Category: Mephisto

Time: 40 minutesMusic: Mahler Symphony 6, Solti/CSO. I have to say, this is the first time ever in a Monday puzzle where I had to construct unknown words from the cryptics.   In the real Mephisto, … Read more “Times 28195 – Along the shores of Mephistoland”

Greetings barred-grid fans. I filled the grid pretty readily, but I made a bunch of notes on my copy, so there are some tricky wordplay elements. Tim Moorey tends to drop in some popular culture … Read more “Mephisto 3203 – Tim Moorey”

This was a very straightforward Mephisto, and for once nearly all the answers were words I had heard of, in two cases from puzzles within the past two weeks.   When Homer introduces an unusual word … Read more “Mephisto 3202 – Golden symbols flashing….”

Greetings barred-grid fans. For the new year, Paul McKenna has given us a fairy gentle Mephsisto puzzle, with the customary pun in the top row  (SALT AWAY). The grid has 90 degree symmetry, and with … Read more “Mephisto 3201 – Paul McKenna”

Mephisto is supposed to be tough, and I thought this one was pretty tough.   Instead of a typical 2-hour solve, my efforts spread out over several days.    I graduatlly pecked away at it, solving a … Read more “Mephisto 3200 – OK, here’s my mickey!”

Greeting barred-grid fans, I was caught a little short – I was not expecting to blog this until next week, but as it has just passed into Boxing Day in the UK, and the cricket … Read more “Mephisto 3199 – Don Manley”

I was determined to finish before going to bed on US Saturday night, and I did.   However, I did get stuck with two to go, and had to put it aside and come back after … Read more “Mephisto 3198 – I do know it from Adams!”

Greetings barred-grid fans. Took me a while to get into this one, and my copy is covered in notes (though I take more notes when I know it is my turn to blog), but no … Read more “Mephisto 3197 – Tim Moorey”

It’s good to have a Don Manley puzzle, because his clues are always very logical and precise.   That doesn’t mean, however, they’re particularly easy to solve if you don’t happen to have the necessary knowledge, … Read more “Mephisto 3196 – Some quality anfractuous rocks for you solvers!”

Geetings barred-grid fans! Paul McKenna has taken us to some of the deep cuts in Chambers this week for a puzzle I found particularly challenging, but a lot of fun reading up on the components. … Read more “Mephisto 3195 – Paul McKenna”