An enjoyably satisfactory crossword from Wiglaf today. It seemed to me that it was on the hard side, but everything (except for the doubt mentioned below) is solid and convincing.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
John
Independent 10,214 by Knut
Apart from my criticisms, which are detailed in the blog, Knut has given us his usual pleasant crossword.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,209 by Crosophile
Tough today it seemed. The theme took me a long time to see, and even now I’ve only got half of it. These crosswords with so many cross-references are very hard to get started on, because many of the clues are initially barred to you. But eventually I almost coped and it was on the whole enjoyable.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,204 by Dalibor
Dalibor is a fairly recent setter for the Indy and he is clearly worth his place there: this crossword, like its predecessors, contains some very good clues with nice misleading surfaces. And, apart from the next comment and a few very minor quibbles, they are all so far as I can see sound and good.
There are four clues which grate on me because they have <50% checking. I don’t know why this is such a bugbear — I always comment on it — since when you’re solving a clue early on you may have only one of the many letters there to help you, so why 2 out of 5 is such a problem I’m not sure: presumably it’s because Ximenes gave it as a “rule” in his famous book. At any rate no Times crossword (for many people the gold standard, whatever their views on Murdoch) ever has <50% checking.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,199 by Serpent
The usual highly enjoyable crossword from Serpent. There are some very cleverly-concealed definitions; this sometimes results in [see below]
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,190 by Punk
The usual efficient and enjoyable crossword from Punk today. Purists may say that there are rather a lot of clues where you have to use one or two letters from a word, but these are clearly indicated and it doesn’t worry me.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in brackets.
Independent 10,185 by Poins
Poins is usually in the IoS, but there are occasional weekday appearances, and we are the happier for that. This was a sound and enjoyable crossword with some very good clues.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,180 by Serpent
Serpent has become one of the most regular setters in the Indy so far as I can see, and who can object? As is customary this was a pleasant solve with some excellent … Read more >>
Independent 10, 175 by Phi
What is there to say about a Phi crossword that is new? As usual it is well-constructed with many nice clues and my guess is that my questions all have simple and convincing answers.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,166 by Crosophile
It’s Tuesday and so I was expecting a stinker. Not so it seems: here is a very pleasant crossword apparently of medium difficulty. Most of the clues can be explained with fairly straightforward parsing. My only slight criticism was the grid, which had two faults in my opinion: two of those dreaded answers where 2 out of 5 letters are checked; and after getting only a few answers one was doing two or more separate crosswords.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,161 by Morph
Since Dac’s sad death Wednesdays have been a problem. Nobody seems to have seized the day. Usually the gentle style has continued, but this crossword was an exception. Not that I have any problems though, since it was as you’d expect from Morph very good.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,156 by Dalibor
Dalibor in the Indy is new to me (and evidently to anyone: he has so far been appearing at the weekends, which I don’t do). I did one of his at a Sloggers and Betters gathering a while ago — well to say that I did it ‘at’ the meeting is to pretend that I’m one of those people who can rattle these things off while chattering away and drinking beer, which I’m not, but I finished it later and it was good and rather difficult.
The difficulty seems to have eased a little, although not much, and there are again some original and very nice clues.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,051 by Phi
The usual sharp offering from Phi. He goes on producing these things week after week (to say nothing of all his other output) and the clues remain fresh and accurate.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10142 by Knut
Excellent crossword today from Knut, which occupied me for quite a while until its secrets were revealed, but that’s just my incompetence: everything was fair and there were plenty of very nice clues.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10137 by Eccles
The very satisfactory and enjoyable production that we have come to expect from Eccles. A good collection of convincing surfaces.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.