Independent 7,368/Phi
Good stuff as ever from Phi, and we have a pangram to boot. I was frustratingly defeated by the final two clues though! Across 7 BELLOC – (Alexander Graham) BELL + CO> rev. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,022 / Araucaria
Notes on this crossword below… Across 1. SECULARISATION (LAURA IS)* in SECTION = “part” 9. NAMEPLATE NAME = “Christen” + “South American river” = PLATE; the definition is “in brass at the door” … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,397 / Bradman
Bradman gives us his trademark &lit clues for the long slots and general solid clueing all round. There are some superbly smooth clue surfaces, as in 20A and 9D. A very enjoyable solve. … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,396 / Mudd
A steady and gentle jog-trot today. No brain-busting vocab requirements, and I think the xwd editor was wise to slot this one into a Thursday, rather than the weekend edition (where Mudd’s more … Read more >>
Independent 7,367 by Yorick
Cursory research suggests Yorick to be a new setter for us to lock horns with, though I say that with some caution as we’ve seen familiar setters use unfamiliar pseudonyms in the past. … Read more >>
Independent 7,363 by Scorpion (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 22/05/10)
Whilst I used to be pretty well intimidated by Scorpion puzzles, these days I tend to enjoy them a great deal. This was the expected combination of a fairly stiff challenge and moments … Read more >>
Guardian 25,021 / Shed
Well, Andrew’s observation turned out right again. I’ve looked forward for a long time to blogging my first Shed, especially since his RHOTIC clue last year, and this didn’t disappoint. [There is even … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1058 by Quixote 23rd May 2010
Well, this will be appearing on Sloggers and Betters day, so we’re looking forward to putting faces to pseudonyms. Did this relatively quickly, apart from 1 down, which we didn’t figure out until … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1126: Area Code by Ikela
Pretty easy going at first. I had the grid (with the exception of the four thematics) filled in about an hour. The thematics, however, proved a little troublesome until the penny dropped. The … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,387 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 17 May 2010 Once again, a gentle start to the week with the maestro of the slick and smooth clues. However, I do have an aversion to repetition of … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,386 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 15 I consider this an outstanding puzzle by Mudd. He gives us a lot of clever cryptic definitions (e.g. 1A, 13A, 6D), some clues that … Read more >>
Independent 7366 by Dac
The usual excellent puzzle from Dac, quite easy to start but nmsindy’s unfamiliarity with films and dogs slowed me up a bit at the end, solving time 23 mins. Many thanks to Ali … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,395 / Cinephile
Despite a less than friendly grid that only linked the four corners by one across and one down light, I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle which had some trademark clues. The answers to the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,020 – Audreus
There were no Audreus puzzles for over a year, but now we’ve had two from her in fairly quick succession (the last was on 9th April). On past form it’s a fairly safe … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,394 / Neo
Agentzero is busy today so I’m afraid you will have to put up with me (again!). I thought this was easier than usual for a Neo, despite some novel anagram/insertion indicators. However, it … Read more >>