Comments on: Independent – Review of 2009

By: Peter Biddlecombe

Peter Biddlecombe — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:42:48 +0000

This matches my memory of my own experience pretty well. Monk and Nestor can be very difficult, but not so often as the hardest setters.

By: eimi

eimi — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:22:02 +0000

Thanks, nmsindy, for your analysis, which is always helpful. I don’t even keep records of how many times each setter has appeared, so that’s often revealing too. If Gaufrid doesn’t mind, it would be good to see other solvers’ ideas of the most difficult setters.

Thanks to Anax – you’re very welcome and the Indy is a stronger band for your addition to it.

I wish all solvers, setters and bloggers a happy and prosperous new year and, providing the paper can keep its head above water, I can promise at least one new setter, as I have done each year, the return of one setter who has been away for a while, and, hopefully, lots of further entertainment, erudition and enjoyment in 2010.

Cheers!

By: anax

anax — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:55:56 +0000

My word, nmsindy, what a fascinating insight! As for my own puzzles averaging around an hour to solve, that’s maybe not surprising since, as a newcomer, my little setting quirks won’t be completely familiar yet.

Of special note, though, are your solving times for Dac’s puzzles. Surely it’s the mark of a truly great setter that he combines wonderfully smooth (and technically sound) clues which, despite their deception, are reasonably easy to solve. If I ever get to emulate that skill I’ll be a happy little setter!

To my fellow setters – and particularly to Eimi for accepting me into this elite band of innovators – and to all bloggers and commenters, a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.