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

[email protected]

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, echoing Clamzy - I believe the problem for setters is that the puzzle doesn't meet the high standards of Listener, advanced Magpie and co. if there is not some sort of device in the grid and in the wordplay - extra words in the wordplay are frowned on somewhat, as that is too easy to do, so that leaves extra or missing letters and misprints as the most obvious devices. However, I also echo Clamzy that I have never seen misprints done more brilliantly than in Shackleton's current one.

[ichkeria]

Well, I like the misprints device, especially if done well. As it was, here, IMO. Shackleton's clues abounded in wit and indeed the wit element was enhanced by the misprints.
On the other hand I have never understood why some people get so excited by Letters latent clues, or indeed any clue where the wordplay leads to a different form of the answer (usually a non-word) to the definition. They all have merit in their own way but to me are much less satisfactory.
Still, everyone has their own likes and dislikes.

I don't think there is a link between the standard of the puzzle and number of obscurities. The problem isn't how to be difficult, it's how to work in extra information Misprints, extra words, etc are an obvious way of doing this. Sabre once did it brilliantly by hiding further instructions in the grid, and no doubt there othjer ingenious ways of doing this, but it all boils down to having a message that needs to be conveyed in some way.

[BlackHugh]

Well I have now spent three days as part of the hard stare club - and got nowhere. I have everything apart from the year (an obvious year springs to mind but I cannot see it in the grid) and the way to divide the double cell. I feel some more alcohol is required.

[u10]

I initially thought that the year would have four numbers in it and this held me up for quite a while. Of course Shackleton could have made our challenge a lot more difficult by omitting clue numbers and/or clue lengths!

[perseverer]

BlackHugh - if you don't have the divided cell then you don't have everything.....

u10 overlapping year?

[tilbee]

Is the suitably befuddled first name hidden in the grid also there intentionally ? Doubt it is coincidence.

[u10]

Agreed Hugh - but it put me off the track in search of the subject in the grid.

[tilbee]

u10 - four numbers it is. It is easy to justify the trivial solution to the divided cell, but that misses the true cleverness in the (correct) solution.

[BlackHugh]

perserverer - sorry I phrased that badly - I certainly don't have method of dividing the double cell.

[Apemantus]

I am struggling with this crossword a bit, although so far it is brilliant.

I am struggling far more with whether I shall continue with the Listener at all under the ownership of News International once my subscription ends, or whether I shall simply turn elsewhere.

[perseverer]

BlackHugh I was trying to hint - sorry if it came across as sarky. I wonder if you have tried to produce your grid for submission as far as you can?

[magichour]

I thought this puzzle was incredibly hard to get started with, but it flowed fairly well once the penny dropped on the thirteen letter clues. The imagination involved in the creation of this puzzle, especially the superb grid design, is a joy to behold.

I worked out the first location from the solved clues and from that, made a connection to what the others could be. The method involved in the divided cell seemed perfectly logical and straightforward given the relevant supporting subject material, and the title also. After a tough start, a pleasure to solve.

[the_heisman]

BlackHugh - i have been at the same stage as you for a while and i sadly have to confirm that alcohol does not work either. I was surprised at some adverse comments about the clues - i thought that the whole puzzle demonstrated superb craftsmanship which seems to be a Shackleton trademark.

[BlackHugh]

perseverer - thanks I will ponder your hint!

[perseverer]

BlackHugh, the_heisman - if you want more hints, email me at [email protected]

[the_heisman]

thanks for the offer Perseverer which i will decline partly as i do submit my answers but mainly because i just worked out the brilliant denouement. Another work of genius from Shackleton. News International can tap my phone as often as they like so long as they continue to serve up such treats.

[easterfool]

Success at last - so now I can read everyone else's thoughts about this one. Solving the clues took a bit longer than I hoped - we have the plumbers coming today (now) to replace our heating system - chaos for a week. Then started worrying about years and split cells and finding something - then bang it all fell into place. Loved it - super pdms in those final stages. Give me more - for teh winter when we will be warm, I hope. What's next - have to look at 4145 soon.