Guest compiler, Artix, has provided another of his challenging polymath crosswords. Click on this LINK if you prefer to work on the interactive version provided by Antony Lewis’s Crossword Compiler programme.

Across

  8   Colonnaded Venetian building with a tower crowned by two Atlases holding up a bronzed globe (12)

  10  WWI poet killed 5 days before the Armistice (4)

  11  Sharkskin (8)

  12  Nautical term for fitful naps taken when all hands are kept up by stress (8)

  13  A mineral crystallising in octahedra (6)

  15  From Sicily (10)

  16  Pyramid-builder also known as Khufu (6)

  18  The philosophical concept of ‘outside-of-itself’ (8)

  20  Small Japanese tree of the genus Styrax (8)

22/25 President of the Screen Actors Guild who testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (12, 2 words)

  24  Spanish notaries (10)

  25  See 22

  27  Reception rooms at spas (8)

  28  ‘The Dirty Dozen’ stuntman who later played Frank Butcher on ‘EastEnders’ (8, 2 words)

  30  Port and resort opposite the Island of Mull (4)

  31  Vineyard in Burgundy that produces some of the most expensive red wine in the World (7, 2 words)

Down

    1  18-time Academy Awards host between 1939 and 1977 (3,4)

    2  London restaurateur killed in a fire in 1988 (6)

    3  Tlingit tribe, and their settlement which boasts the World’s tallest totem pole (4)

    4  A ringing or other noise in the ears (8)

    5  Popular American college drinking game (4,4)

    6  1975 Norman Jewison film starring James Caan (10)

    7  Set of laws that restricted foreigners living in ancient Sparta (9)

    9  Northern Dancer colt whose only defeat came in the 1984 Epsom Derby (11, 3 words)

  14  Canadian-born actor, tap-dancer and TV presenter (11, 2 words)

  17  E.M. Forster novel about class struggles (10, 2 words)

  19  14d’s opposing team captain on ‘Give Us a Clue’ (9, 2 words)

  21  1926 silent film by Hungarian emigré Pal Fejos (8)

  22  Henry II’s mistress, supposedly murdered by his wife (8)

  23  The middle stroke of the letter epsilon (7)

  26   Pseudonym of US liberal weblogger Duncan Bowen Black (6)

  29   City expelled from the Hanseatic League in 1518 for harbouring pirates (4)

Here is last week’s solution:

A General Knowledge Crossword again this week. Click on this LINK  that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website, if you prefer to work on the interactive version.

Across

1  Footwear usually with wooden soles (6)

4  The collection of ancient rabbinic writings on Jewish law and tradition (the Mishna and the Gemara) that constitute the basis of religious authority in Orthodox Judaism (6)

9  Vocal vibrato especially an excessive or poorly controlled one (7)

10  The layout and furnishings of a livable interior (5)

11  Adjust again after an initial failure (5)

12  Of or pertaining to or characteristic of an English university city or its inhabitants (7)

13  Asiatic herb cultivated for its short pods with one or two edible seeds (8,3)

18  A landlocked republic in east central Africa on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika (7)

20  Swedish chemist remembered for his invention of dynamite and for the bequest that created prizes (1833-1896) (5)

22  Sit, as on a branch (5)

23  A powered conveyance that carries winter sports participants up a hill (3,4)

24  Move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cosy position (6)

25  An administrative unit of government (6)

Down

 1  God of agriculture and vegetation; counterpart of Greek Cronus (6)

 2  White South Africans who speak Afrikaans as their first language, esp. those descended from Dutch settlers (5)

 3  A ballroom dance in duple meter; marked by sliding steps (3-4)

 5  A recording of acoustic signals (5)

 6  Any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks (7)

 7  All the way through (6)

 8  A city in the Asian part of Russia on the Ob river; largest city in Siberia (11)

14  (Greek mythology) any of three winged sister monsters and the mortal Medusa who had live snakes for hair; a glance at Medusa turned the beholder to stone (7)

