Listener 4144: Location, Location, Location by Shackleton

[midazolam]

Despite only solving 2 of Shackleton's puzzles before (the Jackson Pollock puzzle and the Morse code/Beethoven prize winning puzzle of last year), I have been eagerly awaiting the next.

This does not disappoint. A nice PDM, which is what the Listener is all about. Excellent grid construction with fabulous clues (particularly liking 35). It doesn't top last years puzzle, but very enjoyable nevertheless.

Thanks Shackleton

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[IainGrace]

Still catching up post hols in Cote d'Azur. Just finished 4143, which was relatively straightforward but pleasantly different. Am encouraged by the comments on 4144, on which we have scarcely yet embarked. Prepared to forgive the fact that it is yet another carte blanche.

[ichkeria]

"Sine Qua Non" was brilliant, but awfully convoluted. IMHO this is better. Still, just my personal taste, not being a classical music fan. Bela Lugosi's dramatic re-entry still makes me laugh when I think about it :-)

[Coalminers]

I am concerned about suitably dividing the appropriate cell - in case it is wrong, if you get my drift!

[tenflags]

That's a very interesting observation Coalminers but I think there is only one way to fill the grid and 'divide' it 'suitably'.

[Clamzy]

Now that most of you have finished, may I recommend Inquisitor 1184 "Switzerland's Finest." This setter also compiled this month's Crossword Centre puzzle which I mentioned earlier. Both are great fun to fill out your week.

[JackDeCrow]

Enjoyable puzzle after a bit of a slow start. Thanks to abns for making me take the time to think a bit more about the "collective hint" - had failed to appreciate it properly!

[logophile]

I suspect that for many the theme will have appeared before the collective hint, but a nice touch nethertheless - the 3 locations were the last bits to unravel here. It certainly was a good year (maybe not for the 3 proprietors), but I'd rather Shackleton didn't remind us just how long ago it was !

[Staurologist]

How brilliant of Shackleton to have noticed the fearless symmetry in the name of the subject and to have linked it so elegantly to the relevant year via the subject's habitual whereabouts. Solving it really blew my mind. When TheBear69 says that he has seen "this sort of thing before", he may be thinking of such as Mpobo and Corylus, barring others, but I don't think that it has been done with quite such verve before.

I have now located the double-gridded, single-clued puzzles to which I previously referred. The first was called "Twin-set" by Jac (Listener 1867); it attracted only one correct entry. The second was "Instant Foolery" by Peeper, in Crossword 179 (March 1993).

[I should like to say how much extra pleasure I get out of the Listener when, after having completed the puzzles, I tune in to see what others thought. The various comments often take me deeper into the puzzles than I might otherwise bother to go, since there are so many other things to do besides crosswords. Many thanks to all.]

[Patch49]

Having found the thematic locations, the letters for the blank cells and the correct way to divide the other cell, I don't really need to hunt out the overlapping year do I, as there is nothing to be highlighted in the final grid.

[silversolver]

Patch49 - I am not sure you will have correctly divided the cell unless you have also found the year?

[abns]

Staurologist - I was reminded of a listener from about 7 months ago, although I think this one was a more impressive feat. I assume this was prepared and submitted before that one was published

[Mysterons]

The year doesn't affect the cell division, but you do need to be certain your grid pattern is correct Patch.

[contendo]

Finally struggled to the denouement. I just wonder how Shackleton's mind works that he made the relevant observation enabling him to construct this amazing crossword. Some of the cluing is brilliant but I don't agree that 28ac is a good clue. It seems to me that it strains the meaning of one of the words used too far. My only remaining doubt is the content of the 4 isolated cells. I am assuming that an iterative word is right, but I would not describe it as a title, or only in the sense of a book about the subject.

[Patch49]

Well I googled a relevant map...

[Mysterons]

The title is hidden in the grid contendo, and is completed by filling the 4 isolated cells (one does double duty)

[perseverer]

Just Googled the subject to read a little more about it, and now realise why this puzzle appeared precisely when it did.

[rabet]

Sorry, this was ingenious, but I found it a tedious slog. Please let us have a puzzle that doesn't depend on misprints in the clues!

[jabone]

Like others I have been catching up having been away (Luberon for us) and managed to make a good start on the clues for 4143 without aids. Like others I haven't worked out the significance of the original 19 but am familiar with the replacement. A very good puzzle. But have just caught up and am blown away by Shackleton this week. Brilliant! Many thanks.

[Clamzy]

rabet - Many setters agree with your sentiments (see crossword centre thread recently)and I'm sure many solvers groan when they see yet another. I suspect that setters use this device because they can't think of another way to lead us to the theme.
My point is that it takes away the wit and charm found in normal clues. However I have to say that Shackleton surmounted this obstacle brilliantly e.g., clue 35.

[contendo]

Light has finally dawned on the 4 isolated cells. Funny how often things become clear if you put it aside for a while.
One of the amazing achievements of this crossword is to have a 13x13 grid with only 18 unches (not counting the two-letter entry and the isolated cells).