Never knowingly undersolved
John Phi is back to his usual day, but for how long? Were his recent perambulations the sign of something regular? Perhaps Friday, being a random day, is just one of the days he visits.
Anyway, this was what you expect from Phi: things don’t work out instantly (apart from one or two, like 5dn or 8dn) but you know that in due course all will become clear. I found this to be easier than is usual for Phi, but none the worse for that.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
What an extraordinary grid: 38 answers, necessary perhaps to accommodate the theme. I thought this was quite hard, indeed was unable to finish because I wasn’t sure about 4dn (that’s my excuse anyway, although it isn’t a good one). 23ac simply defeated me. However, although hard, it was sound and there were some good clues.
Apologies again for slight lateness. The computer problems I referred to last time I blogged haven’t gone away, and some of this is being done by hand. Hope it’s going to work.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
In his new peripatetic state Phi appears on a Wednesday and to my pleasure clashes with me. This was his usual enjoyable crossword, which I found a bit easier than usual: only 11ac and 14ac held me up, and even now I’m not totally comfortable with them.
Apologies for slight lateness of this blog. Computer problems, which are I hope more or less resolved.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
I was delighted to see that Klingsor was the setter for today, and he has not disappointed, with a crossword full of nice clues. Nothing controversial that I can see — it was just the right level of difficulty and he loses gracefully.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
An enjoyably satisfactory crossword from Wiglaf today. It seemed to me that it was on the hard side, but everything (except for the doubt mentioned below) is solid and convincing.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Apart from my criticisms, which are detailed in the blog, Knut has given us his usual pleasant crossword.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Tough today it seemed. The theme took me a long time to see, and even now I’ve only got half of it. These crosswords with so many cross-references are very hard to get started on, because many of the clues are initially barred to you. But eventually I almost coped and it was on the whole enjoyable.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Dalibor is a fairly recent setter for the Indy and he is clearly worth his place there: this crossword, like its predecessors, contains some very good clues with nice misleading surfaces. And, apart from the next comment and a few very minor quibbles, they are all so far as I can see sound and good.
There are four clues which grate on me because they have <50% checking. I don’t know why this is such a bugbear — I always comment on it — since when you’re solving a clue early on you may have only one of the many letters there to help you, so why 2 out of 5 is such a problem I’m not sure: presumably it’s because Ximenes gave it as a “rule” in his famous book. At any rate no Times crossword (for many people the gold standard, whatever their views on Murdoch) ever has <50% checking.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
The usual highly enjoyable crossword from Serpent. There are some very cleverly-concealed definitions; this sometimes results in [see below]
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
The usual efficient and enjoyable crossword from Punk today. Purists may say that there are rather a lot of clues where you have to use one or two letters from a word, but these are clearly indicated and it doesn’t worry me.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in brackets.
Poins is usually in the IoS, but there are occasional weekday appearances, and we are the happier for that. This was a sound and enjoyable crossword with some very good clues.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Serpent has become one of the most regular setters in the Indy so far as I can see, and who can object? As is customary this was a pleasant solve with some excellent … Read more >>
What is there to say about a Phi crossword that is new? As usual it is well-constructed with many nice clues and my guess is that my questions all have simple and convincing answers.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
It’s Tuesday and so I was expecting a stinker. Not so it seems: here is a very pleasant crossword apparently of medium difficulty. Most of the clues can be explained with fairly straightforward parsing. My only slight criticism was the grid, which had two faults in my opinion: two of those dreaded answers where 2 out of 5 letters are checked; and after getting only a few answers one was doing two or more separate crosswords.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Since Dac’s sad death Wednesdays have been a problem. Nobody seems to have seized the day. Usually the gentle style has continued, but this crossword was an exception. Not that I have any problems though, since it was as you’d expect from Morph very good.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.