I thought this was a very nice idea, but I wish there had been more consistency. Perhaps it wasn't possible to find a fourth theme word that would fit -- it's not my area of expertise. Some nice...
I thought I was doing so well when I had A-Z identified using a nice logical process, and working carefully enough that I didn't have to backtrack at any point. It then took me just as long to fill in...
Nothing too tricky in the clues -- all precise and not too many obscure words. When I'd followed the final instruction I wasn't convinced, but checking the work in question shows that it's really...
We have loved every minute of this magical construction. pdm after pdm with a most satisfactory finish. Congratulations to Xanthippe for a superb compilation.
The theme leapt out at us when we had solved just a couple of clues, but this has not rendered this any less enjoyable. With a full grid, we still have to get the pencils out to draw the thematic...
Nice straightforward clues, so a fairly quick grid fill, with totally unambiguous instructions to follow for the endgame. I had come across the theme before, and I thought this was a very neat...
Fared much better today but still stuck on 2 interconnecting clues viz 16 down (8) Pope's Cotta, perhaps put on before Psalm 51 ?I?E???E and 25 across Net product of eleven midsize Scottish Banks...
Whew!! Actually, the first Playfair was not too bad, as a code phrase that long tends to lead to a bunch of letters left over that, as long as one or two of them appear in the hints, help a lot. I...
When I try to enter the answers on Guardian website, there is an extra clue which is not part of the puzzle. 26 Atmosphere of a capital city, in the language of its people (5) Ignore this? Thanks....
Got the theme, got the 4 names, in fact I've got everything except the island (19A).
I have *an* island that will fit, but cannot see the wordplay. Anyone got a tip for me - please?
Germy...
stuck on last 5 - all interconnected! 4 across (8) very occupied by warm display units? ???A???S; 17 across (6) he wrote of Joad and people without home ??C???; 21 Cipher-breaking branch that's backed...
Very satisfying. Some very good clues with some neatly hidden misprints. I'd forgotten that quotation, and was delighted to be reminded of it. Early on I thought there was going to be an ambiguity,...
That was fun -- quite a quick solve, but I liked the idea. The one slight niggle I have is that the literal spling has not been 100% carried out -- unless I've made mistakes in at least two entries....
I'm not really surprised that no one has posted yet, as this was something of a toughie. I think that I have it all now (at least I have a grid that fulfills the requirements). At first I thought that...
I need help with one clue please. " its county towns include Cairo,Ottowa, Paris and Vienna" I have I?A?O which suggests Idaho. But I tried Googling to confirm ( my intimate knowledge of the USA isn't...
Thanks, Flying Tortoise (glad you weren't used in the experiment -- if it really took place). Nice to have a hands-on puzzle again. A fairly straightforward set of clues, and very clear instructions....
I thought I might be in for a bit of grid-staring, but the penny dropped after about half an hour. The amount of thematic material and the construction of the messages is most impressive. A worthy...
