Comments on: Independent 7,124 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 15/08/09)

By: Alberich

Alberich — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:27:20 +0000

A terrific puzzle. Very difficult, as the clues are seamless and require a lot of grey matter to solve. Although I got “nothing” quite quickly (actually I got nothing for quite a while!) I found that the thematic clues were still hard to crack. Liked 1d and 7d particularly. It took me a long time to realise how the definition for “curmudgeon” worked or why card = book.

The best thing about this puzzle is that despite being very hard, the clues were absolutely fair so it was a joy to keep at it, rather than a slog. Great stuff, well done.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:08:42 +0000

I agree with all the praise above, a theme exploited to the full.

By: Fletch

Fletch — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:31:25 +0000

I was delighted to see Anax’s name again and the puzzle lived up to the high standard of his debut. A masterpiece of setting and an absolute joy to solve. Lots more please!

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:09:43 +0000

A very nice puzzle, and certainly helped that I’d blogged Virgilius’ similar take on the same theme late last year:

http://fifteensquared.net/2008/12/09/independent-6911dac-placeholder/

Interestingly enough, SQAUT, which is one that Virgilius didn’t use, was my way into this puzzle.

Am enjoying Anax’s puzzles muchly. A great addition to the fold.

By: IanN14

IanN14 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:02:08 +0000

I liked this one too, but was a bit disappointed anax couldn’t have tried to use “diddly-squat” somewhere in the wordplay…

By: Conrad Cork

Conrad Cork — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:57:48 +0000

Ah Eileen, you haven’t read as much American trash fiction as I have, hence your knowing zip about zip. (Sorry, I’m leaving now.)

Thanks to Anax.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:50:03 +0000

Hi Simon

Nothing to add to your great blog, except to say that I enjoyed this puzzle immensely. I admired all the clues you mention particularly and 13ac made me laugh. I got the theme earlier than I might have done at one time, before I learned to look up words that I thought I knew the meaning of. [I got it from 4ac - I didn't know 'zip' meant nothing.]

Many thanks, Anax – I hope it won’t be too long before the next one.