Comments on: Independent 8197 / Scorpion

By: allan_c

allan_c — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:02:46 +0000

Further to #3, it’s at 22dn – LAWMAN. Chaucer has a Man of Law in the 10/8

By: eimi

eimi — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:01:45 +0000

Winter draws on.

By: Quixote

Quixote — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:39:21 +0000

About 20 years ago or more the Indy crossword editor (Louise Levene) made me rejig a magazine puzzle to avoid ENEMA — times have changed!

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:25:25 +0000

Agree that 27ac is a rather nicely done clue, I’ve never read the theme at all but I think the tales have appeared often enough to drill the names into my brain to complete this without needing to consult the interwebs. Quite a quick solve compared to some Tuesdays.

Thanks B&J and Scorpion

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:01:05 +0000

Given where I live and the fact that I did Chaucer’s Prologue for A Level many many years ago, I really should have ‘got’ the theme much earlier than I did.

Another very enjoyable crossword from Scorpion so thank you to him and B&J too – I agree about the COD.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:58:04 +0000

There is another 7 in the 10/8 in the grid, though not named in the form used in the 10/8.

By: NealH

NealH — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:20:24 +0000

I was quite surprised to get through a Scorpion as quickly as this. The theme came fairly quickly after I’d got Reeve (although I did briefly consider actors who’d been in Superman films as an alternative). Not having actually read the Canterbury Tales, I was mostly having to work out the pilgrims from the wordplay, but the clues weren’t too difficult on the whole.

I think the men in A&E wordplay for enema was used in another puzzle recently, but the definition was very good here.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:55:23 +0000

Lovely themed puzzle from Scorpion. I habitually start with the first across clue, so when PILGRIM went in I looked at the gateway clue and it just popped into my head – unusual for me. I wouldn’t say I’m familiar with the work, but it’s well-known enough to be able to get all the themed answers without recourse to Mrs Google. I did have a look subsequently to remind myself of Chaucer’s work, though.

ENEMA was indeed good.

Perhaps it’s random, but STING, who features in 18dn, produced a 1993 album called Ten Summoner’s Tales, referring to one of our pilgrims today, but which is also a pun on his surname (his real name is Gordon Sumner).

Thanks for blogging, B&J.