NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 9): Still working on this one?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 9): Still working on this one?:

Q: Take the word 'near.' If you shift each of its consonants to the next consonant of the alphabet, and each of its vowels to the next vowel in the alphabet, you get the word 'pies.' Find a one-word title of a famous novel (also made into a film) that — if you shift each of its consonants and vowels in the same manner — gives you another one-word title of a famous novel that was also made into a film. What novels and films are these?

Well, there's the puzzle. I'm actually still working on it so I don't have any clues to post. Even coming up with one-word titles that are both novels and movies is proving difficult. I hate to admit it but, I'm feeling nearly brain-dead. Anyone able to help me get over my large mental roadblock?

Edit: I must apologize because those hints above were really subtle and misleading. Unless you are astute, they don't give you the answer, but if you have the answer, it hopefully confirmed you were correct. The hints were "nearly brain-dead" and "large roadblock". Since it is after the deadline I can reveal the answer.

A: COMA --> DUNE

COMA (1977 Robin Cook novel, 1978 Michael Crichton movie)

DUNE (1965 Frank Herbert novel, 1984 David Lynch movie)

P.S. As a bonus, can you find the name of an animal in 5 letters, perform the same translation and come up with a fabric?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 2): They're both trees -- but quick, are they synonyms?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 2): They're both trees -- but quick, are they synonyms?:

Q: Rearrange the letters in CHARADES, to make two words that are synonyms. What are they?

My first attempt resulted in CEDAR and ASH -- while they may both be trees they certainly they aren't synonyms (anymore than black and white could be considered synonyms). But I do have the correct answer, and I've already given you a couple clues...

Edit: The title has a dash in it... and mentions being quick. And later on there is another dash and a mention of black and white which, among other things, are types of races. So the answer is:

A: CHARADES --> DASH + RACE

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 26): Providing clues in close to realtime

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 26): Providing clues in close to realtime:

Q: Name an event at which food is served (eight letters). Inside this word is the name of a food in four letters. Remove these four letters, and the remaining four letters, in order, will name another food. What words are these?

I'm not sure if I have the intended answer or not. The foods seemed to be right there in the answer without having to look "inside" too hard.

Edit: I'm still not sure if this is the intended answer or not, so we'll see on Sunday. The clue to my answer was in the title "close to realtime" which should have made you think of...

A: MEALTIME --> MEAT + LIME

Edit: Indeed my answer was not the intended answer. 'L' from the comments notes that the intended answer is probably:
A: CLAMBAKE --> LAMB + CAKE

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 19): Music Is in the Air

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 19): Music Is in the Air:

Rearrange the letters of NITROGEN to get a familiar word everyone knows, that did not exist 10 years ago. What is it?

The title was intended for the on-air puzzle, not the challenge for the week. Or was it?

Edit: I have to think the title was a deliberate hint since there is no mention of air in the on-air puzzle, just musical instruments. And air is 78 percent nitrogen. So the answer is...

A: NITROGEN --> RINGTONE

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 12): No Help Today

I'll be on vacation this next week, so I won't be able to post clues about the puzzle.

Edit: For completeness, here's last week's puzzle and answer:

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 12): No Help Today

Q: Think of a pair of words that commonly go together. They're part of a larger group, but this pair of words is commonly said together. The first word contains a "W" sound without the letter "W" being in it. And the second word contains a "W" that is silent. (The pronunciation of the word wouldn't be changed if you remove the "W.") Name this pair of words.

The date of the puzzle was August 12, made up of the digits "1" and "2". I wonder if that was a hint?

A: ONE, TWO

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 5): Outdoor Activity Puzzle

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 5): Outdoor Puzzle:

Q: Think of a six-letter word ending in a vowel that names something worn outdoors. Change the vowel to a 'G' and you'll name a popular outdoor activity. What activity is it?

I have the answer to the two pieces of the puzzle, but trying to come up with a good clue is taking a toll on my brain.

Edit: Check the answer and the clues should be obviously (two piece, "a toll" as in Bikini Atoll)

A: BIKINI --> BIKING

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 29): A Tale of Two Movies

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 29): A Tale of Two Movies:

Q: Name a well-known movie in five letters, two syllables. The vowel sound in the first syllable is a short 'i.' Change that vowel to a long 'i' and phonetically, you'll name another famous movie, in six letters. What movies are these?

A couple hints: An older film and a more recent film. Also, the answers don't actually share a lot of letters in common. So there you go, I've kept you in suspense until later in the week...

A: Sicko (2007) and Psycho (1960)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 22): Sly as a Fox

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 22): Sly as a Fox:

Q: Think of an adjective that would describe a fox. Remove all the letters in the even positions — second, fourth, sixth, etc. The remaining letters, in order, will answer this clue: Fox's natural rival... what is it?

This puzzle was initially posted on the NPR website saying "A fox's natural rival". The new wording seems to imply that this involves the Fox network, Fox News, Fox Sports, 20th Century Fox, etc. I first thought that it might be CRAFTY --> CAT, but that doesn't make sense. Then I thought the answer might be CUNNING --> CNN, but that only works if you take out an additional N. Anyone else have the answer?

Edit: Okay, I'm going with JJ's submitted answer (see comments). Listening to the puzzle, Will definitely left out the article 'a'. Given that the posted puzzle changed from 'A fox's...' to 'Fox's...' I have to assume that this implies that it isn't the animal. I think the answer is CNN, but I just didn't have the right adjective. And yes, CANINE can be used as an adjective too.

A: CANINE --> CNN

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 15): Outdoor Sports Centre

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 15): Outdoor Sports Centre:

Q: Name two outdoor sports or games in seven letters. The first two letters of the first sports name are the same as the first two letters in the second sports name. And the last two letters of the first sports name are the same as the last two letters in the second sports name. Hint: The names do not end in 'N-G.' What sports or outdoor games are these?

Incidentally, I'll be travelling on holiday shortly (gone for a fortnight), so I won't be able to post clues or answers during that time. You'll just have to get your clues from listening to the NPR programme. Cheerio!

Edit: Well, I'm a little late in getting this updated. The hints (centre, travelling, holiday, fortnight, programme, cheerio) were obviously pointing to sports that are typically British. So time for the answer:

A: CRICKET and CROQUET

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 8): Going Places

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 8): Going Places:

Q: Name a place where most people would like to go. The name of this place contains the letter 'V' somewhere inside it. Replace the 'V' with 'T' and 'H' to name a person you wouldn't expect to go there. Who is it and what's the place?

I can tell you I wouldn't want to be heading there anytime soon... but perhaps some day.

Edit: I doubt anyone needed help on this one.

A: HEAVEN --> HEATHEN