15  A city in eastern China on the Yangtze River; a former capital of China; the scene of a Japanese massacre in the 1930s (7)

16  The king of the fairies, and husband of Titania or Queen Mab (6)

17  In an unqualified manner (6)

19  A region of eastern South Africa on the Indian Ocean (5)

21  A child: son or daughter (5)

Here is last week’s solution:

A cryptic crossword again this week. The unclued lights are of a kind. If you wish to work on the interactive version, click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Here is last week’s solution:

General knowledge again this week. To work on the interactive site or download a pdf of the crossword, click on this LINK. It will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  A weapon fired to indicate the hour (7, 2 words)

    5  Short and thick; as e.g. having short legs and heavy musculature (5)

    8  A native or resident of a northern US state (13)

    9  Flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes (3)

  10  A native or inhabitant of Sri Lanka (9)

  12  A public building for gambling and entertainment (6)

  13  Tropical American plants with basal rosettes of fibrous sword-shaped leaves and flowers in tall spikes; some cultivated for ornament or for fibre (6)

  15  One of the great tragedians of ancient Greece (496-406 BC) (9)

  16  Indicates an affirmative response (3)

  18  Any of the Burgher poets and musicians of Germany in the 14c – 16c (13)

  20  The concept of hospitality to strangers from Homeric Greece (5)

  21  Failure or absence of digestive function (7)

Down

    1  A rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping (5)

    2  A native or resident of a southern US state (13)

    3  A rapid series of ascending or descending notes on the musical scale (9)

    4  African disease caused by the tsetse fly (6)

    5  Two items of the same kind (3)

    6  The first ocean journeys of their kind (6,7)

    7  Americans (especially to non-Americans) (7)

  11  One of the great Fathers of the early Christian church; after a dramatic conversion to Christianity he became bishop of Hippo Regius in North Africa (9)

  12  A database system for storing information about medical patients, based on classification according to specific predetermined characteristics (7)

  14  A portion of the Mass and also of the communion service in some Roman Catholic churches (6)

  17  A trypanosome disease of the blood in horses (5)

  19  A beverage made by steeping leaves in water (3)

Here is last week’s solution. The unclued lights, like the title, were things Swiss:

A cryptic crossword again this week. In ‘Toblerone’, the unclued lights have something in common. You can work on the interactive version by clicking on this LINK that takes you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  Felt hat in rickety brougham not accepted (7)

    5  Dad with fruit (5)

    8  A way mostly in an opening passage in an artificial environment (7, 2 words)

    9  Right of data transmission around king (5)

  10  Bit of intestine of independent capricious mule (5)

  11  Look, food for pigs, rubbish! (7)

12/14 Unclued light (6,6)

  17  Unit of power and water needed for artist (7)

  19  Vulgarly crass holding unknown worthless little Scottish thing (5)

  22  Nest, see! with trimmed bird back in it (5)

  23  Prelude in the Northern Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (7)

  24  Fat woman holding recipe (5)

  25  Evil spell a detective almost linked to a set of six (7)

Down

    1  Unclued light (5)

    2  Shift round international film (5)

    3  Played fast and high, with time, space and bits of polish (7, hyphen)

    4  Unclued light (6)

    5  A soft saddle, note, for Father (5)

    6  In Capri so unusually dull (7)

    7  Unclued light (7)

  12  Unclued light (7)

  13  Disorganised terrace for one who provides food for a party (7)

  15  Charge on ground – see student regularly turns up with weapon! (7, 2 words)

  16  Unclued light (6)

  18  Pulverized Yemen’s hostile force (5)

  20  Adjudge conflict surrounded by publicity (5)

  21  Unclued light (5)

Here is last week’s solution:

General Knowledge this week. If you prefer to work on the interactive version of the crossword or to print a pdf., click on this LINK which will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

