Listener 4466 X Xx Xxx By Somniloquist

[trux]

Most accomplished: tricky devices, clever clues, excellent title, and all the thematic stuff does (eventually) fit together most neatly. If this is a Listener debut, then it's one of the best for some considerable time. Many thanks and many congrats to Somniloquist.

[Vagans]

Fully agreed: it came together very well after some baffling moments mid-solve. Grateful thanks to Somniloquist, and if this is what you can manage in your sleep I wonder what your waking constructions are like ...

[Ruthrobin]

Yes indeed, what a debut if this is one. Lovely how this all came together at the end!

[Hagen]

Absolutely brilliant! Being a fan of the source material I realised what was going on quite soon, though that didn't make solving any easier. A real toughie that easily justified the amount of time spent unravelling it. Thanks, Somniloquist.

[Flocker14]

Yes, an absolute cracker that keeps you guessing right up to its very satisfying denouement

[IainGrace]

Nothing to do with this crossword but how often has JEG won the Inquisitor in the "i"?? Certainly twice in the last couple of weeks. There must be a knack to it.

[upsetter]

What a magnificent crossword.
Very tricky for any like us with only a limited knowledge of the theme.

[tnap]

Definitely a POTY contender!

[Alekhine]

Now that was a Listener! Maybe my favourite of the year so far.

Great work, Somniloquist. You wrench the Z-Cup from my iron grip.

[olichant]

Wow, that was tough. Very enjoyable in the end. Took me an age to find the relevant line and poem - probably just exposing my ignorance.

[perseverer]

I think you could successfully complete the puzzle without knowing or finding the thematic source, (though no doubt you would be left baffled!)

[pushmi-pullyu]

Wow, really enjoyed that one. The theme took me back to my student days.

[emcee]

Very tough. I solved the downs without the title -- in fact, finding all three clues without definition came late in the game for me.

I'm still unsure whether I have the correct title for the puzzle, but that doesn't seem to matter (which is, perhaps, a weakness of the puzzle).

Can't believe this is a debut setter! Look forward to more from the same stable.

[emcee]

Title is far simpler than I expected. Very clever! and how stupid of me not to see it sooner.

[12barblues]

Very tough, but got there in the end I think. A good puzzle with the thematic material cleverly embedded. Of course it didn't help that the indicative answer was the last I solved

[Scree]

Phew!

Chipped away at this steadily without seeing any pattern emerging from initials of across answers, and while I worked out what to do with down clues there wasn't much sense emerging there either. I had two of the three words and could see a theme connecting them, but...

Finally, with the posting deadline looming, I saw where the initials were leading. At last my education came in handy as I was able to unearth a dusty tome and find the required line of the poem without too much trouble.

Too much of a hard slog for my liking, but very satisfying to get there in the end and much admiration for the puzzle.

[icynorth]

Maybe this wasn't the puzzle to take on a holiday without reference books or internet! I managed to complete it on the car journey home (with patchy slow internet and the OED site). Its construction is an impressive achievement - thanks Somniloquist!