Comments on: Guardian 25,323 / Orlando

By: Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:05:58 +0000

Some of the clues in this crossword were of the highest quality – the economy of words was quite splendid. I left it until very late to take it on (hence not commenting until today) – really enjoyable, several amusing moments. All in all an excellent effort – slightly tougher than the usual Monday fare..

By: Davy

Davy — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:05:17 +0000

Thanks mhl,

I didn’t have time to finish this yesterday so I finished it this monring (brianspeak). This was very enjoyable with impeccable clueing and some great clues including BEAT (last in), BROADSIDE, RING FENCE and I particularly liked the smoothness of BERLIN. If RCW finds this too easy then stick to AZED or the Genius monthly puzzle. Not everyone has a brian the size of a planet so most people enjoy the invention and style of Orlando.

I can’t understand the debate on 26a which I thought was rather good. For normal pronunciation, we’ll and wheel sound identical. It doesn’t matter how wheel is pronounced in Scotland, that’s totally irrelevant.
How picky can some people get !.

Thanks Orlando.

By: FranTom Menace

FranTom Menace — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:29:19 +0000

I agree with RCWhiting to a point, but I still think there’s enjoyment getting the likes of ‘more or less’ once the clue’s in. It’s far better to have that than scratching your head to understand woolly clues like ‘some of’ anagrams, which often demand you get the solution first.

All but one for us today, we were broadsided. So frustrating! We did enjoy it though, the Kate Winslet anagram was excellent and after wondering what Spoo was the god of for a couple of minutes, 5d was a very enjoyable and cleverly written clue.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:29:27 +0000

Thanks mhl and to Orlando.

A fine puzzle that took me by surprise. As a creature of habit it took me a to adjust to the absence of Rufus.

Orlando is up to his usual high standard .

Several excellent clues, key amongst them were 18ac, 27ac and 28ac.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:59:22 +0000

To illustrate my point:
Several very clever and unusual devices were completely wasted because the solutions were too obvious without them.
7 down
In spite of all the ‘eejit’ discussion what else could (2,1,3,2) be for ‘in my opinion’?
21ac
With ‘handle’ and ‘na–’ (not to mention 14ac) the brilliant ‘more or less’ was thrown away.
Of course there is some pleasure in post-parsing but it doesn’t compare to a genuine tussle with an unsolved clue.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:59:08 +0000

Sorry Tokyocolin, not so far as I know.

I contributed it as an antidote to all the Cockney rhyming slang we get!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:58:31 +0000

Many thanks Eileen @ 13

What a handsome snail!

Brayn

By: Tokyocolin

Tokyocolin — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:50:21 +0000

To Eileen@2, that video link looks interesting. Is there a version with subtitles

By: MikeC

MikeC — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:24:57 +0000

Thanks mhl and Orlando. I too liked 21a: lots going on in a 5 word clue.

By: walruss

walruss — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:06:24 +0000

It is. What a good puzzle, with exapmples of invention everywhere. Orlando may seem underrated, but it is good to see him getting an appreciative audience here. Great stuff!