Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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For the last EV of the year we meet proXimal, the EV editor, again. We can be sure of a challenge but fair and carefully constructed clues too. He seems to be promising us ‘satisfaction’ and this is certainly a meaty crossword.… Continue reading
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Nudd has been setting cryptic crosswords for most of the thematic cryptic outlets for many years. As part of the Rood setter combination, he was winner of the Listener’s Ascot Gold Cup some years ago.… Continue reading
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Preamble: …except 29 is a false PSEUDONYM. In four entries a segment of 29 is replaced by a word of four letters, making non-words. Taken in order of the replaced segments these other words represent the real PSEUDONYM, to be written below the grid.… Continue reading
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Chalicea’s crosswords appear in a range of outlets: this will be her 45th EV and solvers will remember her Asian One in the ladies’ month. After last week’s challenge they can be sure of a gentler solve this week.… Continue reading
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Jaques is familiar to EV solvers and to Magpie solvers too (with a crossword rated D in the current Magpie). A debut Inquisitor crossword has recently appeared and he has two Listener crosswords to his name.… Continue reading
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This will be Gaston’s 22nd crossword in the Enigmatic Variations series. Solvers will remember his puzzle this spring, where we drew a map of the jumps in the Grand National, then his final puzzle after the EV Ladies’ Month where he included geographic features in ‘The South American One’.… Continue reading
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Solvers will be familiar with Vismut’s puzzles that are usually challenging and rich in thematic material. Of course, she starred during the ladies’ month in the EV and IQ series.
Preamble: Each clue contains a single letter misprint; in clue order, correct letters spell out what to read sequentially, creating two messages in parallel to reveal two names and a date.… Continue reading
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This is only Brock’s second EV but he has compiled memorable puzzles in the Listener series including his unforgettable ‘Bunch of Fives’, and his recent Magpie puzzle was nominated the June puzzle of the month.… Continue reading
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What a pleasure to welcome a new setter to the Enigmatic Variations series – though Vagans is already very active as a solver – usually the very first one to react and make constructive comments when the hints appear at noon on Sundays.… Continue reading
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Skylark was appeciated as one of the ladies whose crosswords appeared during the ladies’ month.
Preamble: In 31 clues an extra letter must be removed before solving; in clue order, they apply to one of a pair, as does a phrase in the grid.… Continue reading