Comments on: Guardian 24,593 (Sat 10 Jan)/Paul – Vowel mouthed

By: Colin H

Colin H — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:17:28 +0000

I must confess that I only got the theme of this one by solving 27 across first, then looking for a writer with a name ending in “V”. After that it was a relative doddle.

By: smutchin

smutchin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:53:11 +0000

I couldn’t work out the wordplay for 18d and only got it from 11a, which I’ve heard of. From there, I also got 10a and from there managed to fill in most of the grid.

As to fairness, I find Paul is generally very fair but occasionally a bit “indirect”, as in a few of the clues here. But he usually makes up for this by being amusing and I often find myself groaning in a kind of appreciation when I get the answer.

I’ve sent in the prize puzzle a couple of times, but it’s such a rarity for me to actually complete it that I usually frame it and put it up on the bathroom wall.

Dawn – the trade-off with alphabetical puzzles is that you’re given the first letter of the solution, which I often find makes the puzzle a bit easier than the conventionally clued type.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:12:46 +0000

Hi,

In answer to Derek Lazenby’s question about cross ref clues I think that if you could solve them all without putting them in a grid then that would turn it into a quiz rather than a crossword puzzle!

I think you can usually get some clues without putting them in the grid but having a letter or two certainly helps with the tougher clues. I think a fair clue is one that you can eventually get, ideally without needing the internet. I find it interesting reading the comments here to see how often what one person thinks is a fair, easy clue is seen as obscure and unfair by someone else.

When they set one of the alphabetic crosswords where you have no numbers and have to get all the answers before fitting them in the grid that is a good example of seeing how far you can get with the clues alone. I usually really struggle until I can use logic to get some answers in the grid.

By: dave

dave — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:50:27 +0000

The reason I don’t send the prize puzzle in is just that – I’ve already got enough dictionaries.
My mother, however, would gladly forgo any prize just to see her name in the paper as the winner, and then show it to her friends (repeatedly)

By: Stakhanovite

Stakhanovite — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:16:03 +0000

Regarding the prize puzzle, does anyone else think the prize could be better? Surely most people who do crosswords have already got dictionaries, or use the Internet? It’s a bit like having a cookery competition where the prize is a rolling pin. Of course, it’s nice to have the latest edition of whatever dictionary, but personally I’d prefer a book token.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:21:50 +0000

stiofain_x says: Does anyone here actually send in the prize puzzle?

I won it about five years ago but didn’t get the dictionary because Royal Mail tried to deliver it while I was away for two weeks and they only kept parcels for a week. I wasn’t sure whether one would be allowed to win twice but did win again a couple of years later – so that’s how I got my Collins. It’s well worth a go!

By: InGrid

InGrid — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:24:00 +0000

stiofain_x says: Does anyone here actually send in the prize puzzle? I have only done it once a few years ago when a wrong grid was printed and in a fit of obsession i worked out all the clues individually and then worked out what the grid should be. I later found out that this had elicited the greatest number of entrants ever.

Well, only because you asked: I do, or, to be more precise, did. For my pains I now own three editions of the Collins Dictionary – Third (reprint 1995); Desk Top & Sixth. Before those a £12.50 token (spent on what I cannot now remember).

By: muck

muck — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:01:21 +0000

stiofain_x says: Does anyone here actually send in the prize puzzle? I have only done it once a few years ago when a wrong grid was printed and in a fit of obsession i worked out all the clues individually and then worked out what the grid should be. I later found out that this had elicited the greatest number of entrants ever. Me too

By: Mr Beaver

Mr Beaver — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:42:13 +0000

Derek
my feeling for a fair clue is one that, when you’ve got it – by whatever tortuous route, you know it’s right. I don’t mind looking up a few obscure references I haven’t met before – that’s how you learn. I could never claim to get more than a quarter of clues (on a good day) straight off without crossing letters.
But I didn’t like SHOT – it was our last to go in, and I thought it might be right but couldn’t be sure. I was somewhat mollified by Rightback’s explanation though.

By: stiofain_x

stiofain_x — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:40:07 +0000

I thought this was the best prize puzzle in ages humber thumber made me laugh out loud being a fan of the book.
Ive always loved the root of sinister and the spurious connotation that left handed people are inherently evil.
I also loved the use of “chin” for punch in 1 dn as it is a typical Belfast slang usage and didnt know it was used elsewhere.
I have been wavering on this opinion for a while but after this and Pauls jazzy riff of a puzzle yesterday I now consider him to be the number one setter and a deserving inheritor of the Reverends cape.
The king is dead long live the king.
Does anyone here actually send in the prize puzzle? I have only done it once a few years ago when a wrong grid was printed and in a fit of obsession i worked out all the clues individually and then worked out what the grid should be. I later found out that this had elicited the greatest number of entrants ever.
So in answer to Dereks query of whether clues can stand on their own I would say yes.
My reference to the king reminded me of one of my favourite clues ever “The king lives otherwise” (5) but I cant remember who was the setter.
Stiofain