A pleasant crossword from Radian: all semed straightforward enough and there were some nice clues. I have my doubts about one of them, but perhaps that’s just me being fussy.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
John
Independent 10,065 by Monk
After a run of Monk’s crosswords always being blogged by me, there has been a long gap since I had the pleasure. This is because (being so difficult?) he seems to confine himself almost completely nowadays to the Saturday Prize Puzzle.
Actually I’m not sure it really was much of a pleasure. It was remarkably difficult and it took me ages to do all but two (one of which is I now see the unconvincing homophone I had rejected), and there were some very difficult clues, with rare words and not always convincing (to me, at any rate) equivalences of words. Some years ago I used to look out for Monk crosswords because they were so good. Perhaps I’ve changed over the years.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics (not many of these, which partly explains the difficulty).
Independent 10,060 by Wiglaf
Not the world’s easiest crossword, but it is Thursday after all. No complaints though: a whole lot of very nice clues, and the only holdups were the result of my own incompetence.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,055 by Phi
Phi just goes on producing, doesn’t he. Nothing much to say about this except the usual praise for the setter. But 21dn is still a problem.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,042 by Tees
Just right for a Wednesday, the gentleness of whose crossword was established for many years by Dac. This is a worthy successor: the excellent clues are not write-ins, but there is nothing really difficult so far as I can see.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,037 by Wiglaf
Thursday tends to be the hardest day and I expected a stinker from Wiglaf, but this was hardly above medium difficulty so far as I could see. More importantly, it was very good. Plenty of nice clues and nothing really that I have anything to grumble about.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,032 by Phi
Phi never fails to produce, apparently every Friday, a thoroughly satisfactory workout. Today there is the odd query, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if my misgivings were easily enough explained.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,023 by Punk
There are a few grumbles in the blog, but nothing really of any importance and Punk has as usual delivered an enjoyable crossword.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,018 by Filbert
So much for the fairly gentle Wednesdays we had when Dac was setting. This was as hard — for me, at any rate — as anything you ever see in the Independent. My initial feeling was irritation with what seemed to be rather loose and vague clues, but it grew on me: the meaning of most of them is clear and at times Filbert has been remarkably clever and imaginative. The fact that some of them still seem to be a bit weak is probably down to me rather than to him. Or her, although the name suggests a man.
For various reasons Filbert was derided a bit to begin with but then he became much liked. This crossword looked initially like a reversion to his old habits, but I suspect I’ve missed some of his subtleties.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,013 by Hob
Quite hard work today, but no criticisms really: Hob has produced a nice crossword with some good clues, and the only delays were the result of my incompetence.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,008 by Phi
There were a few rather rare words in this crossword which I won’t mention here since a passing observer won’t want them to be given away, but you will know what they are. However, they were all as usual fairly and well clued by Phi.
Definitions, underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 9,999 by Alchemi
It seems that whoever gets me as a blogger also gets me the next time, since this has happened a bit recently, but so far as I’m concerned at any rate that’s no problem, for we have here the usual pleasant, not desperately demanding (as it so often is on Tuesdays, which was a relief), offering from Alchemi, themed around 11ac.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 9,994 by Eccles
The last time Eccles (yes me again, I’m afraid) appeared I wrote “It seems that Eccles is becoming an increasingly regular setter on Fifteensquared, filling in many of the Wednesday slots that used to be occupied by Dac. Which is appropriate, for he is a good setter, not the hardest, but always challenging enough and pleasant to solve.” I couldn’t say much more after this pleasant offering from someone who is, I’m pleased to see, becoming a fixture on Fifteensquared.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 9,989 by Hoskins
Enjoyable crossword from Hoskins, with some good clues. There seemed to be quite a lot of anagrams, some of them fairly obviously signposted as such, but this impression was created by their being largely at the beginning.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 9,984 by Phi
What can one say about Phi that is new? As always he has produced something that is uncontroversial, as I found when writing the blog: every clue can be explained simply, even though it is not always simple to solve in the first place. I thought this would be a record early blog, but, as so often seems to happen when I’m blogging, mild computer problems have caught up with me.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.