Listener 4136 - Cross-reference by Nudd

[starwalker]

Rapidly closing in on this having now got over two thirds of the grid filled, but not yet the thematic creation. I particularly liked 23D, but perhaps that's just me. A fun debut (I think). Many thanks Nudd.

[Clamzy]

Not quite sure what you're driving at Bellabee, but (see Tilbee's comment above), there were several answers which checking letters made obvious and could be entered with confidence even though wordplay not fully understood.

[bellabee]

just meant that it's cover had been blown - i spent a long time thinking there would be 'only one answer' to it!

[IainGrace]

Relatively gentle stroll after last week's exertions. No issues about any wordplay or grid entries. All works fine for us.

[tilbee]

Aldanna - first letter of 28d was also the final letter I entered. Have to admit I had to take a punt on this, until could confirm wordplay in BRB this morning.

[contendo]

Just made it to the finale, but can't claim to understand 3D. There only seems to be one possibility so I hope it's right.

[7lattens]

Likewise have had a stab at 3D on basis of only one answer but have no understanding of clue and then to decided which of the three options to go for at 28D and finally to find the four missing misprints - appears many of us are at a similar position this week.

[tilbee]

7lattens - if you have the thematic creation, you should be able to work backwards from this to identify the misprints. For the others I would start from the most likely proper nouns.

Into the Red - sorry ITB but 10d must have some resonance ?

[BlackHugh]

Finally got there - 32d was the last one for me as well - as has already been mentioned there is a trap there, which, if I had followed my usual habit of not working out every single wordplay, I would have fallen into. 8D I was also stuck on at the end due to my inability to count to 14, so had mis-identified the clue type - doh!

On the recommendation of another Listener addict I have also ordered Bradfords from Amazon - hoping for a big improvement in my time next week :-)

[Alekhine]

My comment on possible ambiguity in 8D was in reference to the answer. The wordplay is fine, but I think there is a 'very' plausible alternative to the correct answer.

Maybe it's just me.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Call this a crossword? I've never seen anything like it in my life!

OK, with that quote over and done, I'm wondering if I have 32d correct now I've read these comments. I found the wordplay first then confirmed the meaning in BRB (which was ALMOST consistent with the definition) and I was happy with it. The more usual spelling of this word doesn't fit the wordplay. Why do I feel it's still wrong?
I'll find out in 3 weeks!

[tilbee]

Very good Rogue-Elfe, Had to think about that comment for a minute.

Sounds like you have 32d correct - see comments on geography earlier in this thread for an explanation.

[easylistener]

At last a puzzle to match my name! After quick (for me) grid fill and creation find, went back and found the hint. All loose ends neatly tidied up and red books put back on the shelf until next week!

[AndrewG-S]

For those of you looking at buying Bradfords also worth looking at the Franklin handheld version. Not only portable but also allows for more varied searching. Would be more expensive that the hard copy version though.

[ichkeria]

I thought this was tricky enough, with several traps for the unwary, intentional or otherwise. It was interesting to note that all the misprint clues only made real sense after the misprint was corrected.

[Clamzy]

Alekhine. Five of the six letters are presented to us by checking across clues leaving only the third to be deduced. Even if 8dn had no clue at all this doesn't leave much room for anomalies. I can't see one.

[Alekhine]

Clamzy ... fair comment, but imagine instead that you had found the plausible alternative to the correct answer for 8D very early on in proceedings? An alternative that doesn't disrupt some of the across answers, but would throw you off the track of the entry method.

Not to worry, though. All resolved itself quite well. Just a bit irritating, but hey ho! Looks like it was only me who temporarily fell foul of a bum steer.

[Ruthrobin]

I feel that that is what a good Listener crossword is all about. There should be no doubt in your mind when you have worked out all the subtle word play but plenty of potential ambiguity if you have just slotted in the obvious letter. Warm congratulations to newcomer Nudd for a device that I have never encountered before and a very fair challenge.

[Philoctetes]

Very pleasant, and a cheering final PDM. Plenty of red herrings too. Yum. I wonder how many puzzles are submitted by newcomers before one is accepted. Is it like letters to the editor, where you seem to have to prove yourself worthy, but, once in it becomes much easier?

[Clamzy]

We seem to be all on the same page now:-) Although this seemed a tad easy for Friday club members, it presented quite an interesting challenge to many of us and the best of the debuts for quite some time IMO.