What a piece of work this was.
Beelzebub 1,113 (19/06/11)
A bumper number of clues to tackle this week, but I seemed to make very swift progress. An all-but-unaided finish in the end, just pulling out the Big Red Book to check entries … Read more >>
Month: June 2011
Everyman No. 3377 (19th June)
Lorraine: Good morning all, I will be away in Malta so will not be able to respond to any comments this week but look forward to reading them when I get home. Phew, what … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1114: Crosophile
I am blogging this in The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham, where we are anticipating tomorrow’s Sloggers & Betters meet (which will have happened by the time you read this). Fortunately, it doesn’t … Read more >>
Azed 2038: The broad is leaving the church
With my cruciverbal workload having increased recently, I have to make this my final Azed blog for the foreseeable future. It was a good one to go out on, with some clever and … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,352 by Paul
A mixed avian theme this week with birds, bird songs and Birdsong. The clues are very tight, no unused words or vague cryptic definitions – nice one Paul. Across 1 TITCHY sCavenging cHeetah … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No 971 Track by Loda
So clashes in across and downs this week will define a track with non-clashing clues containing a misprint which will guide you on your way. Also some thematic unclued entries to deduce. Sounds … Read more >>
Independent 7703 / Phi
I heard a short while ago that flashling has unexpected work commitments today and will be unable to blog so here is an analysis of the clues. Sorry for the brevity and lack … Read more >>
Guardian 25,357 / Pasquale
A delightful puzzle from Pasquale – scrupulously fair clues, as ever, and not too hard today. Incidentally, I think this is my 150th post on fifteensquared 🙂 Across 1. SCABBY CABBY = “driver” to … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,728 / Mudd
Mudd seems to have taken a leaf out of Dante’s book today with a third of the clues being double/cryptic definitions. This is too high a percentage for my liking but it may … Read more >>
Financial Times no. 13,727 by AARDVARK
A great puzzle this: some splendidly misleading definitions, plus a smattering of general knowledge (not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but certainly mine) and a few beautiful charades. If I’m a little … Read more >>
Guardian 25,356 / Gordius
I seem to have spent almost as much time trying – unsuccessfully – to come up with a preamble for this puzzle as I did in solving it. I’ll just say that I … Read more >>
Independent 7,702 / Anax
A challenging, entertaining and eminently satisfying puzzle to solve – one would expect nothing else of an Anax! Yet again, he has served up a multitude of meticulously constructed clues, which I hope … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,717 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 11 Even a relatively humdrum puzzle from Cincinnus is a good and satisfying solve. Here I particularly liked 1,28A (PEANUT BUTTER), 10D (LONG-TAILED TIT) and … Read more >>
Independent 7,701/Dac
I thought this was definitely a bit tougher than an average Dac. I struggled with a few of the lower answers here and I’d say 6D is not far from impossible without a … Read more >>