Posted by petebiddlecombe on 19th March 2009
Solving time: about 2 hours, with reference help
This puzzle presented thematic material in a novel way in the grid, and from each clue. We were told that the perimeter contained a writer and his description of what his works were about. Letters to be removed from each clue before solving provided four of his works (short of an initial “The”). We also had to highlight the writer’s name and “sixteen other symmetrically disposed cells”. The letters dropped from clues always left real words behind – which seems a neater piece of work than the common “wordplay leads to answer plus the extra letter I need”. It was soon clear that various answers (8 of them, it turned out) were too long for their grid entries. I should have seen immediately that these were connected somehow to the 16 squares to shade, but missed that until nearly the end.
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Posted in Inquisitor | 6 Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 19th March 2009
This was a marvellous crossword, many thanks, Mordred. Great clues all through, very difficult (solving time, 53 mins) but very satisfying to finish. There’s also quite a subtle Nina (hidden message not necessary for solving). I refer to this after the clue explanations.
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Posted in Independent | 8 Comments »
Posted by Andrew on 19th March 2009
Either this was a very difficult puzzle, or I just wasn’t on Paul’s wavelength today. It took me ages to get started, and things didn’t get much better even when I’d finally got a few answers. A real struggle, and as a result not as enjoyable as Paul usually is, but again maybe it’s just me.
Key:
dd = double definition
cd = cryptic definition
* = anagram
< = reverse
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Posted in Guardian | 51 Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 19th March 2009
I find Quixote the easiest of the Indy setters – I solved this in 11 mins. I recommend it, along with Everyman in the Observer, to those thinking of first dipping their toes in the waters of the cryptic puzzle.
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Posted in Independent | No Comments »
Posted by smiffy on 19th March 2009
I hope that my appraisal of this puzzle is not jaundiced by having solved it in something of an already bleary-eyed mood. I found this to be an balanced blend of innovative ideas, intermixed with some clearly-telegraphed anagram fodder. The NW corner proved to be a mini-battle of attrition at the end for me.
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Posted in FT | 5 Comments »
Posted by Uncle Yap on 19th March 2009
Monday Prize Crossword 9th March 2009
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Posted in FT | No Comments »
Posted by Pete Maclean on 19th March 2009
FT Weekend prize puzzle from March 7
Cinephile brings us a mix of some clever clues (23A, 25A, 26A, 15D), some pedestrian ones (1D), a couple of familiar ones (15A, 17D) and a daring one (24A) for what I thought was a very satisfying puzzle.
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Posted in FT | 2 Comments »