Blackstar Back Channel

By Quinn Mahoney

There are twenty sets of clues. For each set, write the entries (both forward and backward) to create matching strings of 17 letters. The only difference is that in one place, the forward entries have "ST" while the backward entries have "AR". For example:

DUBSTEP PATE MIDWAY
DUBRAE PPATEMID WAY

In order to fit two 17-letter strings into 16 spaces, write ST/AR as a star in a single space:

DUB★EPPATEMIDWAY

Write these in the 16 spaces around Pathfinder, and note the position of the ★ for all twenty strings. Combine those to get the hexadecimal string, 5472616E736973746F72.

Decode from ASCII to discover the missing part: Transistor.

Most villainousBar gameStrain
niaga ecneirepxEreyalp ollerehcnoP.onid gnisopmI
0123456789ABCDEF
EVILEST
RA
DARTSEXERT
Travel optionArt class optionBites
mlif yerraCffutSegaruoC
0123456789ABCDEF
RAILST
RA
ILLLIFENIPS
PickupTheater group"Dry the Rain" group
euqsurBamabO nAniartseR.ofni citeneG
0123456789ABCDEF
TRUCKCAST
RA
BETABAND
"Goldfly" rockersPrize recipientCry
revoc roolFeiTnosrep "esuohyalP"
0123456789ABCDEF
GUST
RA
ERAWARDEEWEEP
RebelMost precipitous"Vanderpump" restaurant
rotisiv muesum tneuqerFedalb gnicneFsezidixO
0123456789ABCDEF
REVOLTST
RA
EEPESTSUR
Bruce's bandPeacefulTow
lausunUeman scitemsoCrepacsdnaL
0123456789ABCDEF
EST
RA
REETSERENEDRAG
Hunting dogs"Alpha Band" musician BurnettRole for Mars Orbiter
spilc riaHytic gnilbmaGloohcs eugaeL yvI
0123456789ABCDEF
SETTERST
RA
BONERELAY
WordplayDemethylated thymineLingers
etalumuccAetacilpuDsesserd udniH
0123456789ABCDEF
PUNURACILPERSIST
RA
S
SackHardensType of lymphocyteCurrier's partner
erutaef tnoFunem hcnerFytic hsinapS
0123456789ABCDEF
FIRESETST
RA
CELLIVES
Skrillex genreFancy appetizerChicago airport
yrossecca enohPi na fo traPenicidem dloCsixa tfarcecapS
0123456789ABCDEF
DUBST
RA
EPPATEMIDWAY
Assemble, as filmGoldberg filmPenn film
tnediserp naitiaH remroFnrecnoCtsitra "ssiK ehT"
0123456789ABCDEF
EDITSIST
RA
ERACTMILK
It's often conflated with genderBlockheadsPain medicine
nemow suoitatrilFnoissaPdetalosI
0123456789ABCDEF
SEXNIMRODST
RA
YLENOL
Spanish roadIll. winter timeFinds love?
retupmoc elppAretiaWgniteerg udniH
0123456789ABCDEF
CAMINOCST
RA
GETSAMAN
Rational believerCaught, like a cowboyBig Papi
lloryap eht nOstneve yobwoChsimelB
0123456789ABCDEF
DEIST
RA
LASSOEDORTIZ
Historical periodsPhysics prefixQuick gait
erevesrePsuoutepmItekram keerGyevruS
0123456789ABCDEF
EPOCHSAST
RA
ROGALLOP
Sketch"Jenny Ondioline" groupCatch
kcab eht oTtneidergni noitoLtnenopmoc eracideM
0123456789ABCDEF
DRAWST
RA
EREOLABTRAP
DenExam handoutAlways
laeppa na fo tluseRdaDezilodI
0123456789ABCDEF
LAIRTEST
RA
PAPEREVER
Doomtree memberAn ObamaMost cruel
detcelloCnoitacinummoc nredoMmuidatS
0123456789ABCDEF
DESSAMALIAMEANEST
RA
Religious textFoodie prefixLegendary magician
mood lacihtyMhsifrekcuSoreZ
0123456789ABCDEF
KORANGAST
RA
ROMERLIN
Title on a posterPop-up sourceLouis-Dreyfus show
mlif ttehcnalBtupni retupmoCyonnA
0123456789ABCDEF
LOST
RA
CATADWAREVEEP