About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.-
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Author Archives: David Stickley
The Stickler Weekly 15
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 15 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 15 Solution … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
2 Comments
The Stickler Weekly 15 Clue Hints
If you need help, Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 15 Overseas Help
If you need help, Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 14 Solution
Occasionally people delight in challenging my cryptic philosophy by making naive claims that there’s no need for rules in cryptic crosswords. Usually they are trying to justify either their own lack of cluing ability or that of their favourite setter. … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
2 Comments
Some Crossword History
Here are three puzzles from the crossword archives. (Click on a puzzle image to try it) 1. The first ever crossword by Arthur Wynne, published in the New York World, December 21, 1913 2. Word Test (Lottery Puzzle), competition puzzle, … Continue reading
Posted in Crosswords General, The Stickler
3 Comments
The Stickler Weekly 14
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 14 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 14 Solution … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
1 Comment
The Stickler Weekly 14 Clue Hints
If you need help, Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 14 Overseas Help
If you need help, Continue reading
The Stickler Weekly 13 Solution
I had a number of people ask me about clues from The Stickler Weekly 12, namely 4-down, “One who’s keen to take a break? (6)”, and 11-down, “Handy communicator? (6)”. They quite rightly pointed out that this type of clue … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 13
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 13 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 13 Solution … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
3 Comments