Financial Times 13,511 / Cincinnus
A straightfoward, elegant puzzle from Cincinnus. It is a high point in solving when the last few answers come not with looking up aids for unfamiliar facts but with delightful ‘aha’ moments. This … Read more >>
Month: October 2010
Financial Times 13,510 / Sleuth
Something of a geographic safari today, with a trinity of African countries/cities cropping up in the wordplay and answers (oh, and not forgetting Simon Le Bon’s favourite North American river too). I have … Read more >>
Independent 7481 by Bannsider
Bannsider today, not sure I’ve seen him other than Saturday before. If there are any Nina type things I’ve completely missed it. Pretty tough I thought. There’s one I can’t see at all … Read more >>
Guardian 25,135 – Gordius
A typically mixed bag from Gordius, with some reasonable clues but a lot of what I think is rather loose wordplay, and not much wit to compensate. Specific niggles listed below.. … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,501 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 27 September 2010 Another light and easy puzzle from our regular week-opener, Dante. ACROSS 1 ASSUME AS (when) SUME (rev of EMUS, birds) 4 GRAFFITO *(a gift for) a … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,500 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 25 Another great one from Cincinnus. I would say that 17A, 19A, 24A, 1D and 4D are rather run-of-the-mill clues but the rest are typical … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,509 / Aardvark
A pleasant enough puzzle that would suit those who don’t like double or cryptic definitions since only one clue did not involve a charade, anagram or other wordplay. There did however seem to … Read more >>
Guardian 25,134 – Orlando
A pleasant challenge from Orlando with a cute mini-theme around “11”. 14a, 16 and 17 were especially nice. Across 9 HINDEMITH HIND=back + EMI=record company + TH[e] 10 OPRAH rev(HARPO) Marx 11 LATERAL … Read more >>
Independent 7480/Dac
One runs out of words of praise for Dac’s crosswords: as always this is full of smooth clues with elegant surfaces. Often they need no explanation after the answers have been broken into their … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1145 – Ulula by Ikela
This was a fairly gentle Inquisitor (solved in under an hour) with a pleasant theme for solvers of my generation. Redundant letters provided by wordplay spelled out a “suggested title for a notional … Read more >>
Independent 7,479/Math
Looking back over the year, this seems to be only the 4th Math puzzle we’ve had in 2010. If last year’s stats are anything to go by, we should be due two more … Read more >>
Guardian 25133 Paul – Do The Bossa Nova
WOW! A follow-on from one of my favourite setters. I am indeed blessed. As to be expected, Paul combines linguistic intrigue with a generous sense of humour, making his puzzles so challenging, yet … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,508 / Neo
Some good stuff here; 2 down and 3 down are lovely discoveries. Across 1 CLASSICAL LASS (girl) in CI (Channel Islands) + CAL (state) 6 COPRA OP. (work) in *(CAR) 9 CHAPATI CHAP … Read more >>
Independent 7478 by Anax
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism The online version had the compiler as Anaz this morning, but the printed version says Anax. I found the puzzle a bit of a … Read more >>
Guardian 25132 / Rufus
A tougher than normal puzzle from Rufus, I thought, but perhaps just because of quite a few gaps in my knowledge. (See below.) Very smooth surface readings, as ever – my particular favourite … Read more >>