Independent

A strange one this. Certainly very tough, and I found it hard to get any momentum going. Spotting the theme late didn’t help, of course. In fact, there are elements of it that … Read more >>

Solving today’s crossword has made a not insignificant contribution to my vocabulary, both for new words in the language (such as at 6 and 15) and for words which have doubtless been around … Read more >>

Hmmm, I’ve got mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, I would have liked to have had more time at it (on a Bank Holiday for example!), but a lack of … Read more >>

As elegant an offering from Dac as I can remember. The surfaces are uniformly excellent and all make good sense, and there is nothing at all that I can see as being remotely … Read more >>

Tuesday and a sterling effort from Radian, I was a bit nervous after struggling with one or two of his in the past. . When I say sterling, I meant Sterling; Latin isn’t … Read more >>

My first foray into blogging a daily cryptic, so a slightly (actually, very) scary moment.  But Quixote’s clear cluing got me over the line eventually, with only a couple of the final solutions … Read more >>

My first non-Quixote Independent on Sunday blog, and this week it’s Hypnos. This – perhaps appropriately – seemed a shade easier than I recall previous Hypnos puzzles being. I had to rely on … Read more >>

I’m not sure but I think this is his first grid in the Saturday Prize slot. I certainly found it tougher than usual for a Morph, (only 4 answers entered on first pass … Read more >>

Great stuff as ever from our resident Friday setter. Elegant surfaces, excellent wordplay, no quibbles. All good. It may be coincidence, but is that a setter’s name Nina that I see in the … Read more >>

Solving time : Absolutely ages. There was a time when I went eagerly to Anax’s crosswords but recently they seem to have been becoming so impossibly difficult that I tend not to do … Read more >>

The usual exquisite clueing by Dac, some fantastic surfaces but lovely stuff as ever, one of his more gentle offerings. Sorry this is a bit rushed, so a fairly bare-boned blog today. Across … Read more >>

This was my first attempt at blogging a Scorpion puzzle, and as soon as I noticed there was a theme, I wondered if I’d make my blogging deadline: I tend to relish thematic … Read more >>

Enjoyable puzzle from Klingsor.   I found it very much on the easy side of the Indy spectrum, 21 mins.   No theme or Nina that I spotted but as always happy to be … Read more >>

I don’t know what’s happened to the scheduled blogger today but as he hasn’t turned up here is a quick analysis of the clues. As I solved this puzzle a week ago I don’t remember … Read more >>

A pleasing puzzle from Nestor this week. Certainly, a little easier than the last couple of weeks. Some lovely clues 28 across was probably my favourite – quite surreal, though there were other … Read more >>