    1  The largest island in the West Indies (4)

    3  Tablets placed horizontally on top of the capitals of columns as aids in supporting the architraves (8)

    9  Small Arctic whale the male having a long spiral ivory tusk (7)

  10  Infections of the skin or nails caused by fungi and appearing as itching circular patches (5)

  11  An annual award for achievements in motion picture production and performance (7,5)

  13  An outlet for secondhand goods at reduced prices in Australia (2,4)

  15  A city in northwestern Syria (6)

  17  Meteorological item used to observe air currents (5,7)

  20 Club consisting of a heavy stick (often bamboo) bound with iron; used by police in India (5)

  21 A pear-shaped tropical fruit with green or blackish skin and rich yellowish pulp enclosing a single large seed (7)

  22 Revealing excessive self-confidence; reaching for the heights (8)

  23 Displeasing to the senses (4)

Down

    1  Aromatic bark used as a spice (8)

    2  A mountainous republic in southeastern Asia on the Bay of Bengal (5)

    4  The second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I; was executed on a charge of adultery (1507-1536) (6)

    5  A breed of sheep (8,4)

    6  A terrace or garden oriented to the south and protected from cold winds (7)

    7  A fraudulent business scheme (4)

    8  Someone who claims to be able to read your character from the shape of your skull (12)

  12  Edible European fish with a black oval mark on each side (4,4)

  14  A Chinese breed of small dog similar to a Pekingese (4,3)

  16  Come into possession of (6)

  18  Large long-armed ape of Borneo and Sumatra having arboreal habits (5)

  19  Person from eastern Europe or Asian Russia (4)

Here is last week’s solution:

The seven unclued lights were Cantons of Switzerland where French is the main language or is spoken by lots of inhabitants.

The clues in this crossword are cryptic. If you wish to work on the interactive version or download a pdf., you must click on this link which will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Seven unclued lights have something in common.

Across

    1  Unclued light (4)

    3  Unclued light (8)

    8  Dish of composer with middle of taties for seconds (9)

  10  Regularly urge on to go fast once (3)

  11  Unclued light (5)

  12  Unclued light (6)

  14  Bullfighter nonsense in women’s trousers (8,5)

  17  Unclued light (6)

  19  Stock farm with no recipe for Chili pepper (5)

  22  Unit and grade essentially (3)

  23  Unclued light (9)

  25  Roots lie abnormally in hormone (8)

  26  Unclued light (4)

Down

    1  Furiously I object; a supporter of Scottish kings! (8)

    2  Spirit or US hearsay (5)

    4  African form of pop music’s warped air (3)

    5  Element right in the middle of a gift (5)

    6  In Scotland not ploughed up twisted run vine (7)

    7  French glove producing Scots yawn (4)

    9  Conclusion – a type of fatty acid (5)

  12  Superficial appearance of a deceptive explanation (5)

  13     Determined in the past, I lassoed inappropriately (8)

  15  Mangled burs had a rodlike sponge spicule (7)

  16  Vegetable and Chinese fruit (5)

  18  Owner initially changed machine for removing bristles from barley (5)

  20  Old peasant endlessly produced short surplice (5)

  21  Pasta in chorizo but not Chinese or Italian (4)

  24  In Italy one popular game (3)

Here is last week’s solution:

If you wish to work on the interactive version, click on this LINK that will take you to the Crossword Compiler website.

Across

7  A man who has sex with and is supported by a woman (6)

8  An informal term for a youth or man (6)

9  This month in short (4)

10  Pontianac, a substitute for gutta-percha (8)

11  A piece of soft absorbent paper used as a disposable handkerchief (7)

13  The conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group (5)

15  A constellation on the equator to the east of Taurus; contains Betelgeuse and Rigel (5)

16 Fundamental principles or practices (7)

18  Rock that is collapsing or unstable (3-5)

19  The piece of land on which something is located (4)

21  Ill once (6)

22  A heavy creamy-coloured paper resembling parchment (6)

Down

1  Scots iron (4)

2  A tray for passing a decanter round the table (6-7)

3  Starched with rice or millet gruel (7)

4  Pulse (5)

5  Unmoved by feeling (13)

6  A dissident in France (8)

12  Strips of bacon used as trimmings (8)

14 Trondheim’s river (7)

17  Everything that exists anywhere (5)

 20 A journey or route all the way around a particular place or area (4)

Here is last week’s solution (unclued lights were novels by Jane Austen and the Author herself):

Ten unclued lights (one of two words) form a group (two single words, two of two words and two of three words with one word doing double duty). The eleventh unclued light was responsible for the others.

