Some neat cluing and nice surfaces…
Independent 9,874 by Knut
I was panicking a bit to begin with, because on scanning the clues I couldn’t do any of them for a while. Then a few fell and it was all easy enough, a pleasant offering from Knut today. There were one or two small things I was a bit uncomfortable with, as indicated below, but on the whole it was good.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Inquisitor 1544: Tina Turner (Not) by Serpent
We get an Inquisitor puzzle from Serpent about twice a year, sometimes quite hard, often quite fun. Preamble: Four symmetrically-placed across clues have standard wordplay and definitions. In each of the remaining … Read more >>
Financial Times 15876 Neo
Thanks to Neo. There are a few clues/solutions from/relating to Greek mythology, the Bible, and literature respectively. And some clues/solutions that could be connected to one another. Is something going on here? Definitions are … Read more >>
Independent 9873 / Hob
We were surprised to find that it was only 2 months ago that we last blogged a Hob puzzle. As usual an enjoyable solve although we found this one a little easier than … Read more >>
Guardian 27,527 – Picaroon
A very enjoyable puzzle from Picaroon that looked rather impenetrable at first, with its many cross-references. I was lucky to guess 19d early on, which led me to the gateway answer at 26,1,10, … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 968 / Hectence
I don’t think I’ve blogged a Quiptic before but I was happy to stand in today. This one fills the bill admirably, I think, with a good variety of clue types, all fairly … Read more >>
Independent 9872/Silvanus
We don’t see Silvanus that often in the Indy, so I was pleased to have the chance to blog one of his puzzles this morning. Took a bit of getting into, mind you. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,526 by Chifonie
A gentle start to the week from Chifonie.
Financial Times 15,875 by ARMONIE
Thanks Armonie for a pleasant solve!
Everyman 3,737
I think it is fair to assume that the scheduled blogger is not going to turn up today (after all, it is 4pm) so here is an analysis of the clues, with no … Read more >>
Genius 179 / Crucible
I found this one to be very much towards the easier end of the Genius spectrum (probably welcome to some after last month’s Enigmatist), perhaps because I started with the down clues and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,475 by Poins
A typically enjoyable Sunday Lunch puzzle from the Indy. Thank you Poins.
AZED 2,398
Some delightful new words here, both in the clues and solutions.
Independent 9871 by Nimrod (Saturday Puzzle 2 June 2018)
Ouch! My brain has only just recovered from the pummelling it received from Enigmatist/Nimrod’s recent Grauniad Genius, so to get a Saturday Indy from him as well could inflict further neural damage… …and … Read more >>