#crossword #crypticcrossword

Brendan, via Guardian 30025:

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/30025

This crossword is excellent, and has a theme of writers (authors). Some clued directly, others indirectly.

The clue I like is:

13dn: Like part of ancient Greece that’s accessible by flights? (5)

ATTIC

ATTICA was a part of Athens once, but also, one's ATTIC (if one has one) is accessible by "flights" which in this case refers to "stairs" -- as in "a flight of stairs".

This crossword also features many other references to "writers" (which we should take to mean as "authors") some of whom are clued directly or indirectly -- as in:

26ac: Robust half of comic duo (5)

HARDY

Robust == "Hardy" as in "a plant that can survive winter; not evergreen", HARDY is also one half of Laurel and HARDY. HARDY is also THOMAS HARDY, the author -- again, indirect...

All-in-all, another excellent crossword from Brendan. :)

A #crypticcrossword for May (again, barely!). It's a standard cryptic, with no gimmick or meta. As always, feedback is appreciated, and feel free to message me with any questions! Hope you enjoy!

https://darrenspuzzles.blogspot.com/2026/05/cryptic-2026-05.html

#crypticcrossword

Todays' Guardian crossword -- 29,994 was set by Tramp.

For me, Tramp is up there with the likes of Boatman, Enigmatist, and Brendan for being a tricky setter, but excellent surfaces.

For instance:

9,12dn: "Flooring Keir Starmer – depict end, primarily lost to Reform (13,6)"

Definition is: "flooring".

Nice spot of Tramp's to realise that if you anagramise "Keir Starmer depict e" (because "end primarily" is "e", and "lost to Reform" is the anagram indicator -- not to mention Reform is a so-called Political Party here in the UK), you get:

KIDDERMINSTER CARPET

Which looks like this:

https://museumofcarpet.org.uk/2013/07/26/the-last-kidderminster-weave-carpet-from-kidderminster/

A #crypticcrossword for April (barely!). It's a standard cryptic, with no gimmick or meta. As always, feedback is appreciated, and feel free to message me with any questions! Hope you enjoy!

https://darrenspuzzles.blogspot.com/2026/04/cryptic-2026-04.html

I've set another #CrypticCrossword

https://www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3371

Sample clues:
⭐ Star junking circular letter, erroneously forwarded (3,5)
🦌 Female deer with clipped tail and pupils extremely aquiver for buck (6)
🛸 Alien got in UFO with X, beating Mulder at his own game? (9)

#crypticcrossword #crossword

Today in the Guardian, 29,985 by Philistine (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29985):

5dn: X÷e = 13-19 (4)

Def is 13-19, i.e. "TEEN". Why? TEN (X), with E dividing it. Teens are 13-19 years old.

A very respectful nod to Qaos on this one, who's famed for his maths clues, for example:

"1005001001000 -- see? (5)".

Answer: CLOCK