Perfect Square

by George Barany and Friends

This insanely difficult puzzle (6x6), with no black squares, was constructed in honor of a certain special individual on a certain special occasion. The artwork pictured to the right was not chosen at random. A much easier puzzle, found here, gets to the same overall result. After completing one or both puzzles (spoiler), or in case you just throw up your hands in despair, click here for the solutions and explanations.

Click here to view or download the puzzle in PDF format; here to download it as a puz file; here to download it as an ipuz file [requires the free Puzzazz app to solve]; here to solve the puzzle interactively (thanks to Jim Horne); here for the solution and explanation.We thank Evan Birnholz, Ralph Bunker, Noam Elkies, Brent Hartzell, Michael Hanko, Martin Herbach, Ben Jones, and Tom Williams for wresting with both versions of the puzzle, and for their helpful suggestions.

If you want to tell others about this particular page, refer them to
http://tinyurl.com/squarepuz

More puzzles here (all) and here (tributes).

ACROSS

1. Jewish ritual hut: Var.

7. Clinton on experimenting with marijuana during his youth: "I didn't ___"

8. Ashwood-Smith or Herbach, legends in the crossworld

9. Ethnic group of the Russian Caucasus: Var. (anagram for "Idi age")

10. Petty officers, briefly

11. Crossword-friendly Civil War battleground, cut down in size with neckwear

DOWN

1. Genus of tropical South American trees having pinnate leaves and panicles of small flowers

2. Japanese eel and rice dish

3. Recently re-elected governor of New Jersey, his belt tightened with neckwear

4. Strong string made from dried intestines, once used for cellos and tennis rackets

5. Celia's alias in "As You Like It" (Google clue from Maleska era)

6. Philosophical belief that existence is of one kind only (anagram for "mesh in")

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