Comments on: Guardian 24615 / Rover

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:16:30 +0000

I know, I am not British, and therefore some people, maybe, would say: what do you know about crosswords? But I think this Rover was not as bad as you all think it was. Of course, clues like 27ac (Neil Young made a song, called Love is a Rose … – perfect for a clue) and 3d are inferior. At the same time, 26ac is a brilliant clue – that is, when you are a setter- : you see the word ‘sailing’ in ‘Med’, and you think: that’s it. Just like some of you, I have problems with clues like 20dn (but it can be ‘code’ instead of ‘cod’) and 21d (plural? or?), but 8d is clever, as is 19ac. I admit, a cardigan hasn’t always a pocket, but the the of the word ‘change’ is very clever (again, from the viewpoint of a setter). And there are more good clues (first, fiendish, cedars) – more than there are bad ones. I think, all in all, this was a good crossword.
At least, in the eyes of a Dutchman, who thinks you UK people should be more Libertarian, and less ‘clique’.

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:01:37 +0000

Smutchin et al: Perhaps you can capitalise on your unfortunate e – use it as an idea for your next crossword: for example, have a letter missing from n clues, leaving it to the solver to provide them (you would have to warn them in a preamble, of course)

I speak from a similar unfortunate experience when I used to set the crossword for a university rag.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:56:14 +0000

I’d never thought of Rover as difficult in the usual sense – actually, for me he’s the opposite. It’s exactly as someone said up top (all those millions of comments ago): he’s only difficult where either the technique is poor, or his expectation of an audience’s general knowledge is misjudged.

There were one or two nice clues today, but I’m prepared to run Don’s gauntlet and opine that this wasn’t up to all that much. 80+ comments says it all (and almost literally).

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:37:28 +0000

And, come to think of it, isn’t it strange that we should be back to codes?

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:34:02 +0000

Yet one more extra letter!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:32:48 +0000

I typed my last comment without sseeing yours. If it’s anything to do with da Vinci, count me out!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:31:02 +0000

Oo-er – I did take note of the title and then forgot about it. One glass of wine too many – will come back to it tomorrow!

By: smutchin

smutchin — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:28:48 +0000

In case not (and I should have added this as an intro): Six of the solutions are related, all being key elements of a code.

By: smutchin

smutchin — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:25:09 +0000

Meant to ask, did you spot the mini theme?

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:22:52 +0000

At least, Smutchin, it shows that you make up your own anagrams.