Listener 4310: Net Book Agreement By Charybdis

[emcee]

Oh dear ... another puzzle with straightforward clues. The endgame was more interesting, however.

We must have a stinker coming up.

[TheBear69]

Yes, an easy grid-fill and the instructions were straightforward to find, but the interpretation of the instructions was ingenious. Thanks Charybdis!

[emcee]

Sorry, Charybdis, I'm forgetting my manners: I forgot to thank you for the puzzle (the endgame in particular).

Many thanks Chris.

[doorbell]

Good to see Charybdis back with a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle. Clues not too difficult, loved the endgame.

[AHearer]

As has been said, very straightforward clues, but a nice endgame. I remember being quite moved by the thematic material in my formative years. Thanks, Charybdis.

[jim360]

Indeed some very easy clues, although sorting out the full details of the endgame will have to be a task for tomorrow.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, an enjoyable set of clues and a novel way to produce instructions and nowI am faced with the challenge of following them. Thanks Charybdis.

[Ruthrobin]

And resolved my final dilemma with a smile!

[cross_lover]

Done the grid, got the message and now haven't got any idea what to do next, despite staring at it for hours. And it's so dispiriting when you read that others have cracked it just like that! Ah well...

[upsetter]

OK, we confess to having enjoyed part 2 of this.
But really far too many easy clues, even though we failed to spot the theme until we had solved them all.
We would have thought that a good PDM occurs at the point where one is despairing of completing the grid.

[aldanna]

Another dispirited. Filled the grid (apart from one square) in under an hour. No idea what to do next. Maybe it's matured in my subconscious overnight. Or maybe not.

[Patch49]

Well for some of us the clues are not all straightforward and it's puzzles like these that encourage us less gifted to keep attempting The Listener.

[pushmi-pullyu]

I was moved too, AHearer, read it over and over. But that's not helping me now. No idea what to do. Perhaps some lunch will help.

[Whenland]

Yes, the clues were relatively easy, but the end result is brilliant and it's well worth persevering to get there. Thank you Charybdis!

[miqq]

Like others I've filled the grid and found the author and discovered the messages from the extra words. The penny has begun to drop ... but I can find only a part (the major part) of the book title. I'm confused by Charybdis's use of "title" - is it the book or the puzzle (as it usually is)? As a beginner (still in my first year, with about 30% correct so far) I'd greatly value a pointer to what I'm missing at [email protected] if one of you clever types wouldn't mind.

[tilbee]

Agree with the general sentiment here. A simple grid fill, but a very ingenious endgame which took a little working out. However the generous amount of information in the preamble meant this did not delay the denouement too long. Thanks to Charybdis.

[tilbee]

miqq - Email sent.

[miqq]

Thanks, guys. A splendid PDM!

[borealis]

More of "more of this"? This year, the editors seem to be going for a three-way mix: easy to start/straightforward to finish, easy to start/tougher to finish, and tougher for both. This gives 2/3 that can be started by relative newcomers, who also get to finish some, and 1/3 that newcomers get bogged down in, but are most satisfying to the more advanced solvers, many of whom are the contributors here. OK, some of us would like to see the ratios tending to the more advanced, but even with some easier cluing, Charybdis kept my interest, so thanks!

[perseverer]

I think the simplicity of the grid-fill is more than compensated by the amusement when the penny drops about the end-game.

[s_pugh]

Enjoyed the clues and the endgame was enjoyable once fathomed out. As ever it pays to fully follow the directions to the letter, as I for one was unaware of the additional definition of one of the key words. Great fun Charybdis.