Comments on: Independent 8209 / Radian

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:55:01 +0000

Finished this crossword only today and indeed, a nice one.

Unlike others, I found it a bit harder than that day’s Crucible.
It has mainly to do with the fact that I find Radian’s surfaces usually less smooth or accessible (on first sight) than Crucible’s, let alone Redshank’s [who has vastly become my favourite of the three]. Radian also uses more cross-references than his alter egos which – just like in many Araucarias – makes life harder (for me).

Despite the Q no pangram today.

The only criticism I have is one that I share with Rowland @7.
In 24ac ‘man’ should really be capitalised (but then it doesn’t fit in the surface, perhaps). I wouldn’t call it “a criminal offence” but it is surely against the rules of many solvers and setters alike.

Many thanks to Radian and Duncan.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:48:50 +0000

Saw the theme quite quickly but was held up on RHS for a while.

@Tatrasman well, I can only apologise, my comment was more of a shock rather than a boast, I get bested by the Indy quite often, it’s why I do it.

Loved the slash triple def, well played radian.

Thanks Duncan & radian

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:25:07 +0000

I thought this was a lot of fun, with an interesting theme that was dotted about here and there. And definitely an easier solve than the puzzle today in Another Place (but that was a good’un too).

Didn’t see the SLASH play on words.

If someone was hanging upside down unconscious, would they be in an inverted coma?

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:28:58 +0000

Raich@8
That’s how I saw it too.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:29:23 +0000

A satisfying puzzle from Radian, fairly straightforward but with some nice misdirections. In 24ac my first thought was that the middle letters were D O T (name of a character in Eastenders – not that I watch it) except that I guess Radian would have been scrupulous in capitalising ‘cotton’ so that that misdirection was accidental. But in 19dn ‘Sporty Spice’ was capitalised and had me looking for the sequence M E L (Melanie from the Spice girls). And, given the theme, I spent rather a long time trying to think of the name of a sign for 6dn.

Thanks, Radian. And thanks, Duncan, for the blog – superb as usual.

By: Raich

Raich — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:54:40 +0000

I thought that, in 27A, maybe what was intended was AMPERE less E.

By: Rowland

Rowland — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:17:33 +0000

Well tatrasman I don’t think I’ve ever gone on about my solving times, which are often shamefully lonmg btw, and belittling people is not my sport. Nor is being really rude. But if you are a beginner, let me wish you luck all the same.

As with FT today this one had many very accurate clues, and these make for a better solving experience, in my world anyway. I would call 27A a bit weaK, and also 1dn, and 24a is a criminal offence,but I don’t think there’s anything else.

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:02:32 +0000

The really unusual thing about 25d is that it has 3 definitions! Wee, Stroke (until fairly recently the normal British term for the punctuation mark) and “/”.

I really enjoyed this – interesting to compare it with the same setter’s puzzle in today’s Guardian. They’re very different – this seems funnier, perhaps a bit easier, whereas the Guardian one has some deadpan, straightforward-looking clues that turn out to be fiendish (e.g. 5d).

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:58:11 +0000

duncan@4 – so what are you saying about Joan and me

No snow in East Kent (yet!) lovely blue sky and sunshine

By: duncanshiell

duncanshiell — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:48:08 +0000

Joan MM @ 1 and crypticsue @ 2

You are both clearly right about 25 down – my mind was obviously too pure when I wrote the blog (possibly something to do with the driven snow outside the door at the moment)