The Listener Crossword No 4554 Duck By Vismut

[upsetter]

We have completed the satisfying gridfill and identified the work in question but are finding the endgame less than tractable.

Not thinking about it for a while is probably a good idea.

[Philoctetes]

Some of the clues are a tad forced, and variable severity, but all come out in the end. I found that, once the title was found - and it is not too hard to work out - the endgame fell into place quite smoothly. Not my favourite, though

[vetuste_ennemi]

Same problem as you with the end game, Upsetter.

New theme to me. The erase bit is easy enough, though.

[Hagen]

I really enjoyed this. Admittedly the literal readings some of the clues were almost nonsensical, no doubt as a result of the constraints forced by the method of generating letters towards the hint. Whether this method justifies such implausible surfaces is a moot point, but I for one was just grateful for a relatively straightforward puzzle that wasn't carte blanche and didn't involve staring at the completed grid for hours. Those who prefer meatier fare have had plenty to feed on in recent weeks! Many thanks, Vismut.

[Hagen]

Meant to say also that I'm fascinated by this theme. We've had it before at least once but this was a novel treatment.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Ah, got it! Useful symmetry.

[12barblues]

Neatly done, now if it been carried into the clues that would have been a tour de force. Anyway, thanks to Vismut for an easier morning than some recently.

[upsetter]

Got there in the end - very clever.

Thanks, Vismut.

[Scorpius]

The theme has been done twice before in the Listener, but a sufficiently long time ago for it not to matter. In retrospect I should have guessed the theme from the preamble.

I thought it was a very nicely structured puzzle, though I agree that the clue gimmick has resulted in some surfaces that are rather unnatural. There were some compensations elsewhere, such as the lovely definition in 27d.

[olichant]

As it happens, I did get the theme from the preamble, though I only now understand the title (which was a nice touch). Clearly some odd surfaces but some good clues too. One of the definitions seemed questionable but it made me smile so I don’t much mind whether or much it was. Pleasant puzzle.

[emcee]

OK puzzle.

I wasn't sure about the intended meaning of the first word of the hint spelt from the extra letters and whether I've interpreted it correctly.

The finished grid does agree with the preamble though. But, there again, so did my solution to the Phibre puzzle and I bet it has been marked incorrect!

[emcee]

Oops, I meant to say first word of the hint from indexing -- the extra letters bit was fine.