Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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Vismut bexame one of the rare lady setters of advanced cryptic crosswords three years ago and her compilations have appeared in the Listener, the Magpie, the Inquisitor series and the EV.… Continue reading
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This will be Skylark’s third year of crossword compiling. She has set crosswords for the Magpie, the Listener, the Inquisitor series and the Enigmatic Variations series. A ladies’ month Inquisitor will be appearing shortly. Continue reading “EV 1495 (Hints)”
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Sea-kale has the honour of opening the ladies’ month that is having its second annual airing in the Inquisitor series (see yesterday’s i) and is now happening in the Enigmatic Variations series too. In the EV more lady setters are to come, Vismut, Chalicea and Skylark and the themes will cover much of the world, with The European One, The Asian One, The African One, The Australasian One and the South American One still to come. Sea-kale is the newest lady setter who made her debut with a couple of delightful crosswords in The Crossword Club. This is her very first EV. Continue reading “EV 1494 (Hints)”
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Oxymoron (also known as Schadenfreude) was the favourite setter for many solvers, producing crosswords for all the major thematic cryptic outlets for over 33 years and compiling those in the Cambridge University CAM magazine. Sadly, this will be the 72nd and last of the Oxymoron ones in the EV series. Continue reading “EV 1493 (Hints)”
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Charybdis has been setting crosswords for over twenty years for all the outlets for thematic cryptic crosswords so certainly needs no introduction. We have come to expect completely fair clues and a challenging endgame from such an experienced setter and this crossword gave us just that.… Continue reading
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Dave Hennings’ crossword database tells us that this is Wickball’s sixth thematic cryptic crossword. He has set for the Inquisitor and Enigmatic Variations series. Continue reading “EV 1491 (Hints)”
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Piccadilly has been setting EV puzzles for over a quarter of a century and, of course, we meet him in the Listener series, but this one is a new departure for most EV solvers. Continue reading “EV 1490 (Hints)”
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Ifor is familiar to Listener, Magpie, IQ and EV solvers. You can be sure of a challenge wirh fairly difficult clues and an endgame that will be theme-packed and substantial. Continue reading “EV 1489 (Hints)”
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Kruger has been setting crosswords for over a quarter of a century for all the outlets for thematic cryptic crosswords so certainly needs no introduction. We have come to expect fairly difficult but completely fair clues from such an experienced setter.… Continue reading
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Solvers are accustomed to crosswords by Chalicea and know that they can expect something graphic in the final grid – probably something to be highlighted, with relatively gentle clues.
Preamble: Fifteen words from the thematic poem, which explains what led to the DIFFERENCE, appear in the clues (in the order of their appearance in the poem) and need to be removed before solving.… Continue reading