Financial Times 13,487 / Aardvark
The confidence that the first two Across clues gave me soon vanished as I progressed with this crossword. This was a slow solve with aids needed to check on the slang and music … Read more >>
Month: September 2010
Guardian 25,112 / Gordius
Pretty straightforward fare from Gordius, with just one or two quibbles, as usual with this setter. There is one explanation that eludes me: I’m ready to kick myself when enlightened! Across 8 ALBERICH: … Read more >>
Independent 7,458 by Punk
I think after Phi popped up on Tuesday, it was anybody’s guess who we’d be doing battle with today. In the end it was Punk, who we haven’t seen for a little while. … Read more >>
Crossword Who’s Who
Those of you interested in some background information about setters and other people, past and present, connected with crosswords may wish to visit the new Crossword Who’s Who.
Independent 7,457/Morph
Always a pleasure to get a Morph puzzle, and I don’t say that just because I know he’ll be reading this. There’s always a good dose of humour in his puzzles and some … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,071 (29/08/10)
I think this was the toughest Beelzebub I can remember for some time, though I made it harder by entering one or two wrong answers early on. Even so it took a fair … Read more >>
Guardian 25,111 – Araucaria
My second Araucaria in a row, and quite a tricky one, with some devious wordplay. Some may complain at the theme of girl groups, but I knew all the names involved (apart from … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,486 / Styx
One of those strange puzzle that took longer than average to gain an initial toehold, but then offered decreasing levels of resistance thereafter as the answers seem to flow with continual acceleration. A … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,477 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 30 August 2010 Another pleasant challenge from our slick Dante, entertaining us with his smooth surfaces and the inevitable cryptic definitions, which some people hate. Fortunately, I happen to … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,476 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 28 Here’s another delightful and clever puzzle from Cincinnus. We have two very fine hidden-word clues (12A, RHONE and 17D, INAMORATA) but my favourites this … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1141: Tough Times by Samuel
The preamble tells us that redundancies have been made in 12 entries and their clues. My first thought was that we were probably looking for various standard crossword “workers” (bee, hand, ant, man, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,485 / Gozo
This was effectively four puzzles in one since the quadrants were only connected by a single square in the middle of the grid. The clues in this puzzle ranged from very easy to … Read more >>
Independent 7456/Dac
The usual excellent crossword from Dac. There is absolutely nothing (apart perhaps from 20dn) that I have any problem with, and all the clues have a deceptively simple and elegant surface. Across 1 HOPELESS … Read more >>
Guardian 25,110 – Arachne
Found this pretty slow going. 13, 29 and the last part of 7 were unfamiliar but guessable, whereas 15dn went in almost immediately. Across 1 HOODING =the use of a hood in torture. … Read more >>
Independent 7455 by Phi
Well, what have we here, Phi on a Tuesday, unusual. Still a mostly gentle ride today. 1 Repapered, REP + APE + RED 6 Sugar, Sweet. Don’t get the wordplay here, it’s probably … Read more >>