An easy challenge from ARTEXLEN this Friday morning.
Guardian 28,486 / Imogen
Imogen sets the challenge today, with his customary mix of easy and slightly tougher clues, all fair and with mostly smooth and meaningful surfaces. My favourites were 14, 16, 24, 25 and 26ac … Read more >>
Independent 10832 / Serpent
The two most recent Serpent puzzles had geological themes. What do we have this week? I can’t see any theme, but I do see that the initial letters … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,826 by LEONIDAS
Today's FT puzzle is provided by Leonidas.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1492: PTO by Charybdis
Hi everyone, and thanks to Charybdis for a good challenge which I much enjoyed. The preamble reads: Set A clues are arranged in alphabetical order of answers, not all of which enter … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,816 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 19, 2021
Guardian Cryptic 28,485 by Paul
A tough and slow solve, needing a second session to finish and blog. Favourites were 13ac, 17ac, 4dn, and 5dn. Thanks to Paul for the challenge.
Financial Times 16,825 by GOZO
A fun puzzle from Gozo, easier than usual and requiring no specialist knowledge. Thank you Gozo.
Independent 10,831 by Tees
Tees on a Wednesday – always a fun challenge.
Spectator Crossword Anniversary
A message from Tom Johnson (Doc, Gozo, Maskarade):
This week sees the 50th anniversary of the Spectator crossword.
Inquisitor 1704: Ransomware by Eclogue
Eclogue averages about three Inquisitor puzzles a year of late. Preamble: When read in clue order, the last letters of extraneous words in every clue provide a partial definition and visual context … Read more >>
Independent 10,830 by Radian
It’s Radian again on a Tuesday.
Guardian 28,484 – Vlad
Perhaps not as fearsome as Vlad can be, but no walkover, with the SW corner causing me the most trouble. No theme or Nina that I can see, but I could be missing … Read more >>
Financial Times 16824 Gurney
Thank you to Gurney. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Praise fruit Australia’s imported (8) APPLAUSE : APPLE(a fruit – that keeps the doctor away) containing(…’s imported) AUS(abbrev. for “Australia”). 5. … Read more >>
Independent 10,829 by Skinny
I've not come across this compiler before but, if it's a debut, it's an excellent one.