Comments on: Guardian 24,720 – Brendan

By: Brendan fan

Brendan fan — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:16:41 +0000

Re: 16dn, I quickly suspected “bishop” from “man on board”, but it took me ages to get past thinking it referred to a character in the book.
Re: 12ac, how is “under influence from above” a definition of “substellar” unless one buys into astrology?
Re: 4dn, I thought for a long time that I had to drop an “L” from “missal” and add an “A” to get a “particular year”.
All in all though, another very enjoyable puzzle from the master of the themed crossword.

By: Dagnabit

Dagnabit — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:32:24 +0000

Andy, what a wonderful set of coincidences. I’m glad you were able to work out some of the clues.

By: Andy Cotgreave

Andy Cotgreave — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:34:23 +0000

Last night, I sat down for a 20 minutes break from looking after our new daughter. In my hands was 1984, which I am currently reading, unaware of its anniversary. By the chair was the day’s Guardian. Unusually, I thought I’d have a really quick look at the cryptic (I normally don’t bother – too hard for me!). And it was this fantastic puzzle by Brendan! I managed six or seven of the clues, but thought it was a wonderfully crafter crossword.

By: Barnaby Page

Barnaby Page — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:23:32 +0000

I agree that 22ac can be read either way to get the same, correct solution, but I think the 8+4+1 approach is more persuasive – otherwise “one to add” is a bit clumsy, uncharacteristically so for this crossword.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:56:47 +0000

Brilliant puzzle, even though I say so myself.
Brendan (not Brendan) to plagiarise another user name.

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:14:18 +0000

Mr Beaver – check out Chambers under MISSAL – I had to!

A consummate example of how to set a themed blocked puzzle, but what else can you expect from Brendan?

By: Agentzero

Agentzero — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:12:21 +0000

Yet more evidence that, for me, Brendan is the best setter working today. I love how many different ways the puzzle uses the term “1984″ itself: in 6a, 11a and 22a.

Mr Beaver: I struggled with this too, at first thinking the answer somehow had to be “annual.” I think it is just that a missal sets out the masses for an entire ecclesiastical year, i.e., Easter, Pentecost, Advent, Christmas, etc.

By: Paul (not Paul)

Paul (not Paul) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:03:04 +0000

No…you’re right. I failed to look past prophecy to prophesy.

That just makes it a new word then.

By: brr

brr — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:01:51 +0000

Didn’t quite finish this one – just a few in the top right, which probably means it wasn’t too tricky. Glad to see some people liked it all the same.

By: Mr Beaver

Mr Beaver — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:56:54 +0000

4d had me confused: “Drop a line in a book about masses” clues MISSAL perfectly well – so I can’t understand what “..covering a particular year” is doing ?
Apart from that, great puzzle, highly ingenious.