Independent 7264/Dac
The usual lovely thing from Dac. There’s really very little to say because everything fits so well and the clues are almost all clearly-constructed and faultless. Across 1 CO(MIC)OPER A 6 PEER — … Read more >>
Independent 7,263 by Virgilius
This was fun – a very thoroughly-themed and enjoyable puzzle from Virgilius. Whilst not unduly taxing on the whole, I imagine this one will be popular with readers. For my own part, I’ll … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,293 / Phssthpok
I enjoyed solving this puzzle but when it came to writing the blog I realized there were several clues that I wasn’t quite happy with, as noted below. That said, I thought there … Read more >>
Guardian 24917 – Paul
A fair-to-middling kind of offering from Paul with some challenging clues as well as some that raised a smile or two especially those cheeky descriptions such as item containing white in 20D. My … Read more >>
Guardian 24916 / Brendan
A very quick post today, so please accept my apologies for any errors or omissions. It probably goes without saying, given the setter, but this is great stuff – lovely surface readings, fair … Read more >>
Independent 7262 by Tees
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A delightful and very solvable puzzle from Tees. The clues were always fair, with the only obscure phrases (27 and 14) having straightforward clues. … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3303 (17th January).
Lorraine: Had trouble getting going on this one as I was poorly with flu, good old Nick jumped in to save the day though. Legend to solution comments: * = anagram. < = … Read more >>
Azed 1964
It can hardly be that I am suddenly becoming quicker at these, but I found this unusually easy. Apart from the strangeness of some of the words, it presented no more problems than … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 897 Iffy by Salamanca
The first few answers I got were an across answer that was normal and 4dn for which I though STOP was a satisfactory answer. So it took a few minutes to work out … Read more >>
Guardian 24,909 (Sat 16 Jan)/Araucaria – Last chance saloon
Solving time: 10 mins Not too difficult this week but there were several dubious clues in this (e.g. 11ac, 20ac, 1dn, 3dn, 16dn); not Araucaria’s finest, I thought. Music of the day (5dn): … Read more >>
Independent 7,260/Phi
It’s been a good week of puzzles in the Indy and a pretty tough one too. I got on fine with this one as Phi rarely puts a foot wrong with his clueing, … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,039 (17/01/10)
One of my fastest Beelzebub solves of recent times, as witnessed by me blogging this on the Sunday, for once. There is just one – at 29ac – for which I can find … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1108 – French Polish by Nutmeg
We were told that seven grid entries, clued without definition, were of a kind. Their response to an exhortation would affect the method of entry of a further seven clue answers. Further, all … Read more >>
Guardian 24914 / Araucaria
A mostly very enjoyable puzzle, with a nicely done theme. Across 1. CALIFORNIUM Two subsidiary indicators here: (a) A Latinist might say Californium is the singular of California (“state”) (b) CALIF = “leader … Read more >>
Independent 7255 by Nimrod (Sat 16-Jan)
With his trademark 15-letter answers you certainly get your money’s worth from Nimrod. This took me ages, of course, and couldn’t have finished without a bit of dictionary-bashing etc. I found the bottom … Read more >>