Listen With Others

In baseball it seems, 42 really is the answer to life, the universe and everything – thanks to istenem for introducing me to the legend that is Jackie Robinson.

Is istenem a new setter I wonder? This is an impressive debut, very nicely constructed with accurate clueing. My favourite clue is 12ac, LAMIA, “Beast from the east’s no new bloodsucker” – I smiled at beast from the east, despite the extensive flood damage caused to our house by the weather event in 2018. Many other words were also new to me, such as BRAAI, BAJU,  AIJIN and the delightful COLLIESHANGIE. I’d love to find a way of using that, but melées are mercifully rare now my children are grown up.

ESTHETE was a nice hint for an American theme, and I though INSWINGER was a baseball reference, but I think it’s more to do with cricket.

The icing on the cake was istenem’s depiction of Jackie Robinson’s achievement, breaking the color line. Neat!

I also wonder whether istenem chose his/her name to mean “Oh my God!”? Looking forward to their next offering anyway.