Comments on: Financial Times no.14,108 by REDSHANK

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:14:49 +0000

Ooh PB, I’ve not seen much wrong really in the blogs (except the Guardian’s but I expect that), missed the pangram.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:25:25 +0000

A (proper and genuine) discussion on anything would be welcome just now at 15^2, Sil.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:52:22 +0000

Crucible? Radian? Who are they?
Well, they are very good setters, well appreciated by Guardian and Indy solvers.
But I think, step by step Redshank has put them in the shade.

What a marvellous crossword this was!
No coincidence, because his previous one was brilliant too.

Please no discussions on &Lits (because of reasons given by Picaroon in the abovementioned Guardian blog), but there were a few contenders indeed.
Not just 7d (AZTEC) but also the great 25ac (MARATHON), for example.

So many good clues that it’s hard for me to choose a Clue of the Day. If one would point the trigger at me, I would perhaps go for 19ac (URGE) in which a familiar device is in complete harmony with the surface.

Chapeau Redshank!

Many thanks to Ringo too.

A crossword that deserves a lot more posts than submitted today, also a puzzle that was a Pangram!

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:48:14 +0000

liked oxidants and the &lits, thanks Redshank and Ringo, great stuff.

By: mike04

mike04 — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 17:03:29 +0000

Thanks for an admirable blog, Ringo, and thanks for a fantastic puzzle, Redshank!

By: aztobesed

aztobesed — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:39:27 +0000

Thanks Ringo and Redshank.

One of my favoutite setters, the clues fly at you from such varied directions – you really need to be on your toes. More than other setters, you get slight ‘double-duties’ (fairly) such as the pincer and Aztec clues which I find especially pleasing. I always forget that Redshank is Crucible in the Guardian but it soon comes back to me when he’s got me in the head-locks. Very entertaining.

By: rowland

rowland — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:08:55 +0000

Good puzzle, astonishing to say but the FT now surpassing The Guardian in many areas? But I think you may be stoking the &lit debate, Ringo! To me, so just a personal opinion, the AZTEC one is probably closest, while I think, maybe, some might not go for ‘pursued’ as meaning ‘coming after’ in a cryptic or ‘down-directional’ (?) sense. Course if someone like a debt collector pursues me, they’re definitely seen as ‘coming after’ me!

Well done Ringo and FT, someone’s got to kick The Guasrdian up the bum, cheers
Rowly.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:20:21 +0000

Thanks, Ringo.

I’ve nothing really to add to your praise for this superb puzzle. 7dn is stunningly good.

Huge thanks, Redshank!