Comments on: Independent 8156/Scorpion

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:24:12 +0000

Chris @9 What about the morality of criticising a puzzle on the blog for a different puzzle?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:40:19 +0000

Second in a very hard pair on consecutive days. I gave up yesterday with two left but persevered today and did get right through. I thought some of yesterday’s were a little unfair and obscure but today, while very tough (for me at least) was fair. A very satisfying puzzle to finish.

And, for the record, just because many disagree with the actions of an individual doesn’t seem to be any reason to avoid inclusion in a puzzle. Especially with all the negative associations in other clues. I’m sure there have been many puzzles about Jack the Ripper, for instance…

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:35:09 +0000

Two days in a row I’ve been unable to do about half the puzzle. Not helped by guessing “morass” for 23dn, parsing it as MO +(W)RASS, except I now see the fish is spelled “wrasse”.

By: Flashling

Flashling — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:11:49 +0000

Glad site is up. Thought the indy’s lawyers might be having kittens over this. Good stuff thanks john and scorpion.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:44:22 +0000

I too had to give up with this one about half way through. The theme was clear enough but it was just too much like hard work and I have a rule that if I can’t do a puzzle after two or three pause/returns, then it goes in the recycling. Sorry Scorpion and thanks to John for explaining all the stuff I couldn’t work out.

By: Raich

Raich — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:45:38 +0000

I think there have been puzzles in various series about villain(s) etc. Can’t see why not TBH.

By: sidey

sidey — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:30:54 +0000

‘Divers’ were originally boxing cheats.

An odd mix of a puzzle, I think Scorpion conveys the contempt that Armstrong is held in by most though. Not only was he a cheat but a bully who forced others to cheat too.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:20:17 +0000

Got the theme pretty quickly but still struggled with a few of the themed clues. Eventually got FRAUDSTER from crossing letters but couldn’t parse it.

I think it needs clarifying that it isn’t divers as in Tom Daley that are deceitful sportsmen but the overpaid divas (pun intentional!) of the football field.

Thanks, Scorpion and John.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:13:44 +0000

Well, I hate to disagree with the redoubtable Mr Cork, but I didn’t enjoy this at all. I got LANCE ARMSTRONG early on, but then the rest just seemed a bit stodgy, and the theme didn’t encourage matters: as John says, why give publicity (of a Z-list kind, it has to be said) to someone who’s a cheat/deceiver/fraudster etc?

In fact I gave up with about a third of the puzzle left. Sorry, Scorpion, not one of your best in my opinion. Although Conrad’s take on the Nadine Dorries clue is some recompense for French speakers …

By: Conrad Cork

Conrad Cork — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:17:54 +0000

Some wonderful surfaces here, 22 across and 4 down – the latter (even better if you know any French).

And a themed puzzle on my home turf (track, rather).

As for 8/12, I still have and still watch my DVDs of his seven wins. They may have been awash with EPO, but they were still real races on a pretty level playing field (at least among the contenders). Just my $0.02 worth