Listener 4175 : The Winning Line by Ozzie

[trux]

Zany clues, almost laugh-a-minute stuff and a remarkable (and surprising) dénouement. Brought much needed mental warmth to the icy surroundings here. Terrific stuff, great fun and the best of 2012 so far by a country mile. Many, many thanks to Ozzie...

[starwalker]

Moving slowly but surely through the clues and grid-fill. No doubt the final 50% of the preamble will make sense in due course. A welcome change from the easier offerings of late. Thanks Ozzie.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, I totally agree with Trux. Some delightful clues. This has been fun from the start until now, and I have a full grid and the instruction but still have the endgame to play!
What a stunning compilation. Thank you Ozzie.

[trux]

Still smiling. (I know that there will be one obvious criticism, but let's try to avoid mentioning that here) (and there may be some people saying that there is some ambiguity about one answer, except that that resolves itself, so we don't need to mention that either, please).

[Ruthrobin]

Finished and still delighted. It won't be difficult to make an error or two in transcribing this one to send!

[Zabadak]

Brilliant, brilliant! The first time in ages I've watched the denouement work itself out (I used an excel spreadsheet, is there another way?) with my jaw dropping. How on earth did he manage an entire crossword without....?
Some generosity in the first rank and file, but after that it's pretty well every man (suitably equipped with electronic paper) for himself. (Please insert alternative gender designations if required).
Started a bit after 4 - the club was late posting - and after about an hour and five or so clues quit and didn't try again until after 9, so a proper workout, and a real Listener.
I also had the ambiguity, but one possibility turned out to be impossible.
Huge thanks to Ozzie for this tour de force.

[Zabadak]

Um...if we attach a proper entry form - I've started submitting again and usually use the paper version - can we send in a spreadsheet printout? Computers don't make mistakes!

[midazolam]

Excellent fun. I agree, best of the year so far. Cheers Ozzie

[perseverer]

Not as difficult as the preamble makes it sound, but a brilliant construction nonetheless. Last Ozzie Listener was December 2005.

[tilbee]

Yes this is much more like it. Thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.

[starwalker]

Zabadak - I believe that JEG will accept printouts and will substitute an appropriately sized piece of paper with your name on it for the prize drawing.

[Tarraco2]

That was really great fun with some highly entertaining clues. What an amazing piece of work by Ozzie. Thank you.

[Stavrolex]

Yup, best of the year so far. Not particularly difficult, but very entertaining. Some excellent clues (2 & 12 down both made me smile). Didn't spot any ambiguities (this time!) but I still can't see how the wordplay in the 2nd 3 dn clue works. I didn't see the need to wheel out the spreadsheets (enough of those during the week), just filled it in gradually from the start, and printed out more copies for transcribing. Thanks Ozzie. This is what the Listener should be like.

[tramart]

Zabadak asked : I used an excel spreadsheet, is there another way?
Yes - use OpenOffice.org Calc - a better piece of software, and free. Okay, I know that's not what you meant, but it always seems to be the proprietary software that gets mentioned on this group.

[Zabadak]

Cheers Tramart - I've used it in the past, and may well do again, once my product placement contract with Bill runs out. It may have done so already, but you know how it is with Hotmail and MS Outlook on Windows XP, the message could be anywhere.

[Zabadak]

And thanks starwalker - I might well try. I'll never get that lot transcribed right.

[dr b]

This certainly gets my vote for Most Daunting Preamble of 2012, and I kept waiting for things to take a nasty turn, but all in all not too tough and a nice ending as well. What a wizard, that Qzzie.

[dr b]

Qzzie??

[Alekhine]

Thoroughly enjoyable. This filled the unexpected free afternoon brought about by the weather.

The first part of Files 6 is the Clue of the Year for me so far.

[contendo]

Some of the cluing is quite brilliant. I especially like the first Rank 5 and Rank 13, and, yes, the first File 6 is appealing too. Filled the grid, just spotted the instruction but the "mostly incorrect description" still eludes me. Can't see where it's all heading, but I'm off to walk the puppy in the snow.

[jabone]

Such fun! Thank you Ozzie.