Hiddens with a twist
I once wrote this clue for an Independent puzzle, where the answer comes from combining a chunk of "Regan" with a chunk of "Cordelia":
Royal property unequally divided between Regan and Cordelia (7)
I thought of a similar clue recently while pondering the pseudonyms of various Independent setters:
Publisher taking some pieces from Penelope and Guinevere (7)
What do people think of these? A legitimate device or a step too far? I don't think they're dramatically more difficult than ordinary hiddens, but they do require a smidge more effort compared to ordinary hiddens, which can often be solved sort of mechanically without any thought at all.
I guess they need to be indicated in quite a precise/wordy way, which probably limits them a bit. The other thing is that you want the separate bits of hidden fodder to be conceptually linked in some way (like in my examples), otherwise it could just look a bit unsatisfyingly random.
Anybody got any other examples, or a decent name for the device? "Non-contiguous hidden"? Edit: "Frankenhidden" is my shout
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They seem fine in principle, as long as the chunks are beginnings or ends (as in these examples) rather than from somewhere in the middle. I wouldn't like "some pieces from PeneLOpe and GuineVERe" to clue LOVER, say, even though that wouldn't be technically any different.
This has got similar vibes to the portmanteau/Carollism device. There's some here: https://fifteensquared.net/2026/06/29/independent-12394-by-bard I like the idea, and your example, and would be happy to see it. Like you say, the indicator would probably have to be pretty wordy or very specific (like for our old mate Spooner). As for the name, how about something like cut-and-shut or split-and-stitch?
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