h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Inspired by a recent Times Listener crossword, I thought we might like to have a go at solving and setting each other Printer's Devilry-type cryptic clues.

As in the Cryptic Clues thread, the one who solves it sets the next one (but beware - they're difficult to both solve and set, so make sure you have one ready)

So, what is a Printer's Devilry clue? Well, it looks like a normal cryptic clue, but there's a big difference. To solve it, you have to find a word which you can insert into the clue at some point which then turns the clue into a sentence which makes sense. You can (and often do) change spacing, punctuation and capitalisation to make it work, but the letters have to remain in the same order.

Here's an example:

Clothes are placed in the 'robe - cleaned! (6)

The answer is INSERT, as you can insert this word into the clue to make the following sentence:

Clothes are placed in the rinser to be cleaned.

Got that? Good.

Here's the first one for you to try:


Unlike most, bird's early. Don't fly! (6)

I see you've nicked this one from the Listener I couldn't get it then and I can't get it now; I'm pretty sure the sentence should be:

Unlike most birds, XXXXXXXXXXX don't fly.

Gif

Yes, I thought I'd start with an easier one

Ah!

MUSCLE:

Unlike most birds, eMUS CLEarly don't fly.

Gif

Please don't ask me to set one

Gif

Well, don't say I didn't warn you

I have another (not from the Listener) if you're really stuck...

OK, here's another:

History books describe colonies' final conflict at the Alamo (5)

Elbow?
History books describe colonEL BOWies' final conflict at the Alamo

But - if it is right, can I have til the morning to think of a new one?

OK - an easy one:

Mark Boyle gave up using cover a year ago. (3)

Yes Elbow was correct

Yours looks like ASH

(Mark Boyle gave up using cash over a year ago.)

Oh gawd, my turn again... Talk amongst yourselves for a bit...

Don't use swear canals - they can compress wax as well as cause infection. (8)

Whee! ABSINTHE

Don't use swabs in the ear canals - they can compress wax as well as cause infection

Another easy one

He left home in disgrace and sincerely (6)

I'm completely stumped

Should we include a clue to the word? This would be 'Italian room used for a studio' (6)

Ah that's what stumped you. I counted the letters wrong!

He left home in disgrace and sincerely (6)

Oh no I hadn't counted them wrong. Had an idea I'd said (7) in my faulty old memory. Pshaw. Anyway . . .

Hmmm, Italian rooms, eh? (Isn't 'studio' Italian?) Atrium, loggia, ... (help me, guys)

Got it! CAMERA (...since came rarely)

Brilliant

Pah, you just beat me. Still at least I don't have to set one.

The baby's Ada's - the day it was born. (5)