Guardian Genius no.63, Brummie: The final curtain
As a newcomer to the Genius since the site went free, I found this OK but a little – not hard to get going with, but tough to finish because the entry method … Read more >>
Month: October 2008
Azed 1896 – Giving Chambers a workout
As always, an enjoyable challenge from Azed, with some lovely clues. The two long answers at 1ac and 1dn were pretty easy to spot, and were a big help in getting going with … Read more >>
Guardian 24,505 (Sat 27 Sep)/Araucaria – Breech of the peace
Solving time: 33 mins (one mistake, a misspelling of BREECHES) I found this ‘Araubetical’ (© Muck) very difficult, mostly because of the high number of unchecked initial letters – in fact, after 20 … Read more >>
FT 12,889/Mudd
This puzzle seemed, frankly, a little underwhelming compared to Mudd’s usual standard. Not that there is anything wrong with it, per se; just seems a tad light on imagination or inspiration. I suppose … Read more >>
Inquisitor 91 – Open Wide by Nutmeg
I forgot to solve this puzzle when I should have done, but when I recieved a “where’s that blog?” e-mail, decided I ought to be able to solve the puzzle, given that I … Read more >>
Guardian 24510/Arachne
Is is just me being dense, or was this rather difficult today? I could do with some help with explaining 18d (HACKSAW). That said, there are lots of marvellous surface readings here (too … Read more >>
Independent 6854/Phi
I found this much tougher than most Phi puzzles and two clues (18 and 22) had me completely stumped as the wordplay in each of them led to an answer that didn’t really … Read more >>
Independent 6849/Nestor (Prize puzzle 27-09-08)
I enjoyed this one a great deal. I had the grid filled in reasonably quickly but then had to go over half a dozen or so clues where I’d filled in the answer … Read more >>
Independent 6853 by Punk
Pleasing puzzle from this imaginative setter which I found on the easy side, but made one mistake – thank’s for explaining it below, Geoff. * = anagram 1 SMELLING SALTS Tip-top double definition … Read more >>
FT, 12,888, set by Jason, October 2, 2008
It’s a fair cop! Theme of ‘places of confinement’ today, but a light-hearted puzzle in spite of its subject. ACROSS 1. PRISON – ( p-<no sir – the theme of the puzzle and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 972 by Quixote (28 Sep 2008)
Note that in (another) relaunch, the crossword has moved back towards the end of the main paper p. 101 of 104 in my edition. Solving time, 17 mins. * = anagram < = … Read more >>
Guardian 24,509 (Shed)
Across 1 FORGERY: ER in F ORGY 5 RUSSIFY: reversed and hidden in rockY FISSURe 10 VICE: double definition 11 CARCINOGEN: anagram of CIGaR ONE CAN without an ‘a’ (wanting) 12 GANNET: ANN … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,878 by Mudd
Mudd gave us a few sterling clues in this puzzle (2D, 18D, 26D), one that I think is weak (19D). Across 1. WOMBAT – TAB (bill) + MOW (cut) all backwards 4. BLACKOUT … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,879 – Falcon
From Monday Prize Puzzle on 22 September 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Independent 6,852/Dac
Great stuff as ever from Dac. Lots of nice clues with great surface readings, and all of them fair. Across 1 REBUSES – RE,BUSES – Easy enough, but as neat a surface reading … Read more >>