Comments on: Guardian 25,691 – Qaos

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 18:31:59 +0000

So why not H (2) O = HOO? From a cryptic POV there’s no difference whatsoever.

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 01:23:14 +0000

Also, since 90 and 91 slowed me down so much, I have some lovely blank Brummie and Tramp to look forward too. And tomorrow? Odds on that the Prize will be an Araucaria, and my prediction is for a devious mess that the “print version” can’t parse. OK, that’s a bit lame since whatever it is is on line now, but I swear I haven’t looked!

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 01:20:00 +0000

I prefer “pop artist” as a better answer for 6d. But eventually I somehow thought “aston”, and knew due to the Bond refs it had to be right.

I’m in both camps on this puzzle – there were some very hard, interestingly done clues, but there were also some real groaners.

GUNNING stayed in pencil from early on… and even when fully checked I refused to ink it.

Independence Day went in with about two checked letters, home side advantage on that one. 1d went in last, I had to resort to onelook and ?a?i?a? to refresh my memory of all the words that fit that pattern (Taliban was very tempting, but Taliban Gains Nay is just a crummy headline).

COD was 15. I’m ok with CC for “engine size” and HHO for water – it’s not chemistry, it’s wordplay – H (2) O = HHO.

Having the editor remove secret was unfair, as was the violence done to 22, although the original clue doesn’t thrill me either. As presented, removing the “10%” would have made it a very easy clue, though.

I really appreciate Qaos dropping in and commenting, especially in such detail, and especially considering the tone of some of the comments. And of course, thanks to Andrew and everyone else for the blog. Now back to “yesterday”‘s brutal offering by Bonxie…

By: Morpheus

Morpheus — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:11:50 +0000

Thanks Aguers, a bit of both I suspect!

By: Aguers

Aguers — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:18:44 +0000

Sorry Morpheus, but I don’t think Martin Amis has written any James Bond fiction. I suspect you’re either thinking of Kingsley Amis’ “Colonel Sun” (as Robert Markham), or Sebastian Faulks’ more recent attempt.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:54:13 +0000

Dear Bruce, I think you submitted your post to the wrong blog ….. (blame it on the time difference)

By: brucew_aus

brucew_aus — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:47:14 +0000

Thanks Brummie and Eileen

This started off a lot easier than the last two from this week with the bottom half going in quite quickly. Got stopped in my tracks with the local geography and the quirky pronunciation of them and needed a lot of ‘net-help’ to get the last few in and then to understand how I got them! 4d was last in and 28 was last parsed. Was satisfying to work this one out although I still needed Eileen’s help with the HOUSE to TRAIN leg in what was my COTD.

Learnt about a few new places and would look forward to visit them when I next get an opportunity to get over there.

By: rrc

rrc — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 07:07:44 +0000

i am really surprised at the knocks this crossword is taking, because I really enjoyed it although failed on 14 because of an a instead of an i and 2. I do prefer clues that are accessible, which I think these are.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:38:30 +0000

We (yes, ‘we’ again! [after my long stay abroad]) did not like GUNNING (16ac) for the reason Andrew pointed out.
We did not like INDEPENDENCE DAY (4d) either because of the two ‘days’.
Yes, ‘be’='are’ in ICEBERG, mwah – well, it serves the surface.

But apart from that, we enjoyed this crossword tremendously and are very surprised to see so many relatively negative comments.
A clue like 2d (ADHESION) is just superb.
Ans as RCW said, MARTIN AMIS was very well hidden.

There’s so much right about this crossword, in our opinion.
Just like Tramp, I cannot see the point against ASTON VILLA – the combination of ‘team’ (definition) and ‘building’ (device) is rather clever.
Unlike Tramp, I think this crossword wasn’t Araucarian at all.
It is more in Philistine’s or his own category.
Thoughtful cluing, care for the surface.

Perhaps, a pity that 5,6d wasn’t made into an ellipsis.
And this Chifonie/’secret’ thing, what a nonsense – that’s not what editors are for, I hope?

Well done, Qaos, apart from some minor niggles I/we really think this was a sparkling crossword. Perhaps even your best so far. Many thanks for that.

By: Morpheus

Morpheus — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:11:57 +0000

Damn. It was A View to a Kill not Quantum of Solace. Anybody still there?