My second Peter blog and a nice gentle start to the crosswording week
Independent
Independent on Sunday 1,414 by Hoskins
Another good Sunday puzzle from Hoskins. This one all fell into place in a straightforward manner, without any obvious sticking points. As such, there’s very little I can add, though that isn’t in … Read more >>
Independent 9506 / Nimrod
Well, what can we say? We really struggled to get started and wondered whether we would have to ‘phone a friend’ or admit defeat. In the end it was definitely one of those puzzles … Read more >>
Independent 9,505 by Phi
This must be the smallest 15×15 crossword ever published in a national daily, having only 20 clues. The Times Quick Cryptic, which is 13×13, seldom has so few clues, but really this is one of the few 13×13 cryptics of 20 clues, with some answers lengthened. Four long acrosses and four long downs are the reason for the brevity. Phi has managed to make it all look sensible enough, though, and it must have been quite difficult to fit those long answers in.
As usual all very pleasant, as we have come to expect from Phi.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Independent 9504 / Tees
It took us a little while to get into Tees’ offering today, but in preparing the blog, we’re not quite sure why. Apart from a couple of references that we had to check … Read more >>
Independent 9,503 / Dac
Although it is the last Wednesday of the month, when we might expect a stand-in compiler for him, Dac is here nonetheless with his latest puzzle, fidèle au poste! I actually found this … Read more >>
Independent 9502 / Radian
Radian provides us with one of those themed puzzles where you don’t need to spot the theme. . The theme was digging for archaeological evidence or buried treasure with many entries … Read more >>
Independent 9,501 by Gila
Quite a tough puzzle in places with some neatly deceptive clues.
Independent on Sunday 1413/Daedalus
Today is Mothering Sunday, and I need a cuddle from our mam after having to solve and parse this offering from Daedalus. More importantly, I need help from you kind folk to parse … Read more >>
Independent 9,500 by Klingsor
A pleasingly round-numbered puzzle from Klingsor today. Klingsor does crop up on Saturdays fairly regularly, though without wishing to sound over-confident, this one seemed relatively tractable for that day of the week. In … Read more >>
Independent 9499 / Phi
A fairly straightforward solve from Phi this week. For once the theme was so obvious, we couldn’t help but think that maybe there were more thematic entries than the obvious ones … Read more >>
Independent 9,498 / Serpent
Serpent has directed his cruciverbal venom at us this Thursday morning. How many of us had the antidote to it? I did have the antidote to it, although it took it quite some … Read more >>
Independent 9497 / Crosophile
Crosophile provides us a puzzle today where he highlights the theme himself rather than leaving us to wonder if there is a theme. . The theme is based around MOTHERs and FATHERs. … Read more >>
Independent 9,496 by Maize
So far as I can see Maize has appeared twice before. You wouldn’t know that he was fairly new, though, since this is a quite outstanding puzzle. On the hard side but more often than not once the answer became clear I was inwardly congratulating Maize rather than grumbling. There are some marvellous clues and I hope we see plenty more of this setter.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Independent 9495/Silvanus
Unless it’s another setter masquerading under a different pseudonym (which has happened), then welcome to another new compiler in the Indy, Silvanus. You can’t say that the Ed hasn’t introduced some new talent … Read more >>