GUARDIAN 24,540 / PUCK
I’m sure there’s a witty title that could be given to this very ingenious and entertaining puzzle, with its themes of days and British pop but I found the puzzle itself challenging enough! … Read more >>
Month: November 2008
Independent 6,884/Math – Now we are two
Well well, this was very nice! If Phi gets bumped from a Friday, there’s usually something afoot. For any newcomers (and, with any luck, there will be some), today is the 2nd anniversary … Read more >>
Inquisitor 96 — LEST WE FORGET by Charybdis
Charybdis always guarantees a nicely worked out theme and that is what we had here. The title, the mention of a war film and the date all suggested a slightly early puzzle looking … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 835 – Mobile Watch by Hypnos
I thought this was the hardest EV for quite a while. It took me over twice as long as usual to complete and I needed my full arsenal of ‘aids’. The extra letters … Read more >>
Independent 6883 by Phi
There’s a Nina/theme in this puzzle, which I refer to after the clue explanations. Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 SERF frees< less the central e 4 … Read more >>
F.T. No. 12,918. Set by Orense, 6 November, 2008
WATCH THE BIRDIE! An ingenious puzzle , made comparatively simple once the bird and insect theme was discerned. Naomi makes her appearance again – she is in this month’s Guardian Genius puzzle as … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 977 by Quixote
Very easy, indeed, I thought – as fast as I’ve solved any Indy puzzle this year – but not solved correctly, thanks, Neal H. * = anagram 1 C (HEAP)O 5 TEST CASE … Read more >>
Guardian 24539/Araucaria
A relatively straightforward Araucaria, thought including a couple of words that were new to me, with a theme based on various kinds of beating, Key: dd = double definition * = anagram < … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,909 – Dante
From Monday Prize Crossword on 27 Oct 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,908 by Cincinnus
Weekend FT Prize Puzzle from October 25 A splendid puzzle this week from Cincinnus. I especially like 21A, 23A and 14D. Across 1. ORWELL – OR (men?) + WELL (satisfactory) 4. BROMATES – … Read more >>
Independent 6882/Dac
How is it possible, week after week, to say anything new about Dac? As always, the surfaces are elegant and smooth and there are no real points of contention, so far as I can … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,917 by Cinephile
A pleasant solve today with some enjoyable clues, as we have come to expect from this setter, except perhaps for 8d (as noted below) and 17d (which I can’t yet explain). Why is … Read more >>
Guardian 24,538 – Rover
I rattled through this fairly quickly and have filled the grid with convincing-looking answers, but a few of the exact reasons escape me. I decided to blog it anyway rather than wait and … Read more >>
Independent 6881/Radian
Anyone would think there was some sort of election happening today… Across 6 U in (WHINED BLATHERED)* – RED WHITE AND BLUE. 9 PALIN[-g] – got this from “candidate” (and the appearance of … Read more >>
Guardian 24,537 – Gordius
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A challenging puzzle which nearly got me … Read more >>