Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Anax sets Toughies as Elkamere and also puzzles for the Times, the Independent and, as Loroso, the FT
– + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
When BD told me Anax had a themed puzzle for number 64, I had visions of another song based puzzle (When I’m 64). Instead we have an excellent puzzle with a mini-theme of notable events / things in 1964.
This review is rather brief as I am not available on Saturday so am preparing this in advance.
Many thanks to Anax for the crossword.
– + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Welcome to the latest in our series of weekly puzzles.
This week we have a themed puzzle from Anax.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Those not familiar with Douglas Adams and his trilogy in five parts, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” may struggle with the significance of the number of this crossword (42) and the frequent references to it in this puzzle. Although it forms the theme for this crossword, there are plenty of other excellent clues with the hallmarks of Anax’s devious wordplay, smooth surface readings and fun and frolics on the way.
No white mice were harmed in the making of this Crossword or its review!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Welcome to the forty second in our series of weekly puzzles.
This week, with puzzle #42, Anax delights us with a puzzle themed on 42
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Anax plays bass guitar in a band. His musical tastes have, however, plumbed new depths in the theme to this puzzle. A number of the clues refer to words that appear in the song that is the answer to 14a/7d. Rolf Harris has a lot to answer for!
+– + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Welcome to the thirty second in our series of weekly puzzles.
This week we have another excellent puzzle from Anax that is as good as those of his that are published in the national press.
+– + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
There will be no NTSPP puzzle today. Negotiations are in hand to try to get a new one soon. Please accept my apologies for any disappointment.
Many thanks to Anax for providing a puzzle while I was in London watching the Spurs beating Fiorentina 3-2.
One of Anax’s fortes is his ability to create clues that seamlessly merge definition, wordplay and link words. Looking at one of his clues you can never sure where one part of the clue ends and the other begins. In today’s cracker of a puzzle (pun intended), this ability comes to the fore with so many good clues it is difficult to pick favourites. Ones that I particularly enjoyed for the wordplay or surface reading are highlighted in blue.
There is a theme in this crossword. A number of the clues rely on definitions that are not given in the clues themselves but are defined by the wordplay in the clue (not the answer) to 22d.
+– + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Welcome to the twenty fourth in our series of weekly puzzles.
This week we have another excellent puzzle from Anax.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
I thought that this one was a real treat from Anax and would have fitted well into an end-of-week Toughie slot. As he warned there are a number of obscure answers, but, as he also promised, the wordplay for these is reasonably straightforward. Then there’s the theme – the first answer I got was 1d and I took this to mean that the across answers would contain the names of famous bridges (Rialto, Tower, Waterloo, Beau?) but I should have realised that Anax is far more devious than that (and 1d does spell out very precisely what to look for!). If you haven’t spotted the theme, then see the bottom of the review.