Private Eye/Cyclops 476 – Moving Glass Top
If I say I only had 5 to go after the “first pass” (all clues attempted) that will make it seem it was a easy Eye crossword or else I was on fire. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,173
This felt like a relatively mid-paced week, but a handful took quite some effort to explain. 10ac still has me beaten, so I’ve reproduced the clue in the hope that a passing reader … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,175 by Hypnos
A fairly swift solve this week, although I’m sure I’ve struggled a little with Hypnos in the past. I liked that Hypnos managed to work some quite involved wordplay into several clues, without … Read more >>
AZED No. 2,099 Plain
Nick: Fairly easy Azed this week, 5/10 for me. This was a tale of two halves, the top half going in very quickly, with the bottom half following at a slower (but still quick) … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3438 (26th August)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all, It took me a while to get started on this weeks offering. First two in were 9ac and 14dn. Once I got started everything fell into place. Favourites … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 110 – Picaroon
As the instructions say: “All clues are normal [phew!]. Half of the 28 solutions must be turned round and entered in the grid backwards.” This meant filling in answers in pencil until their … Read more >>
Independent 8070 / Anax (Saturday Prize Crossword 25/08/2012)
We always look forward to tackling Anax puzzles, albeit with a slight sense of trepidation at the devilish nature of his clueing. This lived up to our expectations, and despite some unusual words, … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1032: 12 Down by Syd Lexis
This puzzle had what seemed a rather daunting preamble: across entries intersecting the unclued 12D had to lose ‘something’ which could be construed as a ‘mistake’, replaced by a letter to help form 12D, and … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 25,724 by Araucaria
I have been lucky to get to blog yet another Araucaria holiday special – this one is delightful! I was only vaguely familiar with Robert Browning so I enjoyed finding out more. Many of … Read more >>
Guardian 25,729 – Araucaria
Good fun (with a few niggles) from the Guardian’s premier setter. The key answer at 9dn was a write-in, giving away the theme of Prime Ministers (all of the recent ones back to … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,097 by Gurney
Smashing puzzle from Gurney Across 1 CAMSHAFT (engine part) MAC< (Scot returned) SHAFT (small handle) 5 ÉCLAIR (cake) (CAL[o]RIE)* 10 SCAMPER (run) S (second) CAMPER (van) 11 UKRAINE (country) UK … Read more >>
Independent 8075 / Phi
I feel that this was a fairly standard offering from Phi today. No themes, messages, or pangrams that I can see, just a sound national daily crossword puzzle that some solvers can complete … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,096 – Alberich
There is no blog so far for this splendid Alberich puzzle. Therefore, until someone turns up, I stand up and deliver one (a simple one, that is). Being a fan of this setter … Read more >>
Guardian 25728/Orlando
The blogger for today seems not to have been able to post, so here’s a quick review of what I thought was an excellent puzzle from Orlando. There are a few I can’t … Read more >>
Independent 8074/Klingsor
Klingsor has produced a fine crossword today. Many of the clues are quite excellent, and although one might criticise the fact that perhaps rather a lot use the device of getting one or … Read more >>