Soup’s second foray into the Saturday Prize slot…and quite a mental workout, at least for your correspondent…
Financial Times 17,693 BOBCAT
BOBCAT gives us a fun Friday puzzle.
Guardian 29,343 – Paul
Another puzzle from Paul with several interlinked cues, which becomes easier once you find the thematic link… … in this case, POND LIFE, whose clue I solved by working back from some of … Read more >>
Independent 11690 / Phi
Phi is in his usual place in the Indie roster this week I think this is just a straightforward crossword without a theme, but I’m never sure with Phi’s talent … Read more >>
Independent 11,689 by Serpent
Thanks to Quirister for swapping with us yesterday – we get a Serpent to blog!
Guardian Cryptic 29,342 by Tramp
A treat to be standing in to blog the Guardian this morning.
Financial Times 17,692 JASON
Jason’s the FT setter today.
Enigmatic Variations No.1634 – The Magnificent Seven by Gaston
“Single-letter clashes occur in circled cells; reading in column order, picking one of the letters in each clash will spell out what THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN have in common; the other 14 letters should be entered in the cells. In each clue, the wordplay leads to the answer and a single extra letter; reading in clue order, these letters show how one would access one of the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN using the (appropriately positioned) circled letters. Its creator (4,8) should be written below the grid. One answer is an abbreviation; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Independent 11,688 by Filbert
Wednesday fun from Filbert.
Financial Times 17,691 by IO
A tricky puzzle from IO this morning.
Guardian Cryptic 29,341 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29341.
Off-Grid podcast
Independent 11,687 / Italicus
Italicus, a compiler whose work it has rarely fallen to me to blog, has provided this week’s Tuesday – aka theme day – puzzle. I found this to be a medium-difficulty puzzle overall, … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1847: Out of the Shadows by Cranberry
Out of the Shadows by Cranberry
Guardian 29,340 / Pangakupu
It’s more than six weeks since Pangakupu’s last appearance – time enough for it to take a few minutes for me to retune to his wavelength. Once started, the answers began to flow, … Read more >>