMAUDETOAST
ASTONSLUGFESTSELBOW
LSATSLIFEOFPIEADORE
LORDDEAFICEDCUTE
TENDERISTHEKNIGHT
INASNAPNUKESIDEATES
MONKEYSNOMTOEPICK
ARECANDIEDMRI
YAWNSORLYNUITTEEUP
OHSTOPROOMED
INSEARCHOFLOSTTHYME
ADOEGOAWRAPEVEOOF
ROVERSNIDEELENA
FLAXGAPILLAVAETSY
THELITTLEPRINTS
SWEARSTOHEADSLAP
HEARSTSPEEDOSSHIRAZ
ENSNAREGOTONSCIENCE
ISAJULIUSSEESHEROKS
DEBODEONSPENTLET
IIIBEANALESDRY

Miriam Estrin is a native of St. Louis, now living in London. She works for Google as a policy manager dealing with international laws and regulations on access to information. After graduating from Yale Law School, she spent four years at the U.S. State Department. Miriam started constructing crosswords a year ago after reading the Times's online series "How to Make a Crossword Puzzle."

This is her second puzzle for the paper and her first Sunday.

Mon 10/19/2020
BUSHCAIROSAM
ANTEALDERWINE
STORMCLOUDARTS
AIRDATEPEEVISH
LEERUNSRAY
LASOVERLOAD
CIVICSAIDIDLE
OMEGACNNSNIPE
MATHFADETENOR
EMOTIONSSOS
BAROPELGAP
LEGUMESEPITOME
OVALSWEATDROPS
LIMBEARLEOSLO
ALEEGRETTEES
Tue 10/20/2020
ALDASTUSTRAFE
PORSCHESPREPAY
TOOKHEEDYUPPIE
EMOELMOSEAR
SPLIFFTROLLED
TASKBLEEPLSU
EASYALATETO
BACKORDERED
SIESTAGOTTA
ARFITSONMIAS
WOOKIEEROOMBA
NUNTIMIDASU
TOLIFESPOONFED
PREFERSATRIANI
SEDERSAASANTS
Wed 10/21/2020
BEEFPHOBIALIE
AGRABARUCHOCT
BERNBRIDGESCAR
USOFAMELCANE
TRIBEREDEALT
CANNESOPENER
GTEHADGENEVA
REVDABESEWEI
ALISONKOISNL
DELHICOUNTER
TWOTERMSLEWS
IHOPIQSSTOOP
MOMSEOULSEARCH
UNAAULAITIMHO
SSNPRETTYLYIN
POW Thu 10/22/2020
STRAPACDCWOW
ERODESLIEUOOH
LABORUNIONSUZO
LYETABLES
DUVETSCAD
BOASDRUNKDIAL
WANTEDJETE
HYPEATONEOVEN
IOUSTAJTAKEIT
GURUNANAKDERN
SNIPES
PEPPERLAXJUG
OXORUNSONEMPTY
OPSVEILSCREAM
FOEESPYSIGHS
Fri 10/23/2020
PANELMIMIAPBS
ASIDEEVERLSAT
TAKEABREAKLONE
SHORTLISTFORK
YINHOTARTIST
CEOACNEAHA
WORDPROCESSOR
PINSTRIPESUIT
FAKEEYELASHES
CPIAPPSTIS
CAPOTECOPAKA
BEDSSTARPOWER
REDORISKSITALL
PAIRBRAENOISE
IRASGIRDGETON
Sat 10/24/2020
RIFFSCOVERART
AVILAURBANAREA
ZONALNEATTRICK
ORGYGIMMEEASE
RYECOTEACH
STROLLCHASSIS
HOTRODDERICANT
AWINGANDAPRAYER
REPOSAUTODRIVE
PRSTUNTSOFTIE
PAYLESSPDT
ABCDSPADETREF
BREECHINGKRONA
BADBOUNCESOUCI
AGETOAGEUNDER
Sun 10/25/2020 AT THE HALLOWEEN PLAY ...
SLEPTMMSAIMEMAILS
MANORSMYLANTANESTEA
AUDIENCEHISSEDGNAWAT
CRINKLEEPHEMERAPANE
KANTMARIOIRVSTE
BAREBONESRENDITION
DEBGENLTANGELO
AVARIETYOFPARTSLUCAS
SECONDBOLGERSERAPE
HUGPAIGEEATSLIE
SPEXWARTSANDALLGLAD
EELWARMSAUTEIRE
TROJANHATERSANORAK
HURONNOBODYTOACTWITH
ETAILERSIREDMZ
REFLECTEDONHISROLE
ELODOTOATESSAGS
TEXTLIVEOAKSERITREA
AVIARYATTHEWRAPPARTY
PEERATCARSEATMOTETS
ENRAGEALAMREDETOO

