Listener Crossword No 4246 Construction By Shackleton

[trux]

As one would expect, this turned out to be a real star turn. Amazing grid construction which all works out oh so beautifully. Not as fearsome as one might think at the outset, but still most awe-inspiring. Many, many thanks for the joy of the ride, dear Mr Shackleton.

[olichant]

Simply wonderful. Though it took me ages to find the quote... Some of these clues are utterly stunning.

[TheBear69]

Add me to the enthusiastic chorus on Shackleton's excellent. To those complaining about the carte blanc format, I would say that the difficulty Theron is offset by the help one gets from having the clues sorted alphabetically. It would have been a lot more difficult - but still a fair, solvable puzzle - to have the clues randomized.

[olichant]

This is wildly on the off-chance, but does anyone have access to Location, Location, Location by Shackleton? I think it was published a few years ago. Someone has helpfully told me I "have" to do it. Less helpfully, they don't have a copy...

[Cruncher]

Hi Olichant
If you are a member of the Times Crossword club you can search for it - more quickly if you go onto the listener site and look up the publication number. If not let me know and I'll email you a copy.
Thought this was a tough grid to fill. Maybe I was too cautious to put my toe in the water but I didn't start to put the entries until I had cold solved all but 8 clues. Thereafter it fitted together very nicely. Excellent puzzle once more from Shackleton

[Ruthrobin]

Olichant, I've sent you a copy of 4144, Location, Location, Location. I think it would be difficult to produce a better crossword than Shackleton's Sine Qua Non. Did you do that one? (A good way to trace crosswords is to go to Dave Hennings' Crossword Data Base to get the number, then use the Listener site to download them).

[Staurologist]

Excellent. Solving this made me feel as if I was in Shangri-la. Any puzzle that conjures up memories of Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Gustave Dore, Maurits Escher, and Jorge Luis Borges has to be special. And to be sent back to re-read those wonderful essays--utter bliss.

[Deviant]

Great fun.

I too despaired at seeing a carte blanche, and after a few hours, I only had a handful of answers, but a bit of perseverance has led me to a completed grid with "just" the quotation to find.

[jim360]

Toughest of the year so far (excluding Vera that I never did complete). A real grind, but some fun clues and plenty going on. Never a dull moment. The final quotation was a bit obscure for me but I got the author first and you know what they say about Google being your friend.

Thanks Shackleton!

[s_pugh]

I can only echo what others have said, and would encourage those put off by the 'carte blanche' format to keep trying. I had all bar 10 clues cold solved before attempting a grid fill and that rapidly assisted with the back solving of the elusive 10. My only gripe is with the preamble, it says to swap a letter in the author's name with three of the overlong answer (and I can see what this produces which 'fits' the theme), but then says actual construction isn't required. So do I submit the entry showing the name or squeeze letters in to give the thematic location? I fear whichever I do it will be the wrong one and I will be deemed to have failed! ¬(

[Cruncher]

s_pugh I think the 'construction' refers to what one would need to do to the grid for the quotation to work

[borealis]

Lovely. Took me till Tuesday, but wonderfully constructed so that you always had an accessible next step, with logical connections everywhere and a very well written preamble. Most enjoyed crossword for some time. Thank you, Shackleton.

[Simplex]

s_pugh, there's a mostly-accepted understanding that you just know if you've got a Listener solution correct. Any lingering doubts usually mean that you haven't understood the preramble, not least because they can often be just plain mischievous.

That actual construction isn't required isn't meant to underestimate us initiates to the Listener mysteries, who think nothing of solving puzzles on four-dimensional Klein Bottles, but out of consideration for JEG. There's only one thing more absurd than solving crosswords on origami birds, and that's having to unfold hundreds of them. To check that entries with actual constructions were complete would be expecting JEG to go far beyond his normal weekly superhuman efforts.

[Alekhine]

Stupidly, I chose to cold-solve everything before attempting the grid fill.

I enjoyed the finale.

[Scree]

Like Teuchter2 I was initially underwhelmed by the final step as I saw an obvious letter from the author's name creating a thematic location, in an appropriate way, but crossing grid lines (unlike destination and author). It felt like a real let-down - but the response on this thread led me to re-read the preamble and I eventually saw the light.

Having struggled manfully on through the cold-solving, (miraculously entering only one answer in the wrong place), I'd eventually reached a stage where I could check initial clue letters. Lo and behold, I found a coherent message which helped complete the grid. But that last step nearly tripped me up.

As it is, I'd have to say this is as perfect a crossword as you could wish for, and the mind boggles as to how Shackleton constructed it. The highlight of my Listener year so far.

[s_pugh]

Many thanks Cruncher and Simplex for your constructive (!) comments, I think I'm happy with what needs to be done now and can see what needn't be done to spare JEG a pile of de-constructive activity. Minor gripe about preamble aside this was an amazing piece of, well, construction - thanks to Shackleton.

[Alan7777]

Second Friday club for me again! I took a lot longer than I should to find the quotation. A very good challenge throughout. Thanks Shackleton

[Cloverjo]

Well, I'm glad I didn't give up. I did have some much appreciated help, though. Very enjoyable once I got going, and very satisfying to complete.

[IainGrace]

Have come to this late post-hols. Solved about two thirds of clues but no serious attempt at grid entry. Suspect we will have to abandon it due to lack of time to devote to it, which is a shame as everything suggests it's a cracker.

[grace_slick]

Well worth persevering with this. I know it took me an age but I finished it unaided. One of the best puzzles I have attempted this year, the more so because of its stunningly good clues, streets ahead of many recent offerings. My first Shackleton - I hope it will not be my last.