Comments on: Independent 7588 by Anax

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:21:19 +0000

Dear beermagnet (#26,
“A-ha are not a pop band that springs to mind (not in my ken)”.

Well, they were very popular in the 80s/90s. Remember ‘Take On Me’ or the Bond theme for ‘The Living Daylights’?

My objection to the clue for ALPHA, though, is Anax calling them ‘former pop group’ – they are still making records !!

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:46:51 +0000

Phew! Got there in the end with a little help from Chambers and remembering that in 11a it’s ‘Janeiro’, not ‘Janerio’ as many mistakenly think. But failed to spot the theme.
A slight quibble though with the definition of 13d: unless I’ve missed something hydrosomes are found in fresh water so, strictly speaking, aren’t marine life.

By: beermagnet

beermagnet — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:25:49 +0000

Thanks Anax.
I’m here to echo Simon and others in feeling far too menial to be honoured with a mention in a grid like this.
No way did I finish despite giving it a fair old bash – must’ve been more than an hour – it was the top left corner that did for me.
A-ha are not a pop band that springs to mind (not in my ken); didn’t get Apocryphal and while kicking myself for not fiddling it out of the anagram there is no way the definition would’ve meant anything to me. Similarly Philopoena, where I had pencilled “Phi lop” in the margin but never heard of the “game”. I
t is the offbeat definitions in many of the clues that make them hard, and we all know by now that is your trademark. Thus I was so pleased to thrash out some of the other words I didn’t know – e.g. Hydrosomal and Papeterie.
A lot’s been said about 8D ENDS but that was one of the few I got on the first pass(!), I guess I just happened to see the wordplay and know these references (Nintendo + the “cable” Def. itself), but I can see others might class this as an offbeat definition. What it has got is a lovely natural surface reading. It is the high standard of the surface reading to these clues that makes the whole thing such a polished offering.

So thanks again to Anax, and flashling for the blog and tipping us off earlier to look out for something special.

By: Uncle Yap

Uncle Yap — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:25:30 +0000

I had 8Down unsolved as E?D? and even with the explanation, still think the clue is unfair, if not flawed. A blot of indigo in an otherwise pail of pure white milk.

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:09:56 +0000

Thanks flashling and Anax(I think )
This was HARD.Like Klingsor,I think this took me longer than any normal daily puzzle has done for years.
Which is not a complaint.
Some unfamiliar vocabulary here but all clued in such a way as to be solvable.So many misdirections that I feel like I’ve been led up the garden path as far as the tree only to find it’s the wrong one to be barking up.
The definition for 1 down was obscure but the anagram was pretty obvious,so I can live with that.

By: Simon Harris

Simon Harris — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:52:40 +0000

Goodness, how humbling. I must admit I struggled with the puzzle so didn’t come close to spotting the theme. I should probably have persisted, in retrospect!

Anyway, thanks Anax – it’s not every day one gets a mention in a national paper, however cryptic it may be!

By: BertandJoyce

BertandJoyce — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:13:57 +0000

Thank goodness we can check things on FS! We completed it apart from 8D, although there were a few where we couldn’t fully explain the answers. Glad to know that we were in good company! We thought it was an enjoyable challenge.

Thanks flashling, Anax …… and the Indie – much better than the Grauniad!

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:06:30 +0000

Thanks for that explanation of ENDS definition, flashling, I missed that as well as the wordplay. Now that you’ve given it, I remember it all clearly from telegrams of old.

Re Anax’s point at #20, I think the problem with comments on prize puzzles is just that by the time the post is due, people have forgotten the details of solving them – also the few extra days may have given them more time to work out tricky answers successfully so help is no longer needed.

By: anax

anax — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:55:46 +0000

Hello friends

A rather late post from me I’m afraid – not been at the computer much today. Huge thanks for all your kind words.

And a special message to Rodders; I’m really glad you didn’t like this crossword – honestly! Some setters receive almost blind praise and it’s great that someone is willing to say that a puzzle just didn’t work for them. That’s the way of cryptics. Everyone has different solving needs and it’s impossible for any setter to please every taste; I commend you for coming forward to say this wasn’t of a type that appeals to you.

I’m glad that Eileen used the word ‘tribute’; that’s exactly what this was meant to be. 15sq has long been my first port of call for reviews of the day’s puzzles and the often meticulously prepared blogs are amazing in their depth. Casual visitors possibly don’t appreciate how much time goes into these blogs and it’s a shame that some – especially those for prize puzzles – get so little response. I hope that will change.

My gratitude and affection to you all.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:27:41 +0000

Yes, this was a magnificent crossword, but I am not so sure whether Anax’ style is compatible with the usual Guardian stuff.
Joining their team would, IMO, mean: being instantly their hardest setter.
Not sure whether the posts at fifteensquared would be favourable all the time, too.
In my perception, Guardian solvers are very different from Indy solvers, as are the puzzles in both papers.

Just like you , Eileen, me myself I would welcome Anax from the bottom of my heart ‘over on our side’, but I do think it is a tricky one.
As perhaps thought Mr Hugh S. – that is, if he thought about it.

Clues of the Day (plural), for me today: APOCRYPHAL (1d) and 28ac (LINEAGE).