A slow solve and an enjoyable challenge. My favourites today were 1ac, 9ac, 21ac, 22ac, 6dn, and 8dn. Thanks to Picaroon for the puzzle
Independent 11,347 by Bluth
Bluth provides the Thursday challenge this week.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1577 Reality Check by Opsimath
Ten answers need a reality check but otherwise normal clues from Opsimath. The ten that needed a reality check were all authors real names. 1ac Sapper becomes (H. C.) McNeile 23ac (Alexander) Kent … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,340 by VELIA
My second go at a Velia puzzle.
Enigmatic Variations No.1577 – Reality Check by Opsimath
“Ten answers must undergo a REALITY CHECK before entry in the grid. Numbers in brackets show entry lengths. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Independent 11,346 / Filbert
Our mid-week cruciverbal challenge has been provided by Filbert today. For me, this was a tougher test than I am used to tackling on a Wednesday, but it was nonetheless highly enjoyable, and … Read more >>
Guardian 29,000 – Fed
Another nice puzzle from Fed, with a few clues where the answer was clear but the parsing took quite a bit of working out. Thanks to Fed for the entertainment. Across 1 … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,339 by CHALMIE
Most enjoyable puzzle from Chalmie this morning.
Inquisitor 1790: Great Parliamentarians by Cranberry
A welcome return visit today from Cranberry following last year’s debut, together with a preamble that confused me for rather longer than was strictly necessary, I suspect: Ten thematic solutions each consist of … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,999 by Imogen
Imogen provides this morning's Guardian puzzle.
Independent 11345 / Tees
Tuesday in the Independent is usually an interesting day and today is no exception. I blogged the previous two Tuesday puzzles as a stand-in and found music themes – Jeff Beck … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,338 by MUDD
I did not spot anything too tricky from Mudd today . . .
Azed No. 2,643 Plain
How Azed manages to produce these grids is a source of amazement. I think he does it all by hand in an exercise book, and doesn’t call upon electronic help. We have three eleven-letter answers from top to bottom, and nothing seems to be strained (although perhaps caa’s was a bit of a stretch). There are one or two places where I’m not quite sure; no doubt all will be explained.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Guardian Cryptic 28,998 by Kite
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28998.
Financial Times 17,337 by BUCCANEER
Monday begins with a BUCCANEER…