Comments on: Guardian 24856 / Gordius

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:41:04 +0000

Thanks, in part, to this Xword, we managed 13/15 on the Quiz in today’s Guardian’s Weekend, an all time high for us. The clue that helped us? Yup, 12d!

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:14:40 +0000

Friday the 13th, for Gordius – that is.
But is it fair?
There were a lot of critical notes in the posts above, some of which surely make sense (about 22ac, 5d, 12d, 21d).
But – I have counted them – with 17 out of 26 clues there’s nothing wrong, and I think you can add another two (10ac, in which the definition – in my opinion – is cleverly “integrated” (without being an &Lit), and 3dn, which is a cd that no-one would have criticised in a Rufus).

Some crosswords are extraordinary (like the recent renderings of Brendan and Crucible), some are ordinary (like this one).
But then so what, burn down the setter??

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:23:15 +0000

Wow, to borrow from 20d, this is no place for the faint-hearted, especially if you’re producing the goods in a 15 squared grid in the first place. To paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel, I’d rather be a solver than a setter, yes I would …

By: TRIALNERROR

TRIALNERROR — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:18:11 +0000

PS: Jamie C, for what it’s worth, “plonk” is derived from “blanc”, as I’m sure you know, so there is indeed a sort of Frenchified reference in there…you know…

By: TRIALNERROR

TRIALNERROR — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:09:05 +0000

Really enjoyed this puzzle. I find those “definition-free” clues a gas – you just got to say the clue (or the solution)with the right intonation and it all makes sense. But…am I the only one who thought 16D had something to do with bluejeans?

Clue of the puzzle: 25A. Just made me laugh out loud while invigilating a university exam. Still does.

By: rrc

rrc — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:12:43 +0000

Like I mhl I also enjoyed doing this puzzle although got alittle bit bogged down on the left hand side. I thought the clues in the main were fair

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:00:49 +0000

Following some discreet enquiries, I have now discovered that Gordius is the cover name for Gordon Brown or Gordi to his friends (if he had any).

Understandably, no Editor would ever dare question any aspect of any puzzle that has been set by Gordi.

A spokesman at No. 10 has now issued a Press Statement in which Gordi has blamed The Taliban for today’s fiasco.

So now you know.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:03:21 +0000

Perhaps the rules are the most fun when twisted almost-but-not-quite to breaking point but, when people chuck them away possibly in favour of some bizarre personal interpretation, it can become a bit frustrating for solvers who – let’s face it – may find themselves confronted with a set of unfair clues.

That’s why it’s so very good to have a nice, strong lead from one’s editor (he said innocently, knowing hardly at all whom this might implicate).

By: HFS

HFS — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:01:39 +0000

Sorry Walruss. No offence intended. My irrelevant ramblings were intended to allude to things some people hold sacred, attacks on which can occasionally elicit a response from ‘Traumatised, Tunbridge Wells’ suggesting we all meet in Tesco’s car park tomorrow then march on the Guardian offices and burn them down. Crosswords are merely a bit of whimsy and personally I prefer my whimsy not to conform to a rigid set of rules. I realise I may be alone in this. I promise to seek help.

By: walruss

walruss — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:56:22 +0000

I don’t think I need to defend the post I made HFS as the other contributors have done that for me. Unless I’m missing something, I found some of your posting’s content irrelevant. Attacks on Middle England and cricket? I’m afraid I’m out of your depth there.