Independent 7370 by Hypnos
Posted by NealH on 31st May 2010
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism
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Posted in Independent | 6 Comments »
Archive for May, 2010
Guardian 25,024 – Rufus
Posted by Andrew on 31st May 2010
Very easy Bank Holiday fare from Rufus today, though with the usual wit and elegant surface readings.
Posted in Guardian | 19 Comments »
AZED No. 1,982 Plain
Posted by The Trafites on 30th May 2010
Nick: Typically nice AZED this week which I feel was a tad more difficult than some weeks. I had to use Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable to confirm 28dn and fully understand the reference in 12dn (I have added information internet links to these clues).
Posted in Azed | 9 Comments »
Everyman No. 3321 (23rd May)
Posted by The Trafites on 30th May 2010
Lorraine: Nice easy plod along this week, had to look up 1 down and 7 down to confirm my guesses. Can’t say any one clue was particularly outstanding as I always enjoy all the clues; thanks again Everyman 
Posted in Everyman | 13 Comments »
Guardian 25,017 (Sat 22 May)/Araucaria – A smile a minute
Posted by rightback on 29th May 2010
Solving time: 8 mins
For Araucaria this was surprisingly straightforward, but that’s probably just as well with a bank holiday special due this week. One of the reasons for the lower-than-average difficulty was the high number of clues which were solvable from the definition, especially the long answers; the mini-theme of photography, possibly inspired by the answer to 27ac, also helped.
Posted in Guardian | 21 Comments »
Enigmatic Variations No. 915 For The Books by Charybdis
Posted by twencelas on 29th May 2010
Well a complex preamble this week – certainly one that won’t make sense till 11 down is derived. On first reading it sounds like a puzzle based upon a literary character. Then there’s an adjustment to the “completed” grid with a recommendation to use a pencil first. Personally I like the satisfaction of watching the grid filling up with black ink! – So it was ink for me on a copy first.
Posted in Enigmatic Variations | 2 Comments »
Independent 7,368/Phi
Posted by Ali on 28th May 2010
Good stuff as ever from Phi, and we have a pangram to boot. I was frustratingly defeated by the final two clues though! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 7 Comments »
Financial Times 13,397 / Bradman
Posted by shuchi on 28th May 2010
Bradman gives us his trademark &lit clues for the long slots and general solid clueing all round. There are some superbly smooth clue surfaces, as in 20A and 9D. A very enjoyable solve.
Posted in FT | 6 Comments »
Financial Times 13,396 / Mudd
Posted by smiffy on 27th May 2010
A steady and gentle jog-trot today. No brain-busting vocab requirements, and I think the xwd editor was wise to slot this one into a Thursday, rather than the weekend edition (where Mudd’s more time-consuming puzzles typically reside).
Posted in FT | 9 Comments »
Independent 7,367 by Yorick
Posted by Simon Harris on 27th May 2010
Cursory research suggests Yorick to be a new setter for us to lock horns with, though I say that with some caution as we’ve seen familiar setters use unfamiliar pseudonyms in the past. This was an interesting puzzle, with two very long answers – anagrams of each other – forming the bulk of the across entries. Fortunately there were enough quite easy down clues to help things get going.
Posted in Independent | 24 Comments »
Independent 7,363 by Scorpion (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 22/05/10)
Posted by Simon Harris on 27th May 2010
Whilst I used to be pretty well intimidated by Scorpion puzzles, these days I tend to enjoy them a great deal. This was the expected combination of a fairly stiff challenge and moments of humour. While not overly difficult, I did struggle with a couple, and 26ac, which may be my favourite clue here, took quite some working out.
Posted in Independent | 13 Comments »
Guardian 25,021 / Shed
Posted by Eileen on 27th May 2010
Well, Andrew’s observation turned out right again. I’ve looked forward for a long time to blogging my first Shed, especially since his RHOTIC clue last year, and this didn’t disappoint. [There is even a mini-theme of homophones, only one of which would have caused my husband [and my choirmaster] to look askance!] I found it quite a challenge [one explanation is still eluding me] but ultimately rewarding, as always. Thank you, Shed.
