Comments on: Independent 8,072 / Scorpion

By: RatkojaRiku

RatkojaRiku — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:03:37 +0000

I rather suspected that this puzzle would arouse mixed feelings amongst contributors. Having read the above, the following thought sprang to mind: had this been a quick crossword, I would simply have given up, as I would have been pretty sure that I would not know all of the people mentioned and, having no other way of arriving at the correct answers without “cheating”, I would have known that I would be unlikely to finish the puzzle. As it was a cryptic, with sound albeit challenging wordplay, I was willing to persevere and was glad that I did.

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:36:09 +0000

Got 19/29 from crossing letters and looked her up to see where she was born. Then found a list of people born in Salford on Wikipedia, which helped. Only Salford-born person I’d heard of was Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, which was no use. Not the easiest of puzzles. Completed it only by cheating.

By: Lenny

Lenny — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:36:06 +0000

I liked this and found it more enjoyable than Scorpion’s previous exploration of famous people from Stockport. This sort of puzzle only works if you find that you can do it without resorting to reference books and today I found that I could. The only name that did not readily come to mind was Tony Wilson and that was my fault because I have seen the biopic 24 Hour Party People.

It’s useful to remember 21/22s name. If you open your door to a bible-basher who says “Jesus is the answer, now what is the question?” you should reply “What part did Robert Powell play in the 1977 New Testament mini-series?”

By: MikeC

MikeC — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:45:11 +0000

Thanks RR and Scorpion. I thought I would have to go to google for the sons/daughters of Salford but the word play was very precise. Hence I was able to put in correct answers, even though I had not heard of (some of) the people and did not know that they came from Salford (with the possible exception of Shelagh Delaney – maybe a dim memory there). So, sorry to differ from other contributors, but I thought this was quite an enjoyable, fair puzzle. Perhaps I was just inspired, for once

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:39:19 +0000

Tho I’d only heard of three of the people and would not have known they were born in Salford, I did get most of it before having to go for help for the last two not being familiar with the actor or the tenor (though I did get the first name of the latter) and not being able to get them via the wordplay (which was totally fair in both cases but hard).

Re the inspiration for the puzzle, I do not know but I think, without checking back, I remember a similar Scorpion puzzle based on people from Stockport. Not particularly familiar with that part of the world myself but think they are fairly near each other. Thanks Scorpion and RR. Favourite clue: ERNIE WISE.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:23:11 +0000

Well and truly beaten here, thinking clap for applause, well done Radian and RR

By: allan_c

allan_c — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:15:25 +0000

I was one of those who got the gateway clue straightaway. Having studied and lived in Salford a few decades ago I knew of some of its famous sons and daughters. The rest were mostly gettable from the wordplay, with a quick look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Salford#S to confirm. So probably my quickest solve ever of a Scorpion puzzle.

Thanks, Scorpion and RR.

By: pennes

pennes — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:49:26 +0000

well I sort of lost the desire almost from the start: I didn’t know mediacity uk and being on a train had no references. Saw a footballer and a golfer in there and couldn’t get the dramatist either. So I read my book “Universe of Stone- Chartres Cathedral and the triumph of the Medieval mind” by Philip Ball. A must read for anyone interested in Gothic cathedrals. A much more profitable use of time for me

By: rowland

rowland — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:59:08 +0000

Didn’t think this one, with pretty obscure theme and tough clues, was really right for general solving.

Cheers all,
Rowly.

By: aztobesed

aztobesed — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:08:37 +0000

Very, very tough. Having mutually checking letters was an extra bit of cruelty. I was annoyed to miss out on three — I actually used that exact Watson gag myself once in a pub-quiz, along with Holmes. But he would never have sprung to mind. Would never have got Brooks either (boy band? Yep, suppose so…) and Wilson was impossible for me. I enjoyed the tussle for a while but the steam just ran out.

Thanks for the break-downs.