Never knowingly undersolved
An interesting preamble this week. Certainly not at all clear on first reading it – will it become clearer when the clues are solved? Clues are normal bar 1ac (no definition) and some … Read more >>
Hi everyone. A brief one from me this week as I have nothing much to report. The most important factor, enjoyment, was certainly there as expected though. Thanks proXimal – and happy 1500th … Read more >>
The continental theme seems to have ‘drifted’ on beyond ‘Ladies’ Month’, with Gaston taking us to THE SOUTH AMERICAN ONE this week: Will it be a road to Rio? Will it be Chile when we get there? Will we catch a boat to Bolivia?
The preamble
“A letter must fall out wherever it occurs from a thematic (or related) answer in each of the central nine columns, dropping into the bottom row to form THE AUSTRALASIAN ONE which, along with two thematic answers, is not in Chambers Dictionary (2016), which is otherwise recommended. Enumerations refer to grid entries.”
Some unclued entries, and some shading to complete the puzzle. Normal clues so should be straight forward. Some trickyish clues (to be honest) with obscure defintions but all completely fair. 30ac had me … Read more >>
Hi all. Thanks to Vismut for another fun puzzle with a theme I enjoyed finding – and finding out about. The preamble reads: The 24 unnumbered clues contain an extra translated word … Read more >>
Skylark seems to be transporting us to the African continent this week, unless the title is a deliberately cryptic mislead?…
“The unclued entry at 6 down (three words) is the title of a version – THE NORTH AMERICAN ONE – of an earlier work. Each of the first three clues is really two clues side by side but not overlapping, leading to the two numbered entries (either may be clued first). Their answers, thematically placed, hint at two opposing groups. The wordplay in 17 of the remaining across clues leads to the answer plus an extra letter not to be entered in the grid. The extra letters spell out the surnames of the two creators of the work. In the completed grid, solvers must highlight the first names of two protagonists and the place they desire. ”
A favourite setter of mine, who I have enjoyed many a tussle with over the years. His final EV. Seems a bit pointless to thank someone after they have passed on, but Schadenfreude/ … Read more >>
Hi everyone, and thanks to Charybdis for a good challenge which I much enjoyed. The preamble reads: Set A clues are arranged in alphabetical order of answers, not all of which enter … Read more >>
I blogged Wickball’s most recent EV – EV 1439, back in the depths of the first lockdown – which I introduced as ‘A pretty complicated preamble, and a pretty complicated solve…‘, sentiments I feel the need to repeat here!
The preamble
“Answers to the four asterisked clues are to be encoded using a Playfair code-square before entry in the grid. The three unclued entries have been encoded using the same code-square, as has BORICAHF. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended. ”
Normal clues, but all 3 and 4 letter entries require amendment before entry. Two names to find (in 22 letters in the same position in 5/6/ letter clues) and finally a thematic replacement … Read more >>
Hi all. This is the second Kruger EV I have encountered and I would be happy to come back for more. The preamble reads: Nine clues each contain a misprint in their … Read more >>
Chalicea presents us with a poetic theme in DIFFERENCE. Poetry has never really been my thing, but I’ve now had two in a row, after EV 1483 – and this one is bound to be equally educational for me!…