Many solvers miss having a second cryptic puzzle to solve on Saturdays, which is why Big Dave created the “Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle” series. Here you will find puzzles from current published setters, like Anax, Elgar and Tim Moorey, through to lesser-known setters. The only criteria are that they should be enjoyable to solve and cleared for publication. One puzzle a week is offered – at midday on Saturday. There will be a post associated with each puzzle where you can say whatever you like (within reason).
There is an index to interactive versions of these puzzles on the Crossword Info site here.
NTSPP submissions and correspondence should be sent to bdSubmissions@outlook.com
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Other puzzles by Guest Setters
These are puzzles by guest setters that have been published elsewhere. You might like to enjoy these as well. No fewer than thirty-three of the setters who appeared first in the NTSPP and Rookie series (indicated with * below) have gone on to have puzzles published in the National press.
[ Setters – please contact me if you would like your profile to be amended / updated.]
Alchemi *
Alchemi has had puzzles published in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.
As Hemical he had a regular fortnightly slot on the Cricinfo site.
He has also had puzzles published on Alberich’s site.
Anax
Anax’s puzzles are regularly published in The Times, The Independent (Anax), the Financial Times (Loroso) and, under the alias Elkamere, in the Telegraph Toughie series.
He also has a number of them on his Anax Crosswords site and on Alberich’s site.
Unexpected Bonus (16/04/2010) – interactive version or as a pdf
Artix
Artix has set Toughies and is a regular setter in the Magpie.Β He has also had Listener and EV (1095) puzzles published. He co-compiles with Chalicea as Nudnix, and with Chalicea and Ilver as Rasputin.
Atrica *
Atrica has had a puzzles published in The Independent.
Beet *
Beet has had puzzles published in The Independent.
Brunel *
Brunel has had a puzzle published in The Independent.
Bucko *
Bucko has had puzzles published in The Independent and on Alberich’s site..
Chalicea
Chalicea is a prolific compiler of verbal and numerical crosswords for the Listener, Inquisitor and EV series, in the Magpie, 1 Across, Crossword Magazine, on the Crossword Centre’s message board and in the new Crossnumbers Quarterly. She compiles the weekly competition crossword in the Farmers Guardian and compiles as Curmudgeon and Chalicea for the 3D Crossword Calendars, acting as their clue judge in the annual competition. She was crossword editor of ‘Geneva Lunch’ until it ceased to publish. She co-sets with other compilers as Rasputin (with Artix and Ilver), S.M.E.R.S.H. (a group of editors and setters), Bics (with Shark), Nudnix (with Artix) and Charismatix (with Samuel and Artix). She also, as one of the Numpties, writes a weekly Listener blog on Listen With Others. Of all the setting, vetting, test-solving and blogging that she does, she most enjoys the NTSPP because of the warm and constructive responses and the blog that appear immediately after publication.Β Most of Chalicea’s NTSPP puzzles feature a ghost theme, i.e. one that it is not necessary to know in order to complete the puzzle but provides added entertainent.Β Since September 2020, the Numpties have been providing hints for the weekly EV puzzles on this site.
Commoner *
Commoner has had puzzles published in The Independent on Sunday and a number of puzzles on his own site crypticcommoner.
Conto*
Conto has had a puzzle published in The Independent as Bluebird.
Crucifer
Crucifer had a regular gig in a food writing magazine until it folded. He has also had a puzzle published on Alberich’s site
Dill *
Dill has had a puzzle published in The Independent on Sunday.
Donk *
Donk has had puzzles published in The Guardian (as Screw), The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.
Dutch *
Dutch has had puzzles published in The Independent.
Encota *
Encota has set Listener, Enigmatic Variations, Inquisitor and Magpie puzzles.
eXternal *
eXternal has set Listener, Enigmatic Variations, Inquisitor and Independent puzzles, as ArteXlen, in the FT and as proXimal in the Telegraph Toughie series and is the editor of the Enigmatic Variations series of puzzles
He has also set a Prize puzzle on Derek Harrison’s Crossword Centre.
Fez *
Fez, as Cranberry, has set barred puzzles in the Inquisitor and Enigmatic Variations series.
Gervase
Gervase has had puzzles published on Alberich’s site.
Grecian *
Grecian has had a puzzle published in The Independent.
Halcyon
Halcyon has had puzzles published on Alberich’s site.
Harold *
Harold has had a puzzle published in The Independent.
Hieroglyph *
Hieroglyph has had an Inquisitor puzzle published as well as several puzzles in the Independent.
Hippogryph *
Hippogryph has had a puzzle published in The Independent on Sunday.
Hoskins *
Hoskins has had puzzles published in The Independent, The Magpie, 1Across and The NADFAS Review; as Talos he sets for The Times Literary Supplement; as Ned he sets general knowledge puzzles for The Sunday Herald; and under his own name, David McLean, he sets for the Sunday Times and contributes to The Church Times.
Italicus *
Italicus has had puzzles published in The Independent.
He has also had a puzzle published on the 1 Across site and on Alberich’s site.
Knut
Knut has puzzles published in The Independent, as Julius in the FT and as Hudson in the Telegraph Toughie series.
Lohengrin
Lohengrin has puzzles published in The Independent.
Maize *
Maize has had puzzles published in The Independent.
Mucky *
Mucky has had puzzles published in The Independent as Filbert.
Phibs
Phibs has set barred puzzles in the Enigmatic Variations (as Ranunculus) and Inquisitor series (as Triton), as well as the Magpie magazine (as Phylax).
Prolixic *
Prolixic has had puzzles published in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, as Kairos, and in the Church Times, as the Reverend Michael Callaghan.
Thus Spake Araucaria – interactive version
He has also had a puzzle published on Alberich’s site.
Qix
Qix has a puzzle published every Monday in the Glasgow Herald.
Quaiteaux
Quaiteaux has had puzzles published in The Independent.
Radler *
Radler has had Inquisitor puzzles published.
He has also had puzzles published on Alberich’s site.
Shabbo*
Shabbo has had puzzles published in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.
Shark
Shark has set Listener, Enigmatic Variations and Inquisitor puzzles.
Silvanus *
Silvanus has had puzzles published in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday and has joined the panel of Toughie Setters.
Simon
Simon compiles similar crosswords, two or three a year, in 1 Across under the pseudonym Pedrock.
Skinny *
Skinny has had a puzzle published in The Independent on Sunday.
Skipjack *
Skipjack has set Toughie, Independent, Enigmatic Variations and Inquisitor puzzles, all as Serpent.
Snape *
Snape has had puzzles published in The Independent as Eccles.
Soup *
Soup has had a Guardian Genius puzzle published and is the current editor of 1Across magazine.
Vigo *
Vigo has had puzzles published in the Independent and, as Carpathian, in the Guardian Quiptic.
Whynot *
Whynot has had a puzzle published in the Independent.
Wiglaf
Wiglaf has had puzzles published in the Independent and has set Listener, Enigmatic Variations and Inquisitor puzzles.
Windsurfer *
Windsurfer has had puzzles published in The Independent, and as Kite in the Guardian and the Guardian Genius slot.Β He has also had puzzles published by 1Across Magazine, Alumni magazines, Alberichβs site and is one of the setters at www.customcrypticcrosswords.com.
Wire *
Wire has had puzzles published in the Independent, on Alberichβs site and on the 1 Across site.
< Puzzles |
Created 14 Mar 2012
Updated 25 Oct 2024