Posted in Guardian | 40 Comments »
Independent on Sunday 1058 by Quixote 23rd May 2010
Posted by Handel on 27th May 2010
Well, this will be appearing on Sloggers and Betters day, so we’re looking forward to putting faces to pseudonyms. Did this relatively quickly, apart from 1 down, which we didn’t figure out until writing the blog.
Posted in Independent | 3 Comments »
Inquisitor 1126: Area Code by Ikela
Posted by kenmac on 27th May 2010
Pretty easy going at first. I had the grid (with the exception of the four thematics) filled in about an hour. The thematics, however, proved a little troublesome until the penny dropped.
Posted in Inquisitor | 3 Comments »
Financial Times 13,387 – Dante
Posted by Uncle Yap on 27th May 2010
Monday Prize Crossword on 17 May 2010
Once again, a gentle start to the week with the maestro of the slick and smooth clues. However, I do have an aversion to repetition of the same device in the same puzzle (see 11 Down)
Posted in FT | 8 Comments »
Financial Times 13,386 by Mudd
Posted by Pete Maclean on 27th May 2010
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 15
I consider this an outstanding puzzle by Mudd. He gives us a lot of clever cryptic definitions (e.g. 1A, 13A, 6D), some clues that I found challenging (mostly in the top-right) and one that I was not able to fully figure out (10D).
Posted in FT | 2 Comments »
Independent 7366 by Dac
Posted by nmsindy on 26th May 2010
The usual excellent puzzle from Dac, quite easy to start but nmsindy’s unfamiliarity with films and dogs slowed me up a bit at the end, solving time 23 mins.
Posted in Independent | 11 Comments »
Financial Times 13,395 / Cinephile
Posted by Gaufrid on 26th May 2010
Despite a less than friendly grid that only linked the four corners by one across and one down light, I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle which had some trademark clues.
Posted in FT | 12 Comments »
Guardian 25,020 – Audreus
Posted by Andrew on 26th May 2010
There were no Audreus puzzles for over a year, but now we’ve had two from her in fairly quick succession (the last was on 9th April). On past form it’s a fairly safe prediction that Thursday’s setter will be Shed, who is Audreus’s son. This one was very straightforward but enjoyable in a gentle way.
Posted in Guardian | 26 Comments »
Financial Times 13,394 / Neo
Posted by Gaufrid on 25th May 2010
Agentzero is busy today so I’m afraid you will have to put up with me (again!).
Posted in FT | 10 Comments »
Guardian 25,019 – Gordius
Posted by Uncle Yap on 25th May 2010
Gordius follows Gordius and today’s offering is just as varied and quite a delight to solve. Nothing very complicated except possibly for 11Down where there appeared to be a hard-boiled egg in the soup.
Before I forget, I must thank Gaufrid for so ably covering for me when I visited Shanghai recently to attend the World Expo. I must say I was impressed with the British Pavilion which featured The Dandelion, a very artistic and innovative presentation, made from 60,000 Perspex spines, each containing a seed, which sway gently in the breeze.
Posted in Guardian | 37 Comments »
Independent 7365/Mordred
Posted by John on 25th May 2010
Well thank goodness for the cheat facility on the website. Without it I’d never have completed this: all the clues contain the name of some literary work, and often they are very clever, but many of them leave me cold, either because I’m not understanding them properly or because they seem to be a rather laboured way of connecting the answer to the book.
Posted in Independent | 17 Comments »
Independent 7364 by Eimi
Posted by NealH on 24th May 2010
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 16 Comments »
Guardian 25,018 by Rufus
Posted by Handel on 24th May 2010
Ahoy there, me hearties. Another sail on the high seas of Rufus. Lots of double definitions this time, which can leave us ‘all at sea’, but in this instance we made it to the shore in reasonable time.
Posted in Guardian | 25 Comments »