Guardian Quiptic No 601 by Moley
A Quiptic setter new to me, she hits the entry level spot on, with varied clue types, and nothing too convoluted. Across 4. Large flag for an Egyptian god (6) OSIRIS Charade of … Read more >>
Month: May 2011
Guardian Cryptic No 25,329 by Rufus
I found this easier than some recent Rufuses; not too heavy on the cryptic definitions (which I regard as a plus), but making up for it in the envelope department – if not … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 443 – Home service
Some excellent surface readings in this issue’s crossword. I marked no fewer than 8 as worthy of consideration for top clue, but that honour has to go to Home Sweet Home for the … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1108
Exellent brain exercise as always ACROSS 1 Herbaceous plant showing dark spot? Always one MACLEAYA MACLE AY A macle is a dark spot in a crystal 6 Mordant and reprehensible BASE … Read more >>
Azed 2033 “Give and take”
I can’t remember Azed using this particular combination of devices before, although he may have done so under a different name. So far as the across clues are concerned, it is known as … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,109 by Hypnos
Another new setter for me as far as blogging is concerned. Hypnos is generally sound and provided a wide array of cryptic devices for quite an entertaining puzzle. ACROSS 1 ROGUE Ins of … Read more >>
Everyman 3372/15 May
A straightforward and soundly-clued Sunday offering from Everyman today. Just right for beginning or improving solvers: I know I would have appreciated and enjoyed this puzzle when I was getting into the dark … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 966: Uncomplimentary Remark by Rustic
A fairly straightforward offering from Rustic this week: solve the clues, move a letter to the perimeter and reveal a quotation and the person it describes. Each clue was two clues side by … Read more >>
Independent 7668 Bannsider (Sat 14-May-2011)
First session: 8 answers in 15 mins all below the half-way line. Then I slowed down a bit ( <- understatement alert) This was tough. Tough as any Bannsiders I’ve tackled. But enjoyable … Read more >>
Guardian Prize No 25322 by Araucaria
A delight as ever to tackle another offering from the Master, and this time there is only one clue which, to my mind, offends Ximenean principles (12 across). A couple of other clues … Read more >>
Independent 7,673 / Phi
I enjoyed solving and blogging this one, which used a grid that I hadn’t come across before. Furthermore, it was definitely the first time that I had come across the entry at 3 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,698 / Bradman
A solid puzzle from Bradman, which was mostly a comfortable solve 3/4th of the way. A hasty wrong answer at 26a kept me stuck in the bottom-right of the puzzle, till I got … Read more >>
Guardian 25,327 / Pasquale
A fairly gentle puzzle from Pasquale to round off a week of good puzzles: nothing too controversial or obscure, I think, with a nice mix of clue types and a few smiles along … Read more >>
Mike Laws
I was very sad to read that Mike Laws, crossword editor for the Inquisitor and a setter under several pseudonyms, passed away last night. Mike commented regularly on this site, particularly in the … Read more >>
Independent 7,672/Tees
Great stuff from the Tees-er. I found this easier than most Thursday Indy offerings, but there was plenty of elegant wordplay and a good selection of the tools of the trade on display. … Read more >>