Comments on: Guardian Quiptic 643 Hectence

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:59:52 +0000

As mentioned before, many of the early ones I could do in about 20 mins. This was spot on. Didn’t get all the word play, but the definitions and crossing letters came to my rescue. So ta to Hectance and ta scchua for explaining the bits I missed.

By: StanXYZ

StanXYZ — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:03:16 +0000

Once again I found the Quiptic far more difficult than the Cryptic.

13a – Surely this is not fair – the reversal indicator “retro” could apply to either “Show off” or “dress”. It’s necessary to get a checker before deciding which is correct.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:16:01 +0000

Thanks, scchua. Hectence normally produces a good Quiptic and this was another good one. Perhaps one or two trickier clues (I found BERYL BAINBRIDGE hard to get, although I’ve read a good bit of her work).

DUTCH ELM DISEASE was well-constructed too.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:05 +0000

Scchua, thanks; of course, I was so excited that I missed 19.

By: scchua

scchua — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:49:52 +0000

Thanks Robi, typo now corrected. Well done on the quiz, I didn’t think it would be that easy, but then… Minor addition: ADAM BEDE is linked via both 14 and 19.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:35:49 +0000

The second one is George Eliot, who wrote ‘Adam Bede,’ reference to 14.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:29:37 +0000

The first picture is by Man Ray, I think, linking to 20. The last pictures are Alan Rickman and Georgina Cates who appeared in Bainbridge’s (1d) ‘An Awfully Big Adventure.’ Still working on the middle one!

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:09:27 +0000

I thought this was about right in difficulty for a Quiptic.

Thanks, scchua; I think you’ve lost the ‘ABLY’ in your 1d. I didn’t know Mr EAVIS, but the cluing led to the answer quite easily. I particularly liked the surface for RUNNER BEAN.