Saturday Telegraph General Knowledge

[True Red]

Is it just me or is it not quite so enjoyable? Rather than general knowledge there seem to be a lot of questions that need specialist knowledge and need a fair amount of research.

[lector]

I dont know who you are True Red .... but obviously a new member to AB

I dont agree with you ..... maybe more persons liked MM xwords --- but each compiler is different.

I found this xword by KM stretched my knowledge and I need to look up to get answers ... I didnt know about Prime Mover so I learnt something today and there were others.

I dont expect KM to be another MM -

If you dont like a xword, then you have the choice not to do it.

Personally, I am fed up with the repetitive 'moans' about KM by a few judgemental ABers ..... some of whom moaned about MM or to him about printing errors etc ... must have stressed him too.

[Magyar]

I think we should give Kate Mepham a few weeks to settle in before criticising her. I know from personal experience in quiz setting how hard it is to set the level of difficulty.
Her father is a hard act to follow and it is going to take a while to adjust. Both of the Saturday crosswords she has set have been a great improvement on the Mepham interregnum.

[Brooksy]

Kate`s efforts are a great improvement on the 1st (anonymous, as I recall) Saturday x-word after MM`s sad demise, which was critised for being too easy. Kate`s versions put me in mind of the Mail on Sunday prize x-word, which also require a deal of, for me, educational research. Pub quiz they ain`t!

[Aquagility]

I thought it was a good effort. There were quite a few clues where the answer was not immediately Google-able but we don't want a pub quiz, do we?
I hope that Kate avoids her fathers trick of including equally valid alternative solutions, I'm sure that if Michael had used Ylang Ylang he would have left us worrying if it should be Ilang Ilang.
No, stick with it, I say, or find another paper which suits you better.

[JRB]

I agree totally with lector, Magyar, Brooksy and Aquagility. I like the GK crossword to have a bit of bite to it and KM is heading in the right direction. After all we have had one compiler in charge of this puzzle for a long time and now is the time to get used to another mind-set. Keep up the good work, Kate!

[POINCIANA]

I found it more enjoyable, especially having a perplexing time sorting out the bottom left corner after putting in 'parliament' where 'government' was the right answer! [RTBQ was always good advice]
'Flame' for 19A is a bit recherche and 4D a bit of a mystery as the answer seems to have been printed in the clue! (hope I got it right!).
Give Kate a chance; she is doing very well so far.

[Paul21455]

If yesterday's example was a taste of what is to come, then bring it on. A good GK crossword needs to challenge the reader, and expand the limits of your knowledge. I thought it was an excellent effort for someone (apparently) relatively new to setting them on this scale. Keep it up KM, you're doing a good job.

[Dee Sa]

Sorry but I thought general knowledge questions help you to learn as well, so if that means a bit of research ---and its much easier with the jolly old computer than years ago going through all those text books--- well I am for it, otherwise compers will complain its too easy.

[Celtigra3]

I thought it was brilliant - I love a crossword to be so hard that I don't know where to start and this was! Lots of investigation was required and I learnt new facts. I won't be cancelling my Sat Tel yet!

[petem]

I'm a regular Sat Tel GK crossword doer and have particularly enjoyed the research, head scratching and importantly, to me, learning. If this is a taste of things to come from Kate - then bring it on!.

[sandwich]

I found it challenging but that's what a good crossword should be. I hope to learn when I complete general knowledge crosswords, and that's the standard Kate is setting.Keep up the good work!!

[dwil]

She's following a difficult act very well. Each week sees an improvement

[seachurch]

Now I now who David Hilbert was ..which makes it worth while..

[Maggiel]

I'm enjoying the CW so far but I think some of the clues more suited to a cryptic than GK but KM needs a chance to settle in and it's good to keep the brain cells stretched!

[burnham]

All knowledge is general knowledge - but some is more specialised than others. KM is doing a good job. I used to get about half of her father's clues before heading for encyclopaedias or the Internet. Kate has me thhinking hard from square 1.

[big george]

Sorry - but I totally agree with True Red - my enjoyment of this crossword has also diminished in the last few weeks as the balance has changed from an enjoyable weekend pastime (mostly brainpower and the aid of reference books for a few clues) to an exercise that needs a computer to solve most of it. If necessary I will seek another decent crossword and maybe another newspaper!

[FlickMay]

The only thing I have to add is that there seems to be more emphasis on 'definitions' than 'facts' - a bit like a concise crossword. It's certainly a challenge and good luck to Kate.
PS Anyone like to help me out on 41D 'Frequently a symptom of infection'? Thanks!!

[FlickMay]

Just read on a bit further and got the answer. So obvious!!