I see with some surprise that I’ve been blogging of Fifteensquared for just over eleven years, but this, my 699th contribution, is the first for The Independent. Not surprisingly on a Friday, it’s a Phi, so thanks to him.
Independent
Independent 10,264 / Serpent
Serpent has provided our cruciverbal entertainment this Thursday morning, on a grid leaving scope for a Nina. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, which gave me a good workout as a solver and an … Read more >>
Independent 10263 / Eccles
Eccles is now the regular Wednesday setter for Independent weekday puzzles. Eccles usually produces crosswords without gimmicks or messages and this is the case today (unless I have missed something) … Read more >>
Independent 10,262 by Wiglaf
An enjoyable crossword from Wiglaf: nothing very controversial so far as I can see, and it was neither too easy nor impossibly difficult. Some good clues.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,261 by Tees
Tees provides yet another witty puzzle for a Monday. I took a bit longer than usual to finish it, but I think that’s just my post-holiday brain; everything was clear (eventually) and fairly clued.
Independent on Sunday 1540 Hoskins
Thanks Hoskins. Witty surfaces here. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Master with gas released big noises (9) MEGASTARS : Anagram of(… released) [MASTER plus(with) GAS]. Defn: VVIPs. 6 Man that … Read more >>
Independent 10,260 by Klingsor (Saturday Puzzle 31 Aug 2019)
Some fun and games in a nicely ‘accessible'(?) puzzle from Klingsor today… My favourite surface read was probably 20D – ‘Apple runs America, agreed?’ for RUSSET; closely followed by the RICH deep-FRIED diet … Read more >>
Independent 10,259 / Phi
Phi has returned to his usual Friday slot this week. This puzzle has been set on a more unusual grid, containing as many as ten 4-letter lights out of a total of 32! … Read more >>
Independent 10258 / Dalibor
Dalibor is an irregular contributor to weekday Independent puzzles but his puzzles are always challenging when they appear. There was a clear theme to today’s puzzle with allusions to a … Read more >>
Independent 10,257 by Filbert
Quite a tough crossword from Filbert today I thought — especially so for the usually quite gentle Wednesday — but well worth it. A mass of excellent clues and nothing that struck me as particularly questionable, apart from 15ac and 11dn, which are in any case only slight carps.
Definitions underlined in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Independent 10,256 by Crosophile
It’s Tuesday so what are we looking for?
Independent on Sunday 1,539 by Dill
A nicely varied mix. Thank you Dill.
Independent 10,254 by Tyrus
We hope we weren’t the only ones to find this very tough. At one point we were quite worried that we would not be able to provide a comprehensive blog. We ended up completing the bottom half first, hoping that this would open up the top half which only had 9ac, 10ac & 11ac written in.
Independent 10253 / Phi
This is the third Phi in a row on Fridays, so perhaps he is back to his normal weekly position. after a few weeks of random / thematic days for his puzzles … Read more >>