A monster preamble this week. Also, so far as I am aware, a new setter for the EVs. Having so recently dodged a rather tough Ivor puzzle, I’m a little nervous about this unknown quantity. Who will have the last laugh?
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,107 by Araucaria
A worthy prize puzzle that took some work to get to the bottom of. A real pleasure to solve and to blog. Thank you Araucaria. Across 9 AMALEKITE A cock bird no friend … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,477 by Gaff
‘Alternative anniversaries’ preceded this puzzle which I have failed to fully explain – over to you out there to fill in the gaps Across 1 PETER GRIMES work of … Read more >>
Independent 8458 / Phi
Phi has filled his regular Friday slot with a very enjoyable puzzle. Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten, English composer. Phi has reflected that fact … Read more >>
Guardian 26,112 – Tramp
A welcome return by Tramp after a couple of months’ absence. It isn’t giving anything away to say that the clues are teeming with references to the assassination of John F Kennedy exactly … Read more >>
Financial Times no.14,476 by Sleuth
I worked my way through this while listening to the Test Match in the wee small hours, so perhaps I didn’t quite give it the attention it deserved. But I found it a … Read more >>
Independent 8,457 by Nestor
Once I must have had a bad experience with Nestor, because his crosswords always fill me with fear before I start, yet this was perfectly pleasant and accessible. There are some very nice clues … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26111 Pasquale
I found this hardgoing; a question of not being on the setter’s wavelength, I think; but managed to finally sort it out. Thanks to Pasquale. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,467 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 11 Just like last week for me a puzzle with two halves. The left hand side went in rather smoothly and had a Dante feel to it, the other half … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,466 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 9, 2013 This was another moderately easy and very satisfying Mudd. My top clues here are 13A (SWORD), 19A (ROAST) and 4D (LIFE STORY). ACROSS … Read more >>
Sloggers, betters and other cruciverbalists’ centenary convention
To commemorate the centenary of the crossword, we really should have a proper get-together for all the regulars, be they high-profile or lurkers. Everyone, from novices to occasional solvers to the all-correct Listener … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,475 by AARDVARK
I enjoyed this, varied and interesting – Aardvark rarely disappoints. A good level of difficulty too. Thank you Aardvark. Across 1 CASTLES IN THE AIR Unrealistic hopes of seeing rooks flying? (7,2,3,3) cryptic … Read more >>
Independent 8456 / Dac
Another excellently crafted puzzle from Dac today. As usual, the surface readings are all good. We’d never come across the solution to 6d before – the author is not one of our … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic N° 26,110 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26110.
Inquisitor 1307: Storm Front by Jambazi
Preamble: Sixteen cells in the completed grid, forming three interconnected straight lines, spell out a work (without its definite articles) and its format. Each clue contains a superfluous word: taken in order, the … Read more >>