Comments on: Guardian 25,858 – Gordius

By: MadLogician

MadLogician — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:14:21 +0000

Add me to those who think 14 cannot work as a homophone. Duels has two syllables, ‘dules’ has one.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:04:21 +0000

Welcome Sea Doc,keep posting.

By: Sea Doc

Sea Doc — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:09:41 +0000

First post as too intimidated usually though I enjoy reading others’.

Why now? To commend Derek Lazenby @19. I rarely finish these things and it’s a joy when I do. Invariably the smugness and sometimes the satisfaction recede when I check here to find that some complain that it was too easy.

Gordius, Rufus and Mr Lazenby, I salute you!

By: rhotician

rhotician — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:11:05 +0000

Sil, whatever Gordius wanted to say, if you just reposition the homophone indicator then you’re left with ‘outlaw’ to indicate NO, which it cannot on it’s own. Then there’s no such word as ‘dules’. And DULES doesn’t sound like ‘duels’. They are anagrams though.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:05:37 +0000

9ac
I think Sil has that one correct.

By: Brendan (not that one)

Brendan (not that one) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:10:52 +0000

Nice easy one for a Wednesday. Except for the bizarre TRIAL!!!

Quite enjoyable though!

By the way Andrew regarding the 9A “Anagramgate” I took the R for RACE from LAYER and the A for RELAY from CARE. So it’s not just an anagram of each word

Thanks to Andrew and G

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:36:54 +0000

A straightforward puzzle? Yes.
But we liked it [sometimes we like Gordius, sometimes we don't (or do less)].
Even if Gordius’ world of cryptics is not a perfect one, in his interview with Alan Connor he made clear that he wants to entertain us or at least bring a smile to our face every now and then. And that is exactly how I look at Gordius nowadays, despite my niggles & naggles [that's not a real word, I know, but it sounds rather good ].

Anyway, I think in 14ac, it is just that the homophone indicator is wrongly positioned. Gordius wanted to say NO + a homophone of DUELS, so this clue should have been edited (in my opinion).

Thanks for the blog Andrew.
I do not agree with you about 9ac (RELAY RACE).
I read it as ‘Player losing head’, so LAYER, which then should be prepared with CARE: (LAYER + CARE)*. Don’t see any problem with that.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:20:40 +0000

Thanks all
And there I was thinking it is Wednesday and all along it was Monday……

By: Mitz

Mitz — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:42:46 +0000

Don’t worry – I’m impressed that you keep a record!

By: William

William — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:35:39 +0000

Mitz @21 thanks for that. I’ve been in the USA for 10 days or so and must have missed it.

3 in 350 and I miss one – wish I hadn’t mentioned it!