Comments on: Independent 7,678 / Klingsor

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:54:56 +0000

Thanks for the usual comprehensive blog, RatkojaRiku.

Had to do this in two goes today, which is never a help, but I managed it in the end. Some clues were indeed tough to parse, but it was all fair (well, maybe STOLLEN is more of a cake than a bread, but that’s being picky). I won’t choose a favourite clue today but simply comment on the excellence of the surfaces, many of which were outstanding (including STOLLEN).

By: ele

ele — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:15:04 +0000

A really enyoyable puzzle today – did it all in one go and no cheating. Thank you Klingsor and RatkojaRiku. Loved all the clues already mentioned and also 1d made me smile.

By: walruss

walruss — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:29:58 +0000

Yes, welcome ‘SKG’! Are you actually in Kiwiland, or on your travels in Europe? Whichever, welcome to 152. This was a much better piece than the one thrown together in today’s Grauniad I think, the setter haveing a much better feel for the audience. A bit of a theme too, just to spice it up, and some intelligent clueing. Well done Klingsor, I liked your CHIAROSCURO.

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:48:26 +0000

Welcome SKG! please come back

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:46:31 +0000

Thanks RR for explaining some I couldn’t see, this was well worthy of a Thursday toughie.

Messed myself up seeing that beach could fit in rollercoasters.

Thanks Klingsor and RR was a nice little brain buster.

By: superkiwigirl

superkiwigirl — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:43:42 +0000

I really enjoyed this puzzle today – just the right mix! All very fair and achievable from the wordplay, though it wasn’t until I read your explanation, thank you RatkojaRiku, that I understood the reference to “Pag” in 10a. 14a was another one that I hadn’t come across before, but it couldn’t have been anything else, could it. I join the majority in endorsing 7d as my clue of the day, and I also liked 4a and 13d.

A brief salutary tale – I (very carelessly) inserted “own” = “having” at 2d on my first run through, which held me up for a little while in the north west corner. When I looked again at the clue’s wording (i.e. actually read it) the error of my ways and the real solution were evident. It’s one thing for the setter to try to trip one up, quite another when you drop your own banana skins!

Many thanks to both RatkojaRiku and Klingsor. And (as one who has only recently chanced upon the 15 Squared site) thanks too to all the contributors whose comments and insights make this blog such an enjoyable daily fix.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:58:39 +0000

I too found this v enjoyable and pretty tough and managed to work out the words I’d not heard of from the wordplay ie LEONCAVALLO, EELPOUT.
NW corner I found the most difficult. Esp liked (some of which have been also mentioned by others) CONTOUR, SWEARING, NICE ONE, RAILCAR.
Thanks, Klingsor and RatkojaRiku.

By: Mustyx

Mustyx — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:03:17 +0000

Another great crossword today, although took me three times longer than yesterday (58 minutes today). Eelpout had to be worked out from wordplay, and Leoncavallo I managed to drag up from the depths of memory after all the lights were in. My clues of the day: 12ac and 26ac.

By: NealH

NealH — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:14:12 +0000

I just managed to finish this one over lunch, but it was a close run thing. I struggled with eelpout, which I’d never heard of, and Leoncavallo was new to me. But it was a very enjoyable one to solve and there was some very neat wordplay in clues like 13 and 7.

By: Wanderer

Wanderer — Thu, 26 May 2011 11:07:33 +0000

Thank you RatkojaRiku for your meticulous blog. I greatly appreciate the level of detail you go into in analysing the clues.

I enjoyed this very much, while finding it quite tough. I agree that NITROUS ACID was brilliant, and I liked LEONCAVALLO and NEAR THE BONE, both very clever. And the use of Caravaggio as the Italian in the clue for UNA was another ingenious touch, since UNA crosses with CHIAROSCURO — the style associated with Caravaggio.

Many thanks to Klingsor.