Comments on: Independent 7613/Phi

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:05:54 +0000

Third attempt at a reply… last two disappeared into a site maintenance message. Found bottom half tricky and the theme went over my head, not being a Banks fan. Had to use the internet to finish this for the composer, which I consider a personal failure.

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:20:35 +0000

So we have an answer for John about 26a – not the first name or the last one, but exactly as he said in the blog, the second name – it’s the M in “Iain M. Banks”.

By: beermagnet

beermagnet — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:35:17 +0000

I can spot this Nina as Iain (M) Banks is one of my Favourite authors! I'd say more but I'm a bit busy ATM so here's a link: Banks Bibliography

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:32:46 +0000

Try Iain Banks.

By: eimi

eimi — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:27:39 +0000

I’m sure I wouldn’t have spotted it without inside information, but there is a ghost theme here for Nina-hunters to spot.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:12 +0000

Thank you, John.

Another quality Friday puzzle from Phi; it’s been another good week in the Indy. Once I’d got the S from SURFACE, SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME went straight in, but I speak French. As your link shows, it’s roughly equivalent to our plc and is abbreviated to SA. We do seem to have had a lot of French clues here and in the Grauniad in the last few weeks.

I liked HORSESHOES and IONIAN SEA in particular. Unless Elbow’s support band is called GENUINE CUPCAKE, I think we have a nina-free puzzle today.

By: scchua

scchua — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:43:45 +0000

PS. Apologies, I did find a reference for IRON as an adjective; please ignore my comment.

By: scchua

scchua — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:40:24 +0000

Thanks for the blog, John, and Phi for another enjoyable straight forward puzzle.

Can’t find any (unsubtle) Ninas. Favourites were 4A SURFACE, 2D TANDOORI and 5D RUPERT BEAR. PENDERECKI had to be confirmed from references (as obscure to me as Elbow). 17A SPEED has a nicely unusual and misleading definition. 19A IONIAN SEA, I guess “two holding” could be interpreted as “one and one holding…”. I can’t find a reference where IRON could be properly used as an adjective like “indomitable”?