Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Perhaps a slight sense of bitterness that this one was not finishable for those of us with no interest in Tolkien, but apart from that … Read more >>

Another super offering from Anax.  Though I think I have seen stiffer challenges from him in the past, this was most enjoyable with a fine mix of well-formed clues.  Two or three I … Read more >>

This was very hard, with only one clue solved on first run through.   When I began to make progress, it became a little easier, and I got there in the end.   Solving time, … Read more >>

Solving time, 21 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 PANTOGRAPH (Hang pop art)* 9 MAY O 10 MALIGN (a gremlin)* less re 11 LIGHT (P) EN 12 BENE (been)* F ACTRESSES 14 SLIDER … Read more >>

A nice and quick solve for me on this one, which then gave me some time to go back over it and marvel at just how good a setter Dac is. Wonderful stuff … Read more >>

Virgilius’s theme is tricky alternatives, as we see in the three different expressions in the across clues.  As always I suspect I’m not telling the whole story. Across 9 A GREE{n} 12 yellowstonE nationaL … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def I can only recall seeing one Quaiteaux puzzle before, so a fairly infrequent contributor. This was mostly fairly straightforward with some nice CDs. There were … Read more >>

Unusual one, this. When I saw the small number of cells around the perimeter and the unusual grid (with 360 degree symmetry, I think), I thought ‘Nina’, but the only one I can … Read more >>

This is the second successive Nimrod puzzle that I have blogged for Saturday Independents, so I guess I knew what to expect in terms of both general knowledge and difficulty. Both were at … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I don't remember seeing a Tees for a little while, and this was characteristically challenging. I thought the surface readings were particularly strong, though unfortunately … Read more >>

I found this easy, solving time 14 mins * = anagram ACROSS 5 CLOT H 7 (l)OVER BO(L)D 10 STO(p) RAGE 11 REGAT T A (Great)* 12 BROT(HER)S IN ARMS (brainstorms)* 13 HO … Read more >>

Smooth and neat as always from Dac. The naturalness of his clues never ceases to amaze me. Across 1 SECOND — 2 defs, pronounced differently 4 A DV(AN CE)D 9 EX POUND 11/12 … Read more >>

Definitely one of the toughest Punks we have had for a while I thought, but wonderfully inventive clueing as we’ve come to expect. 14/18 is up there with my favourites of 2009! Across … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def Entertaining and tricksy stuff from Morph, if at times a little imprecise. Could Aztec really be described as “disused Mexican” ? And S&M probably involves … Read more >>

This was as tough for me as the first couple of Tyrus puzzles I tried in the Independent. I don’t have an accurate timing for it but would guess about 45 minutes until … Read more >>