Listener No 4355: Shorthand Crosses By Aragon

[AHearer]

A lovely construction, with fairly straightforward clues. I hadn't come across the verse, and have only been able to locate the vital couplet -- if the rest of it is available I hope somebody will post a link once the closing date is past. The use of that couplet was very neat. Many thanks to Aragon.

[olichant]

A contender for Most Sinister Preamble of the Year belied some relatively easy (and yet some really slick) clues. And a really lovely construction. Loved it. Thanks, Aragon.

Right, a drink in the sun beckons. Happy Friday to everyone here.

[starwalker]

Nice to see Aragon back after a seemingly long time, but then he does now have other areas of involvement now.
Having read the preamble I applied my own rule 4b, which roughly states "Ignore the preamble and get on with it. You will be amazed at the results."
Smiles everywhere. Thanks Aragon, and don't leave it so long next time.

[Ruthrobin]

Feed in the entire couplet AHearer and the first example that appears on Google has eight lines (that I find quite incomprehensible). However, as you say, the couplet is beautifully used by Aragon.

[jockie]

Yes, a beautifully constructed use of the theme. Am I right in thinking that the one who is honoured in the clue construction doesn't appear in the final grid? And the title is another delight! Thanks Aragon.

[TheBear69]

AHearer, if you Google the poet's last name and the last two words of the couplet in quotes you should get a link to a page with the full poem.

[AHearer]

Thanks, Ruthrobin and TheBear69, for those hints to bringing up the whole poem. Now I'll have to do some more research if I want to understand all the references in it!

[doctormatt]

Truly a work of art! Once again, I am amazed at the intricacies of the construction, and the satisfaction when it all comes together. As with jockie, I spent some time looking for said additional one. Thanks Aragon.

[jim360]

Clues not so easy for me as others. Aragon's cluing style I don't get, although that's not really a complaint as they also seem to me to be fairly cunning in their unusual definitions or slightly sneaky wordplay, so it's challenging without being frustrating. But the grid layout is a bit of a pain, effectively dividing the grid into (almost) independent quarters. Early PDM for the first part followed then by a bit of a slow progress before I get to the poet/ poem/ endgame. Sounds like it will be worth the effort.

[jim360]

And it was -- spotting the endgame with slightly less than 3/4 of the grid done allowed a useful breakthrough into the remainder, and then all finished. Was scratching my head for a little how I was going to replace 15 cells, but not for too long before a delightful final penny-drop. And 28dn made me smile. So, all round, a very fine puzzle by Aragon and I enjoyed a lot.

[AHearer]

A warning to anybody using the printed version of this puzzle. In my copy of The Times a column is missing from the right-hand side of the grid. Reading downwards, it should be square, bar, square 13, three squares, bar, square 24, 6 squares.

[Ruthrobin]

I would imagine that that will completely invalidate the puzzle (at least as far as annual statistics are concerned) as it is totally unfair on the majority of solvers who use The Times newspaper version - unlike those of us who, I imagine, are in a minority and live overseas, more or less, therefore, obliged to use the Internet version. Aragon must be really distressed (doubly so, in view of his official role!)

[upsetter]

We made heavy weather of the end stages of this excellent puzzle.
Having been curmudgeonly in the past about 'easy' clues, we have to say that these were very entertaining.
The clear early presentation of the theme should encourage newcomers, without any dumbing down.
Thanks, Aragon.

[upsetter]

RR Calm down dear! "Completely invalidate" is a tad hyperbolic.
I doubt that many paper solvers would actually give up, especially given that the grid appears to be symmetrical.
Having missed out on completing last week's puzzle due to rank ineptitude we would not like to see this one missing from our stats.

[Contrarian]

"(doubly so, in view of his official role!)"

What's his official role?

[pushmi-pullyu]

Thank you so much AHearer! I was really struggling there. I've now drawn in the extra column and can get on with it.

[starwalker]

Aragon is the editor of The Times crossword

[doorbell]

Contrarian, he's the Times Crossword Editor.

[Contrarian]

Ah, I see.

[olichant]

I'm just transcribing a legible copy of this to submit. Last night what struck me most was the neat interplay of themes. Now, I'm really struck by the quality of some of the clues (14d is a particular favourite). Not too hard, but what a lovely use of words - which is what a crossword should be, at heart.

Definitely more like this, please.

[upsetter]

Wholeheartedly agree Olichant.