Listener 4191: Full Instructions Included by Nudd

[trux]

Great fun. Not overly complex clues, so grid (sort of) filled quite quickly. PDM for endgame likewise followed apace, and then needed some careful thought to justify all ten modifications, producing series of happy smiles from me. Many thanks, Nudd.

[Ruthrobin]

I have found the clues quite complex but demonstrating Nudd's habitual skill and ability to be amusingly deceptive. This has been a challenge but another nice one - thanks, Nudd.

[Zabadak]

Obviously I posted too soon! Happy to follow this thread.

[Walterloo]

I saw where this was going early on and liked it. A gem from Nudd.

[trux]

Sorry, Mr Z. I did a Google search to see if there was already thread up, but found one not. Anyhow, we've got started some others involved here so please indulge me and let us continue here (it's not a race, after all, is it? hoho).

[Zabadak]

Even the search on AB doesn't always work, so all is forgiven.

[AndrewG-S]

Lovely puzzle, entertaining cluing and an amusing theme. I particularly liked 27d. Many thanks nudd for a fine Friday night puzzle to accompany a glass of wine in the sun.

[Alekhine]

Didn't think too much of this.

Aren't there potentially eleven sets of instructions?

[Zabadak]

I think Alekhine is right: there are several possible instructions which could be applied across the grid, though generally with inconsistent effects. With the grid about 2/3 complete, I was able to start reverse engineering some thematic entries which hastened results, but it would be kinda fun to see if we can engineer some unintended results and push the number of legitimate mutilated clues above ten. I suppose, especially with the more limited and unchecked mutilations, there might well be some pretty authentic looking alternatives.

[Micky666]

Too easy! Think I'll save my stamp!

[Coalminers]

Quite enjoyable, while perhaps not giving "unrestrained excitement". Mmm! 29a and 30a took some unravelling.

[contendo]

The clue at 11d appeared somewhere else recently - was it in an Enigmatic Variations? Didn't know Ronnie Scott's was such a hotbed of setters.

[Alan7777]

Didn't want to post this earlier but did anyone else notice that the answer to 1 across in the Times 2 Jumbo two weeks ago was Fibonacci? And what makes the brain see that when I wasn't looking at those clues?

[Nudd]

Apologies to the moaners and thanks to them for the 19a.
I actually wrote this (i) for the benefit of those newcomers who seem to really appreciate the occasional easy ride and (ii) in response to complaints from others here during a run of very testing puzzles, over-complex preambles and too much time required staring at completed grids wondering how to finish. A less testing puzzle was always going to be Ma'amite, sorry if it came as an insult to anyone's clearly superior intellect.
At least I have saved at least one stamp, reduced the need for 'cheating' for a week, and given Alekhine and Z something to do looking for omissions - which were in fact deliberate rejections as they required far too much license to be allowable as genuine thematic items.
This 11D's all my own work contendo even if somewhere a doppelganger exists.
Seriously, all views are welcome, and I'm pleased that a few enjoyed it - but I suspect that all should be prepared for a stinker next week.

[perseverer]

You have to compliment the BRB for its subtlety in its definition of the answer to 19 across

[tilbee]

Yes a very gentle workout this morning, but nice concept and fun to resolve. As Nudd has pointed out should offer some encouragement to newcomers.

[aldanna]

Nice entertaining puzzle, finished it last night despite being rather full of life and grandchildren, so pleased to make the Friday club in principle at least. As commented, not a hard one (obviously as I have done it already) but fun.

[contendo]

That is weird, Nudd. I didn't keep a record but virtually the same clue appeared in either The Spectator or EV 2 or 3 weeks ago.

[silversolver]

Well, I didn't find this quite as straightforward as others seem to have done. There were some tricky clues and had to battle my way to a full-ish grid before the penny dropped on how to effect the changes. Very enjoyable, thanks Nudd.

[starwalker]

Slight dilemma yesterday evening - do I do the puzzle or do I sit in a pleasant sunny garden with a bottle of wine and chat amiably to Mrs S. So the puzzle had to wait until this morning. As Nudd has said, one to encourage newcomers and nothing wrong with that, though I did have a slight panic when I found I had 11 instructions.

[Ruthrobin]

Replying to Contendo. These things do happen but it is pure coincidence as Listeners are compiled, on average I would say, two years before they appear, and the EVs will have been in the Editor's file for about a year if not longer. At least some of the Spectator crosswords are compiled a lot nearer their date of publication but they are in the magazine's hands some weeks before they appear. Must just be the effect of great minds coinciding!