Across

    1  Unclued light (10)

    7  Unclued light (3)

    9  A religious leader keeping old company and clipping the ends of words (7)

  11  British (English) deli mixed substance that can be eaten (6)

  12  Unclued light (5)

  13  Teenager transformed into turncoat (8)

  14  Swan feather (3)

  15  Unclued light (9)

  17  Unclued light (11)

  21  In the past grievous US tractor magnate (5)

  23  One kid’s tattered soft leather (7)

  26  Unclued light (9,4)

  28  I have been told it’s European spaces (7, 2 words)

  29  Shelter first class hog rat (5)

  31  A deacon gets quite different collections of short tales (11)

  34  Shells unfortunately fluster us (9)

  38  Put back notes (3)

  39  Unusual combat op in recruit training centre (8, 2 words)

  40  Exclamation of surprise – a myth put another way (5, 2 words)

  41  Sufficiently English name of unknown German husband (6)

  42  Meat dish lab returned in time (7)

  43  Mythical Himalayan creature with tail chopped besides (3)

  44  Unclued light (10)

Down

    1  Seized and took a casual sleep (6)

    2  Poet’s rumble in guts of gastro intestines (4)

    3  Fantastic hero – one who does the weeding (4)

    4  After personal assistant returns, brief research (5)

    5  Charge nurse wrapping knee (4)

    6  One girl converted into star (5)

    7  Nomogram carried back in a US shopping bag (4)

    8  Active, abounding with offspring, beginning with daughter rather than son (5)

  10  Warm up in advance a one time favourite, holding her back (7)

  15  Essentially bluish grey (5)

  16  No longer used, lost heart and stopped working (4)

  17  Unclued light (5)

  18  Mid month before the end of August, that is (5, 2 words)

  19  American fellow lines cotton seed (4)

  20  One task creating tie-died fabrics (5)

  22  See! I’m inside a large car (4)

  24  Special areas of land in Orkney, not right old marshy spots (5)

  25  One island alder, running wild, belonging to a family of plants (7)

  27  US law officers fostered sleaze primarily (4)

  30  Unclued light (6)

  31  Unclued light (5)

  32  Manner of fashioning regular quips for US joker (5, hyphen)

  33  At most in Italy, confusion of Pauli or Paul I (5, 2 words)

  35  Support foundation (4)

  36  Goat-like animal, a backward rodent possessing head of a hamster (4)

  37  Unclued light (4)

  38  Asian from Haiti endlessly in confusion (4)

Here is last week’s solution:

Here is the first General knowledge crossword of the year. Unclued lights contain an exhortation and a greeting. If you prefer to work on the interactive version, click on this LINK.

Across

1  A laundry service in which only basic washing is done (7)

5  Any of many long-legged birds that walk in water in search of food (5)

8  Place in a grave or tomb (5) 

9  Demure (7)

13  In a disobedient or naughty way (13)

15  A double pronged piece of metal used to hold women’s hair in place (7)

16  Scandinavian punch made of claret and aquavit with spices and raisins and orange peel and sugar (5)

17  A home-made firework – a cone of damp gunpowder (5)

Down

1  A thorny stem or twig (5)

2  To start making an effort (3,2,4,4)

3  Derived by logic, without observed facts (1,6)

4  The lowest string of the lyre or its tone (6)

5  To be oppressive or burdensome (5)

6  A sales outlet offering goods at a reduced price (8,5)

7  Present a settlement for a second time (2-5)

10  Place to buy intoxicating drink (3,4)

11  Slang for a jail (7)

12  Steeple hat with a veil hanging from it worn by French women in the 15c (6)

14  A German huntsman (5)

Here is last week’s solution: