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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Category Archives: Crosswords General
The Stickler Weekly – One Day Delay
The Stickler Weekly continues, but… Continue reading
Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly One Week Break
The Stickler Weekly continues, but… Continue reading
The Stickler Weekly – One Year Down
One year down. How many to go, I wonder? The crossword landscape in general in Australia hasn’t changed at all over the last year and newspapers continue to be published, albeit in a very skinny form. I’m always looking for … Continue reading
The Stickler Weekly Approaching 1st Birthday
The Stickler Weekly’s birthday is coming… Continue reading
The Stickler Weekly Status
The Stickler Weekly continues, but… Continue reading
3 Weeks To Go
Only 3 weeks to go until the end of my 6 month commitment to provide a weekly Stickler. How time has flown. I’ve been slowly making improvements to the website and working on other (unpaid) crossword projects, but by far … Continue reading
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
Courier Mail Boxer Cryptic cancelled
If you’ve been doing The Courier Mail crosswords during the week, you probably guessed that my Saturday cryptic would be affected. Due to changes by News Ltd that impacted the puzzles all four metro papers, The Courier Mail Boxer cryptic … Continue reading
Advertiser Saturday Cryptic cancelled
If you’ve been doing The Adelaide Advertiser crosswords during the week, you probably guessed that my Saturday cryptic would be affected. Due to changes by News Ltd that impacted the puzzles all four metro papers, The Adelaide Advertiser Saturday cryptic … Continue reading
Posted in Advertiser Saturday Cryptic, Crosswords General
Tagged Adelaide Advertiser, Crossword, cryptic
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The Stickler cancelled
Due to changes by News Ltd to puzzle pages in four metro papers, The Stickler will no longer be published. This ends a 4786-puzzle labour of love. The Stickler has been the only new, daily, 15×15, Australian cryptic to appear … Continue reading