Comments on: Guardian 25,553 / Gordius

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:51:37 +0000

I know it’s a bit late but when I solved 22ac I thought that blue might refer to the fact (I think) that copper gives a blue flame.

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:58:57 +0000

Late to the party to comment on a puzzle which was so fine overall, yet marred in a few places in awkward ways. I’ll get my whining out of the way first…

DIEHARD could have had a better clue. It was the first word I wrote next to it, with only the last D in place. But I couldn’t justify it. 1, 2, and 3 down are a weird set. Ellipses are often used just to make a smoother surface, with each clue self-contained, but sometimes they have a strange transitive function. Not sure what was really intended here. 1D doesn’t need them and was an easy clue. 2D has no cryptic part – I read the “…” as being equal to “…”, end of drab clue. And 3D completely lacks a definition. Assembling them into “Brunch equals square meal” is even worse, since it’s not a sentence, not a common phrase, and now the 3-part definition uses one of the solution words in the clues.

That out of the way, everything between the NW and SE was wonderful and full of variety. So other than my plaints, thanks for the fun, Gordius, and the fine as always blog, Eileen!

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:26:15 +0000

Edward, if the definition had been ‘mineral’ I think you would have a good case.
It was ‘stone’ and therefore chrysolite wins easily.

By: JollySwagman

JollySwagman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:14:07 +0000

@buddy #82

I see. (homophone)

or if you prefer the Latin

Video.

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:28:42 +0000

Isn’t there a doubt over whether 13dn is CHRYSOTILE or CHRYSOLITE? They are both anagrams that are minerals and fit in the grid.

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:05:03 +0000

Paul B (57)
I’ve only just seen it your post and it’s rather too late to comment, but if you do look in here again – yes, I “goofed” too, regarding the Tailor Bird; I had no idea. It’s embarrassing to have exposed my ignorance – and the clue is an &lit – but on balance I’m rather pleased to have learned that extraordinary fact.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:39:58 +0000

Paul B,

Also from wikipedia (and not, I promise, added by me)
ic: a rare short version of the Roman numeral XCIX (99)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ic

Not sure if this meets acceptable standards, mind: wikipedia is useful but not always reliable.

Look forward to continuing this discussion next time it’s used!

Matt

By: buddy

buddy — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:02:04 +0000

And there was me simply assuming that 99 (cryptically) meant 1 before 100 and so writing I before C.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:36:11 +0000

NeilW@38, Thomas99@39,

Thanks for the clear & FULL explanation. I was unaware that the entire clue had to be crucial to the word play. I have seen many clues described as an &lit where this was not the case.

Anyway I would like to edit my original post to include “semi” or “partial”.

As for a last word (just for sheer cheek and at risk of being flamed to death) how about “tendencies far from it” as the anagrind? :-O

By: Jake

Jake — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:52:49 +0000

Now 80 comments(at the mo), a first for 15/2

CHEEKY was great!