This puzzle gave me considerable difficulty. I tried to start in the top, but since I was making little progress, I shifted to the bottom, where I was able to get a few crossing letters and was able to write in some longer answers.
Author: vinyl1
Mephisto 3320 – Buck Mulligan’s Ninja Turtle
I started off as I usually start off in Mephisto, despairing of getting a single answer, only to be reviewing a completed grid in less than 90 minutes. Mephisto is like that.
Times 28891 – οἶνοψ πόντος? Nope.
Not your average Monday puzzle, I would have to say. Lots of novel constructions, and answers, made this a bit of a challenge. I had a hard time getting started, but once I had a few checking letters I was able to finish in a decent time, a bit below my average according to the SNITCH. I did find the puzzle very enjoyable.
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Mephisto 3318 – As a matter of fact, I can!
I don’t usually find the Paul McKenna puzzles too difficult, and I got through this one in about 90 minutes.
Times 28879 – A cure for stemmaticism?
I ran into a bit of trouble, expecting a normal Monday puzzle. However, when I couldn’t see any answers in my initial scan, I had to step up my game, and use the experienced solvers tricks to get going.
Mephisto 3316 – No, no, no, no; no biffing at all!
This one was a bit of a step-up from the easier Mephistos we’ve been seeing lately – John Grimshaw has provided a tougher challenge, with a number of cleverly-set traps for the unwary solver. I noted them on my copy as I solved, meaning that I wasn’t fooled.
Times 28867 – A mob of judges?
Well, the streak of easy Monday puzzles continues. I only had to think a little, as most of the answers wrote themselves in, especially after a few checking letters were available.
Mephisto 3314 – Earful swordplay!
I didn’t have much difficulty solving this one, and I finished in my Saturday night session – although I nearly hit Sunday. Getting the answers was only part of it, though, as I had to do a bit of research in order to be able to blog the wordplay.
Times 28855 – Follow the cryptic!
This puzzle was unusually tricky for a Monday, particularly in terms of general knowledge. If you had heard of all the answers, you might do very well, but otherwise you’re in trouble.