Guardian Genius

[Aperio]

What precedes the storm takes it in this time (4) E?U?

The "E" comes from: John's the chap who's lost Eastern temple (3,8) which I've got as "The panthEon" although I can not see where John comes in.

The "U" is bulletproof.

Many thanks Aperio

[Quizmonster]

"ThE LULl before the storm" is a standard phrase and Elul is the name of a month - ie a time - in the Jewish calendar. The word is "taken in" by the phrase. Well, that's how I see it anyway.

[Aperio]

I kept thinking of "Calm before the storm" instead of "lull"

Many thanks Quizmonster.

[kayakamina]

aperio. The 'John' is US slang for toilet. There is the expression down the pan, which means down the toilet .
I break down the clue- The Pan the on(e) (The chap less e).... The Panthenon - Temple

[Aperio]

Many thanks for that K.

Have either of you tried this months Genius Crossword?

The really hard part is contained in the special instructions:

Upon inspection of the completed grid, you will be able to discover 7 17down 22 24. BOTH identities involved must be sent ....

The answer to 7 17down 22 24 is a well known expression - which I won't give in case you haven't attempted the crossword yet.

What is unclear is what is meant by "Both Identities". It could refer to a quotation in two books, poems, songs or films.

Any thoughts?
Aperio

[kayakamina]

Aperio. I haven't done the Genius yet but the solutions are normally quotations from literature or songs. Now that you have the text I suppose that should lead you to the names of the authors or composers of the quotes.
I will look at the puzzle and come back if I have any thoughts.
Well done on completing it so quickly. K

[kayakamina]

Aperio A further thought. Just finding the names of the authors etc may be too simple for a 'Genius' crossword and it may be that the letters you have form a cognate anagram of two identities! K

[Aperio]

K

With the exception of elul, The crossword is pretty straight forward and I am sure you will solve it quickly.

I have executed a number of Internet searches looking for books, poems, songs etc. and found lots of references to the expression, but have found none wich I am happy with.

There may be unreferenced clues in the Crossword itself. This is a real conundrum.

Will say more once you have done the crossword.

A.

[Aperio]

Have followed up my previous idea of looking through the other clues, and may have come up with the answer.

A

[kayakamina]

You were right A the puzzle was a doddle!

That was a good suggestion to go back over the rest of the clues and a liitle bell rang in my mind too!

I read in the latest newsletter from the Guardian crossword editor that he sometimes gets as few as 100 correct entries to the Genius puzzles so let us hope that you or I will be among them !

Good luck K

[stromselkie]

got all the clues in genius but cant get identities

[El Blobbo]

Could "both identities involved" possibly indicate two paired names as an anagram of "the light at the end of the tunnel"? AND is in there.

[El Blobbo]

Try reading the crossword diagonally!