A second Genius of the year from the ubiquitous and prolific Don, after number 225 back in March…
Guardian Genius
Guardian Genius 231 / Picaroon
The Guardian Genius this month is set by Picaroon The preamble was fairly lengthy but quite understandable. We were told that: All 12 across solutions contain within them a word … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 230 – Pangakupu
Another Genius from the easier end of the spectrum, with the special instructions affecting a relatively small number of clues, and no modification of grid entries. BREATHE and THEATRE were my first thematic … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 229 by Karla
A conventional puzzle with an unusual clueing style for this month’s Genius.
Guardian Genius 228 by Harpo
Hello – I’m a new blogger, assigned to the Genius. I’ve solved every one of the Geniuses since their creation (and never won the prize!) I hope I’ve got this one right …
Guardian Genius 227 by Qaos
A musical challenge for this month’s Genius.
Guardian Genius 226 by Soup
Soup has been a fairly prolific setter of Genius puzzles recently – with at least seven between 2016 and 2021, but this is his first for over a year, and my first of his to blog…
Guardian Genius 225 / Pasquale
The March Genius was set by Pasquale, one of the ‘DON …..’ manifestations of the prolific setter Don Manley. Other manifestations are Duck, Quixote, Bradman, Giovanni, and Izetti. Don Manley sets for all … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 224 – Chandler
Although the instructions seemed clear, it took me a while to realise that the “thematic word” to be paired with the undefined answers was not the same every time. I think it was … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 223 by Picaroon
Absolutely no ambiguity about the preamble this month, but a tricky challenge nonetheless.
Guardian Genius 222 by Jack
This is Jack’s 4th Genius puzzle. We’ve enjoyed his previous offerings, but we know him better as Serpent for his excellent Independent crosswords and Inquisitor puzzles in the i.
Guardian Genius No 221 Set by Pangakupu
Why is it that I find writing a preamble more difficult than solving/parsing the clues? Probably because I have a analytical mind rather than a creative one. Anyway, to business. The introduction indicated we … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 220 by Qaos
For Qaos’ Genius 220, we are told that: “With 12 solutions our Inspector’s coding is the wrong way round. His mistakes in these 12 cases need to be reversed before entry in the grid.”
Guardian Genius 219 / Kite
The September Genius puzzle has been set by Kite The preamble was fairly short and told us that one (related) element is lacking from each of the first 12 italicised … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 218 – Vlad
The words “Genius puzzle” and “Vlad” are a scary combination for a blogger, but this one turned out to be “only” moderate-to-hard on the Genius scale. My way in to the theme was … Read more >>