Comments on: Independent 7509/Raich

By: Raich

Raich — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:18:23 +0000

Many thanks, John, for the excellent blog and to all for the comments which are much appreciated.

In particular for the points made in relation to the use of common words because I think that is important in a daily cryptic puzzle and I worked very hard to try to achieve it here.

By: kloot

kloot — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:17:33 +0000

A nice and simple puzzle that was nevertheless satisfying to complete.

By: walruss

walruss — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:33:44 +0000

Nice puzzle, in which I don’t mind the italics in RED! Also I agree with John about the fact that Raich doesn’t use obscure words to fill in his themed grids. This seems to be what’s expected in the Indy, and I am glad to see it.

By: NealH

NealH — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:49:35 +0000

It occurs to me that Raich needed have put Middlemarch in. He could just have said that Middlemarch was any of the Rs on the grid!

By: Lenny

Lenny — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:01:28 +0000

The grid also prompted me to make a mental note to look for a nina, then I promptly forgot it. This meant it took me longer than it should to get Double, Botham and Dettori. But, finally I noticed the …eorge Eliot staring me in the face so I was able to use the G to get the final Giro.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:33:13 +0000

Grid shape alone put me on NINA alert, but others have said, a lot was quite easy, leaving the perimeter completed very early on, perhaps unfortunately it rather gave away the rest of the crossword. Probably the quickest solve for months on this. Makes a change from some recent Tuesday puzzles.

@Eimi TS Eliot -> Toilets, I used to have a manager who was AV Taylor -> Lavatory

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:24:47 +0000

Very enjoyable.

One I had GEO on the top line and pencilled in GEORGE but wasn’t sure what the them was until I had ADAM BEDE in. Filling in the perimeter helped with the rest which fell into place quickly. So an easier than usual puzzle for me but some nice cluing nonetheless.

Colin

By: NealH

NealH — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:54:35 +0000

I’ve had a copy of Middlemarch on my bookshelf for about 20 years. One day, I might actually get round to reading it.

This was one of my quickest solves for some time, but it was very good all the same. I was impressed when I saw after completing the puzzle that both George Eliot and Middlemarch were on the outer edge. The fact that only three novels appeared in the normal solutions nicely encouraged you to go looking for the NINA.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:48:58 +0000

Thanks Mike
Still seems a bit arbitrary,
Hi-Ho Silver Lining

By: eimi

eimi — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:44:29 +0000

Italics are often used to indicate titles, sometimes misleadingly, but at other times the setter just wishes to stress a particular word. I don’t think it’s crucial, but in this instance Raich wished to stress that the dandelion was red, as opposed to the expected yellow.