Comments on: Enigmatic Variations 889: Indistinguishable by Hugo

By: Emily Morris

Emily Morris — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:13:56 +0000

Thanks Dave, that does help! My out-of-date Chambers didn’t have it; nor did my Collins, and I coudn’t find it on the internet. I’ll be able to sleep soundly now.

By: Dave Hennings

Dave Hennings — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:54:25 +0000

Emily Chambers has ou as "(S Afr inf) a man [Afrik]", in other words what a man might be called in Johannesburg with a ? meaning possibly. Hope that helps. Dave.

By: Emily Morris

Emily Morris — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:20:54 +0000

I enjoyed this puzzle and got all the answers right, but didn’t and still don’t understand why OU = a man from Jo’burg. Can someone please explain?

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:08:11 +0000

Seems like an appropriate pseudonym to me, in the context of the theme.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:31:29 +0000

Yes, definitely a possibility it was a pseudonym just for this puzzle in the light of that interesting info!

By: Dave Hennings

Dave Hennings — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:25:57 +0000

Mike, thanks for the info about the Hugo award for Rendezvous with Rama. I didn’t mean to diss Arthur C Clarke, although that is basically what many of the (American) web sites that I scanned seemed to be doing. I think I was being unjustifiably cautious! It was, in any event, a good puzzle from Hugo, although I am now wondering who he may really be!

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:11:44 +0000

Dave, you didn’t mention that “Rendezvous with Rama” won a Hugo – SF’s equivalent of an Oscar – in 1974.

I believe that Arthur Charles Clarke (full name – 19, 3 words – to be written below the grid) was first with the concept. He was at least the first in print – see his article “Extra-terrestrial Relays”, Wireless World, October 1945, pp 305-8. A printable pdf version is googlable.

By: Dave Hennings

Dave Hennings — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:13:55 +0000

I forgot to mention that it did help me that it was serialised on Radio 4 earlier this year. (Can two episodes constitute a serial?)

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:27:40 +0000

I enjoyed this puzzle too – I found it reasonably easy. I was personally unfamiliar with the theme – when the grid was full I looked at diagonals etc etc to see if I could find something thematic to highlight, but drew a blank. Googled re Rama. Then went to ODQ for the quote which revealed they were clued answers so I was finished.