Monday Prize Crossword / Nov 7, 2016
Dante, safe and sound.
Financial Times 15,390 by Alberich
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 5, 2016
Guardian 27,043 / Crucible
If Brendan’s Macbeth puzzle that I blogged last week was right up my street, as I said, this one must be comfortably settled on my sofa with a cup of tea! Speaking of … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,399 by AARDVARK
Some not so obvious word definitions made some of the clues made this a little tricky to explain. Thank you Aardvark.
Independent 9389 / Lohengrin
One of the things I like about Lohengrin’s puzzles is the misdirection and today was no exception. Many times I was misled as to the definition, which seemed obvious on first reading the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1463: Health Warning by Nutmeg
Preamble: Solvers must complete the grid, including a health warning which applies to both grid and clues. Each clue is contaminated by a thematic letter, appearing as a misprint in the definition part. … Read more >>
Independent 9,388 / Scorpion
Scorpion has produced today’s puzzle for our stimulation and delectation. Tuesday’s puzzle often has a theme to it or a Nina around its perimeter, although I have found no trace of either, despite … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,398 by PHSSTHPOK
I’ve been hoping for a more challenging Tuesday FT since I bgan blogging it. Be careful what you wish for…
Guardian Quiptic 887 / Provis
This one meets the remit nicely. A good cross-section of clue types, some pleasing surfaces and nothing obscure (apart from perhaps the archaic word in 2dn). I think this was probably my first … Read more >>
Guardian 27041 – Nutmeg
A nice surprise to see Nutmeg’s name this morning. A suitable straightforward puzzle for a Monday, though by no means a write-in, and with (as we would expect) some very nice clues. Thanks … Read more >>
Independent 9387/eXternal
I struggled with this a bit, but after getting a foothold in the various parts of the grid, the rest came with a bit of brainwork. Some good clues, though. … Read more >>
AZED 2,318 – transgender
A fun but hard variant of the typical Azed — we ended up solving as a team (thanks Jutta, Martin, Frank!) — given the title, at first thought that likely theme is Armistice Day (Nov 11) or Guy Fawkes day (Nov 5) — turned out to be the latter — “remember, remember, the fifth of November” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night. To be clear, the theme was basically replace male names in answers with female names (“penny for the guy”) as exemplified by 1A.
Independent on Sunday 1,395 by Hoskins
I rarely seem to draw a Hoskins on blogging day, but it’s certainly a relief after two Nimrods on the trot. It officially being Remembrance Sunday, I did wonder whether we might see … Read more >>
Everyman 3,657
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3657.