I found this very tricky. I gave up trying to solve this unaided after an hour or more and spent the rest of the morning trawling Wikipedia. Got there in the end! Thank you Gozo.
Year: 2015
Guardian 26,624 / Qaos
The usual fun from Qaos, with a nice variety of clues and good surfaces throughout. One of the challenges with a Qaos puzzle is spotting a theme but this one was fairly easily … Read more >>
Independent 8970 / Dac
Another Wednesday, another Dac puzzle. I found this harder than some recent puzzles by Dac, but perhaps I’m just getting old and finding things more difficult. I got off to … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1393: Who Are You? by Lato
Lato is one of the most prolific setters in the Inquisitor stable so it is no surprise to see his name against today’s puzzle. There was quite a long preamble. … Read more >>
Independent 8,969 by Scorpion
Quite a tricky production from Scorpion today, but what does one expect? Everything (apart from one or two about which I’m not quite certain) seemed to be easy enough to explain after the event and there were some nice clues.
Financial Times 14982 Jason
A minor holdup in the NW corner, otherwise smooth solving. Thanks to Jason. Definitions are underlined in the clues. P.S. I’m the replacement blogger for today, in case you’re wondering why I’m on … Read more >>
Guardian 26,623 by Pasquale
An enjoyable struggle, with some tricky clues and a couple of new words for me. Favourite was 1dn.
Quiptic 817 by Hectence
Hectence returns to the Quiptic slot with a puzzle that provides the old grey matter with a decent Monday morning workout.
Guardian 26,622 – Rufus
A very characteristic Rufus puzzle, with lots of double and cryptic definitions. These can sometimes cause a bit of a hold-up, but I found this a very quick solve, with lots of write-ins. … Read more >>
Independent 8,968 by Punk
Well it’s Punk so expect a bit of unusual clueing and a smidgeon of ribaldry.
Beelzebub 1,322
Nothing too troublesome this week, I think, but an enjoyable Sunday solve nonetheless. Plenty of interesting new words to get to grips with: ZUNI, TUTENAG and ORGAN OF CORTI being among those to … Read more >>
AZED 2,248
The July competition puzzle, with perhaps a few more quibbles than usual in what I found to be a harder than usual test.
Everyman 3587/5 July
It’s been a couple of months now since a new compiler took over the Everyman slot, so it’s probably time to stop comparing the current setter with the previous incumbent. I’ve blogged this … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,324 by Poins
A very good puzzle.
Independent 8,961 by Hob (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 04/07/15)
Hob’s definitely a setter that I find to be towards the more challenging end of the spectrum, but no less enjoyable for it. This was a remarkably well put together puzzle, positively bursting … Read more >>