Anax Demo Puzzle
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Anax has kindly written an article for publication on the blog to give a top to bottom explanation of how he composed a whole puzzle. When I saw this article, my first thought was to give you all a chance to solve the puzzle yourselves. This is not a totally new puzzle – it had previously been available via a link from a now-defunct forum – but it is unlikely that you have seen it before. It is, however, towards the top end of Toughie difficulty.
It is available in three different formats: Microsoft Word, PDF and Crossword Compiler. The links for these are at the bottom of the post.
I have decided to turn off comments on this post so that anyone downloading the puzzle will not accidentally see any hints or answers – but I will set up another post to enable discussion.
Anax’s article “From the Top” will be published next Saturday, 31st October. Trust me, it is well worth the wait.
| ACROSS
1. Beginning to bark, small dog let out (4) 3. With me inside, fold canopy so it won’t go up (10) 10. Produce fences for Buxton e.g. (3,4) 11. Bone of bird with whole skin (7) 12. Here, young one causes nightmares (6) 13. New preparation of mutable barbiturate (8) 15. Scatter loose rocks approaching waterworks (5,2,5) 18. Get mad drivers in scrap Granadas heading for this? (6,6) 21. Girl keeping unloved fool in focus (8) 22. Old archbishop leans precariously before Mass (6) 24. In liquid so deep one finds piece of soap (7) 25. With nothing to hide, people can shout (7) 26. Cut tree next to lodge in wood (1-4,5) 27. That must come to a stop! (4) |
DOWN
1. Dirty lie? Rings up church (8) 2. Still in port, a cargo ship, say (2,6) 4. Join boarding school in Kensington (4) 5. Soldiers scent enemy front in bombed trees (10) 6. Parable about securing deal before trial (4,10) 7. Make one soldier desert complex (6) 8. She has to hit back when in charge (6) 9. Pants, blouse, “No Dad”, the wear of Elizabethans (7,3,4) 14. Least likely to crack, as one in financial probe? (10) 16. Spiteful heart in evil demise (8) 17. One obsession very soon masked by effect of growing up (8) 19. Ready to welcome Black Prince (6) 20. Madman having a turn, as they say (6) 23. 8mm lines near centre (4) |
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Click here to download in Microsoft Word format: Anax Demo Puzzle – Word
Click here to download as a pdf: Anax Demo Puzzle – pdf
Click here to access the Crossword Compiler Interactive version: Anax Demo Puzzle – Crossword Compiler