Once again the best crossword of the month, if not the whole year. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, MCS-detractors! So much interesting general knowledge required for this one, including basic fluency in … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,231: A Mad-Brain Wordsby, Full of Spleen, Setting Furiously”
Author: Verlaine
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1414: Not Quite Blogged From 11dn, But Pretty Close
Greetings from Memphis TN! As the title suggests, I failed to blog this thematically from any of the answers, but I did change planes at Chicago O’Hare in IL earlier today, so I think I … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1414: Not Quite Blogged From 11dn, But Pretty Close”
Times 27,545: Rogue’s Gallery
A neatly-clued, Friday-appropriate crossword with a Dickensian cast of ne’er-do-wells in it: toady, mountebank, roue, larrikin, weasel and she-devil, not to mention some military stuffed shirts and an incorrigible lefty. I had a good time … Read more “Times 27,545: Rogue’s Gallery”
Times 27,539: Quoth The Ravens (and Parrot)
I have no accurate time on this one as my computer died not once but twice during my solving time, requiring lengthy recharge – very upsetting as I’d had the whole top half in inside … Read more “Times 27,539: Quoth The Ravens (and Parrot)”
Times 27,533: Vernacular Spectacular
A third easier-than-average Friday in a row – what is the world coming to? I rate this a difficulty 2 of a possible 5. FOI 1ac, LOI 14ac once I finally ruled out FIRE. WOD … Read more “Times 27,533: Vernacular Spectacular”
Times 27,527: Jiminy Cricket
I didn’t think this was super hard for a Friday, hitting the submit button at 6m14. A fairly gentle week to soften us up in time for Saturday, perhaps? This was mostly solvable with just … Read more “Times 27,527: Jiminy Cricket”
Monthly Club Special 20,230: No Dirish Hacks Or Blogs
Our usual monthly allotment of brilliance (13dn, 22dn) combined with sheer madness (26ac). A real cryptic workout to be sure, but one that must result in a great sense of satisfaction from any doughty enough … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,230: No Dirish Hacks Or Blogs”
As Easy As 1ac-2ac-3ac
A simple race to the finish this Friday, with almost every answer being one of the first things you’d think of once you’ve located the definition. FOI 1ac, LOI 3dn. I preferred the slightly more … Read more “As Easy As 1ac-2ac-3ac”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1409: Shout Out To The 19 Downs
Super super Jumbo with every clue on the spectrum of thoroughly likeable to actively brilliant – my hat is off to the setter. FOI 5ac, LOI, taking a good few minutes, 3dn, as ingenious and … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1409: Shout Out To The 19 Downs”
Times 27,515: Never Tell Me The 4d!
Can you see yourself getting three puzzles like this done inside an hour? If you can then there is no reason you shouldn’t be competing in Champs on December 7th, and even if you can’t … Read more “Times 27,515: Never Tell Me The 4d!”