manehi – Page 33 – Fifteensquared

Guardian Cryptic 27,132 by Sphinx – TV SPOILERS

Thu December 6, 2018 at 2:52 pmTue February 28, 2017 at 11:07 pm by manehi

[iPlayer link, available for a few weeks]

Guardian Cryptic 27,132 by Sphinx

Tue February 28, 2017 at 11:47 pmTue February 28, 2017 at 1:21 am by manehi

The first Sphinx puzzle I’ve seen, and a bit of a mixed bag. Mostly clever with some obscure words and some awkward parsing. Favourites were 20ac and 8dn. Thanks, Sphinx

Edit: since blogging, the online version of the puzzle has added [italics mine]:

“Special instructions: Having solved this puzzle, tonight’s episode of ‘Inside No 9’ on BBC2 at 10pm would interest you”

The episode is titled ‘The Riddle of the Sphinx’, and involves a cryptic setter and a woman named Nina… [BBC link] [Fifteensquared post]

Second Edit: [Link to a separate post with spoilers for the TV episode]

Guardian Cryptic 27,125 by Rufus

Mon February 20, 2017 at 3:06 pmMon February 20, 2017 at 1:14 am by manehi

Nice and mostly very straightforward – favourites 9ac, 11ac, 30ac, and 6dn. Thanks, Rufus.

Guardian Cryptic 27,123 by Crucible

Fri February 17, 2017 at 8:06 amFri February 17, 2017 at 2:40 am by manehi

Found this quite tricky…

Guardian Cryptic 27,116 by Picaroon

Thu February 9, 2017 at 9:01 amThu February 9, 2017 at 1:46 am by manehi

Lovely stuff from Picaroon – favourites were 9dn and 22dn.

Guardian Cryptic 27,109 by Arachne

Wed February 1, 2017 at 8:53 am by manehi

A rare pleasure to see Arachne. Favourites were 25a, 27a, 15d, 19d, and 24d.

Guardian Cryptic 27,102 by Brummie

Tue January 24, 2017 at 8:58 am by manehi

Great fun – favourites were 12ac, 3dn and 19dn. Was on the lookout for a theme but couldn’t spot one. Thanks, Brummie.

Guardian Cryptic 27,095 by Rufus

Mon January 16, 2017 at 1:02 pmMon January 16, 2017 at 7:18 am by manehi

A nice start to the week with Rufus’s trademark smooth surfaces. Favourites were 1dn and 17dn – thanks, Rufus.

Guardian Cryptic 27,093 by Paul

Fri January 13, 2017 at 5:00 pmFri January 13, 2017 at 4:23 am by manehi

Got stuck a few times but it was well worth the struggle. Favourites were 1ac, 23ac, 2dn and 4dn. Thanks, Paul

Guardian Cryptic 27,086 by Paul

Thu January 5, 2017 at 10:40 pmThu January 5, 2017 at 1:44 am by manehi

Admittedly vague memories of The Winter’s Tale…

Guardian Cryptic 27,079 by Picaroon

Wed December 28, 2016 at 1:47 am by manehi

Very nice…

Guardian Cryptic 27,072 by Chifonie

Tue December 20, 2016 at 3:10 am by manehi

Fairly gentle with a lot of nice clues – favourites were 22ac, 2dn and 24dn. Thanks to Chifonie

Guardian Cryptic 27,065 by Rufus

Mon December 12, 2016 at 1:14 am by manehi

Nicely clued, and a very friendly grid. Favourites were 1ac, 22ac and 16dn. Thanks, Rufus.

Guardian Cryptic 27,063 by Nutmeg

Fri December 9, 2016 at 8:29 am by manehi

A very enjoyable challenge, with plenty of misdirection. Favourites were 15ac, 1dn and 2dn. Thanks, Nutmeg

Guardian Cryptic 27,056 by Boatman

Thu December 1, 2016 at 11:19 amThu December 1, 2016 at 1:42 am by manehi

Was grateful for the long answer going in almost immediately – a lot of parsing-after today. Nice use of a betting theme in so many of the surfaces. Favourite was 5dn, and I also liked 11ac, 21ac, and the definition [and eventually the wordplay] in 15/4/7/24. Thanks, Boatman