Comments on: Independent 8178 by Alchemi

By: Flashling

Flashling — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:42:22 +0000

Mea culpa paul you’re right.

By: Paul A

Paul A — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:50:48 +0000

And shouldn’t 4ac be STAR(t) WARS?
Happy new year all

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:35:33 +0000

Last time Alchemi set there was general encouragement for a new setter, which is good, and general tolerance of his failings in that crossword, which is not. So I was expecting to have some quibbles today. Well I have, but they’re very minor, and I thought some of the clues (those for TREATED, RIFT VALLEY and ARMOUR) were excellent and the whole thing very enjoyable.

The quibbles, for what they’re worth: in 10ac we have ‘vacant real estate’ for ‘re’, which is unconventional although I can see no harm in it; and in 8dn we have ‘I intrude on’ when it should (?) but of course can’t be ‘I intrudes on’.

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:29:45 +0000

Thanks Alchemi and flashling.

An enjoyable and easy stroll today but as K’s D says it was no less enjoyable for being on the easy side.

We’d agree about 5d as well.

Happy New Year to everyone!

By: Alchemi

Alchemi — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:24:13 +0000

Monday puzzles are meant to be snacks rather than full meals. “Thoroughly enjoyable” and “pleasant” therefore indicate mission accomplished.

Thanks to flashling, those who have commented and those who have solved. And a happy new year to all.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:56:58 +0000

Thanks, flashling. Nothing here to detain me very long either, but none the worse for that. I just stumbled on 23ac when I confused my BUZZ Lightyears with my BUCK Rogers. I thought TREATED was a clever clue.

Many thanks to Alchemi.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:58:30 +0000

I couldn’t spot a nina or theme, either – just a pleasant straightforward puzzle solved in about 15 minutes. Thanks to Alchemi and flashling.

And a Happy New Year to all.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:53:03 +0000

Thanks Alchemi for a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle and flashling for the blog.

A couple of typos in the blog: at 28ac you have = for + (and an intrusive “a”) and at 2dn you are missing the S in the parsing.

[Edit thanks Pelham]