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
AFR Cryptic (23/9/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 FORECAST Prophecy supporting a sect experiencing conversion (8) FOR + anagram of A SECT 5 GROTTO Source of glow-worms possibly reached crossing river (6) GOT TO outside R 10 SECOND-IN-COMMAND Deputy condemns nomadic wandering … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/9/2023, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (16/9/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HIPPODROME Fashionable school located next to Rome’s music hall (10) HIP + POD + ROME 6 LEWD Substance retrieved from contaminated well is blue (4) contaminateD WELl reversed 10 THEFT Stealing from the vacated … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/9/2023, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (9/9/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 PECANS Open unsealed containers with nuts? (6) o)PE(n + CANS 5 PRO TEM Habitual routine adopted by cabinetmaker for the time being? (3,3) ROTE inside PM 11 UNDERDONE Rare sort of dune, one formed … Continue reading
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Wednesday Slot in The SMH/Age (D&LS)
Hi All, Last year my wife and I made our debut in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age with the publication of a cryptic and quick on the puzzles page in the NS slot. We now have a permanent … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (New Year 2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HOTHOUSE Delicate tube with core measuring one thousandth of an inch (8) HOSE outside THOU 5 STRESS A spinster’s dislocation is relieved of pain and tension (6) Anagram of A SPINSTERS minus PAIN 9 … Continue reading
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The Stickler Weekly Status
The Stickler Weekly will take an indefinite break while I sort out some ongoing shoulder, back and neck issues that restrict my time working in front of a computer. These issues have been plaguing me on and off since my … Continue reading
The Stickler Weekly 270 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 ROUGH IT Live basically with dysfunctional group ignoring pressure to strike (5,2) Anagram of GROUP minus P + HIT 5 MUST-SEE Think about set repaired for essential viewing (4-3) MUSE outside anagram of SET … Continue reading
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The Stickler Weekly 270
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 270 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 270 Solution … Continue reading
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