Peter A. Collins is the chairman of the math department at Huron High School, in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he has taught for 40 years. He has been married for 33 years and has four adult daughters, all still in the Ann Arbor area. The genesis of this puzzle was hearing about an actor who had [answer at 48-Across]. That made him think of Frankenstein, and an idea was born.

This is Pete's 114th crossword for The Times.

Mon 10/26/2020
WASIHOPESTATS
ALLMODELERNIE
SOYCODEBREAKER
PEAPODRAESLIT
SELLSATHENA
STANDUPCOMIC
CAFMARXCABIN
AROMACELKNIFE
NEXUSEDITTSA
CHIROPRACTOR
DASHESSADIE
IDEALASIAGREE
GETCRACKINGEVA
ALOHATEPEENES
TENONSEARSDRY
POW Tue 10/27/2020
KISSPLUSSLO
AMOKMIAMIUPON
POLITICSASUSUAL
UNOINCHNANNY
TIADUHJODI
TREASUREHUNTER
TELESMEAVA
PAILBRATSABET
ITSSAILDHL
GETTINGMARRIED
ARKSLIELUV
HENCEELSAIRE
TRAININGSEMINAR
TILTLUGESPENS
PEAKNOTANTE
Wed 10/28/2020
TRICKYTOPSTSAR
REMOVEOBOEHURT
IMARETMIKEPENCE
COMPLICATEDAND
ERALSATICEAX
ACREYOURENEVER
ODDZAPSIRA
GABEDEFINECLOY
EGOFALLEMU
REALLYSUREARFS
METOOETTUOPS
YOUGOTTHERIGHT
TRATTORIASEABEE
SORELEVILENORE
KIDDFOOLANSWER
Thu 10/29/2020
FREEZESOTBACH
DARNITHURALOE
AMALGAMATEDIAL
ISLANDERBRO
BIASLEOODIST
INSTALLDAISES
DOTBEERODD
NOMATTERWHICH
USBPESOAAA
SCATHEPEGASUS
PAYEEAMOPALP
AVESUPERCOP
RIALFASTASLEEP
TAYEORSEMERGE
ARESSTYNOTNOW
Fri 10/30/2020
NAZARENERAJAHS
ORALEXAMAMULET
DOMINATEDESADE
RUBELTRAINTBA
ASEATESLADEEM
MEZZOROOTBEERS
ASIANSNEERING
LEISIT
DEEPSIGHSILEX
KALAMAZOOKEANE
AYESBOOTYSTAR
PTAMEDDLESEMO
LINTELJASONFOX
AMORALOVERHERE
NERUDABASELESS
Sat 10/31/2020
BESTSELLERSCAR
ACCENTAIGUCANA
CHARLESTONARID
KORNARTSRAMI
EECALGERTAPAS
DREAMONICEBATH
COSAPAMCEE
MALLETSPEEDS
ALABIBSTUN
TOWPATHAEROSOL
TUNASULTRAVOL
RESTSTEPREDO
ETATCAERPHILLY
STLOUNDERRATED
SEENDISPOSSESS
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