Independent 7,182 by Nimrod
Well I never, a Nimrod that I could actually solve! And very good it was too. There are a couple of references in 10 and 12ac that I couldn't quite explain, but no … Read more >>
Simon Harding
Beelzebub 1,025 (11/10/09)
This is still one of my perhaps two favourite crosswords, the other being Inquisitor, also in the Independent the day before. Beelzebub seems to hit the perfect balance between challenging and eminently solvable, … Read more >>
Independent 7,172 by Merlin (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 10/10/09)
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This week’s answers seemed to go in fairly steadily, albeit with a certain amount of "research" needed to shed light on some of the more … Read more >>
Independent 7,175 by Dac
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A bit of a hurried solve from me this week, I'm afraid, and I would have liked a bit more time to enjoy this. Across … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,024 (01/10/09)
This seemed a bit tougher than in recent weeks, but it all fell into place in the end. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 5 DEFLATER – DEF + LATER. … Read more >>
Independent 7,171 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Perhaps a slight sense of bitterness that this one was not finishable for those of us with no interest in Tolkien, but apart from that … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,023 (27/09/09)
I managed almost all of this without opening a dictionary, but a handful of clues put up a fight to the end. Perhaps it was just the constant feline harassment I was having … Read more >>
Independent 7,164 by Tees
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I don't remember seeing a Tees for a little while, and this was characteristically challenging. I thought the surface readings were particularly strong, though unfortunately … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,022 (20/09/09)
I should probably blog these a bit sooner after solving, or at least take notes, since I have scant recollection of actually tackling this one. I do know that I once again managed … Read more >>
Independent 7,157 by Dac
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A few unfamiliar terms for me here, though these were of course offset by the clueing which led the solver unambiguously toward the solutions. Across … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,021 (13/09/09)
The online Chambers was down when I tackled this, so it was back to the big red book, and none of the fancy advanced search features. I was pleased with how swiftly I … Read more >>
Independent 7,148 by Radian (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 12/09/09)
First impressions are that this is a funny-looking grid, I'll expect a Nina or two here. Aha, but it's Radian, who favours quality over quantity in clueing if I remember correctly, hence the … Read more >>
Independent 7,150 by Monk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A challenging one, as can be expected from Monk, and Tuesday Independents in general. I’m not quite sure about 17ac, but I think I’m close. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,020 (06/09/09)
Satisfying puzzle as always. Seemed to be a relatively quick solve for me, but I don't time these things so it could be an illusion. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>
Independent 7,147 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I knew that GCSE in Music would come in handy some day. A nicely-themed Friday puzzle that had me sorely tempted to litter this intro … Read more >>