Nothing too tricksy from Rufus, but lots of fun…
Beelzebub 1,281
I seem to have managed to complete this with barely a scribble or a note on the paper, so I assume it must have been fairly smooth going. That said, 10 and 24 … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 776/Moley
An unexceptionable Quiptic from Moley this morning. Which is what Quiptics are meant to be. Plenty of anagrams to get you going, and generally clear cluing otherwise. A good number of clues with … Read more >>
Independent 8723/Raich
The editor reverting to form today, giving us a gentle introduction to the week with a well-constructed and clearly-clued puzzle from Raich. Ideal for improving solvers and no doubt a pleasant stroll for … Read more >>
Cyclops 530: Don’t panic!
Some nice clues from Cyclops this week, with the usual scattering of scurrilous and misleading surface reading. I completed it in the course a a not-very-long bus journey, which indicates that it wasn’t … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,283 by Poins
Sorry Poins old chap, you’ve drawn me yet again and I must admit I found this one quite tough. A week later I still don’t appear to have completed the top left corner … Read more >>
Everyman 3,546
A lot of cryptic defs I thought this week
AZED No. 2,207 Plain
A unusual grid from AZED this week.
Enigmatic Variations No.1139 – Remake by Stick Insect
Remakes and original productions? Personally, I’m hoping it’s about ‘Robocop’, although I accept that may be unlikely. This being the EVs, it might just as well be about the creation of the world…
Independent 8716 (Sat 20-Sep 2014) Alchemi
Alchemi gives us a fun, themed puzzle on the easy side for a Prize crossword – if you knew the subject. Happily I did. The theme is Kenneth More (3D) and five of … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,370 by Paul
Harder than usual for Paul, it took me a long while to get going on this one – until the theme was uncovered. A typically inventive and varied puzzle from Paul, and (mostly) very entertaining.
Financial Times 14,737 by ALBERICH
Such a wonderful puzzle from Alberich. Pity it wasnt my best day in the sun, especially coming a cropper against the SE corner. Amongst several gems of clues, 26ac was vastly ingenious. Thanks to Gaufrid for sprucing up and providing a backbone to an otherwise ordinary blog. There will be several opportunities to improve upon the parsing below so I hope collectively we are in good shape by the end of the day.
Independent 8721 / Phi
A return to normality with Phi on a Friday. There are a couple of composers in the grid today and a few musical references in the clues, but nothing strong … Read more >>
Guardian 26,375 by Paul
Got into this quickly…
Independent 8,720 by Hob
Poor old Hob — this is his third in a row that has fallen to me. Not that I personally really mind, for this was a very pleasant crossword. There are one or two clues about which I’m not sure but no doubt someone will come to the rescue.
Read round the unches from the bottom left in the two ways to the top right to get the Nina. It was published on September 17th 1954, so this is a few days late for the 60th anniversary. There don’t seem to be any references in the answers, but one of the clues mentions Jack, so perhaps there is something I can’t see.
Definitions underlined.