Comments on: Financial Times 13,726 by Gozo

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:53:01 +0000

The only problem (with me) is that if you’re not into Shakespeare, this is not really a puzzle that sets one’s heart on fire.
I liked the original format though, and the neatness of the down clues.

Moreover, I started off with a wrong answer that might have been right: 20d – which was SACK but could have been PORT just a easily [Port is wine, of course, but also 'a bag' according to Chambers].
Then I thought (as a non-Shakespearean) 24 & 25 is perhaps CYBIL and PHILOMENE – wrong again, and not in line with my port (which was wrong) and my MOMBASA (which was right).
What a struggle!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:40:45 +0000

Thank you for dropping in, Tom / Gozo. [Are we going to see you again in Birmingham on Saturday, I wonder?]

The date connection had passed me by: I always thought that Midsummer’s Day was 24th June [it fascinated me, as a child, to note that 21st June was supposed to be the first day of Summer and three days later was mid-season! - but, typically, I remember all my childhood summers as long and sunny!] I now find, through the wonders of the internet, that 21st June has virtually superseded 24th. It still presupposes a pitifully short summer for us!

[I think a Dickens-themed puzzle would be fine!]

By: Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:09:24 +0000

Thanks for the lovely comments about my puzzle. I did consider a Dickens-themed puzzle when I started out compiling this puzzle, but I decided that Dickensian characters would not be so easy to include, as so many have forenames and surnames and are always known as such. I would fight shy of including just “Nickleby” as a solution, as it seems like a cop-out to me. So I decided upon a second Shakespearean puzzle. As for publication date — sheer coincidence with the AMND connections.

By: walruss

walruss — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:20:47 +0000

The only problem for me is exactly that – it is the self-same theme! But I do agree Gozo makes a much better job of it this time. Well done to Gozo, and many thanks to PeeDee for a good blog.

By: lenny

lenny — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:51:38 +0000

My first reaction was that the FT had reprinted a Gozo from a month or two back, but, upon checking, I found that it was a completely new puzzle with the same theme. Although I have seen all of his plays, I usually find Shakespeare-themed puzzles quite difficult because there are so many hundreds of obscure characters that the setter can choose from. Fortunately, in this puzzle, Gozo managed to fill the grid with well-known characters. Only Strato and Wart were unknown to me and readily gettable.

I agree with PeeDee that Edward de Bono is a psychologist, despite his medical degree. When I studied psychology I learned the following rule of thumb: A psychogist is a man who goes to a strip-club to study the audience. A psychiatrist is a Jewish doctor who cannot stand the sight of blood.

By: Brian H

Brian H — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:37:10 +0000

“confirm”, not “copnfirm”, naturally! All fingers and thumbs at the moment.

By: Brian H

Brian H — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:35:49 +0000

I don’t usually post anything on this string, but feel impelled to do so as a sort of homage to Gozo in dreaming up this puzzle. On the Guardian string Thomas99 (above, no 4) and I (alias Dragoncel) have been indulging in a fairly mild banter as to whether the date had anything to do with the fact that 25% of the characters come from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Perhaps Gozo might read this and copnfirm or otherwise. Pretty neat if it was so, IMHO

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:55:06 +0000

I thought this device from Gozo was clever enough the first time around but to repeat it within such a few months is quite a feat – some lovely surfaces for the anagrams.

I found the across clues rather easier this time, as I’d heard of all the characters.

Hi DavidR

Well, you managed to crack Neo, who can be fairly fiendish – but watch out for Alberich and Loroso!

Thanks for the blog. PeeDee, and Gozo for an enjoyable puzzle.

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:39:32 +0000

There’s a Moth in Love’s Labour’s Lost too – Don Adriano’s page. Bigger part than the fairy, I’d think.

By: DavidR

DavidR — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:24:24 +0000

I really enjoyed this puzzle and agree with the above about the level of difficulty. Fortunately I didn’t have access to a computer or reference books when I did it and persistance paid off. I’ve only started doing the FT this week and have liked them all so far. Should I expect a fiendish one?