Listener 4591 1899

[sunny-dave]

Nice implementation of an entry method that I'm sure I've seen several times before?

Some interesting vocabulary, but nothing too abstruse to deter a first-time solver.

Thanks Ares - a pleasant couple of hours to start the weekend.

[NickorWan]

I think that sums up my thoughts too.

I was hoping for one on easy side, thanks, Ares.

[Philoctetes]

Says it all, really. Pleasant little workout. I like the title!

[12barblues]

Totally agree. A pleasant stroll, especially as reminiscent of one of the first Listener’s I ever completed. And doh, have just worked out significance of title. Thanks Ares.

[Hagen]

It's an evergreen theme, but none the worse for that. As Philoctetes says, a pleasant little workout. I'll fess up that I spent a while online looking up the significance of title before the penny dropped. Another debut, I think?

[u10]

It’s really annoying that there seems to be two possible entry methods for answers.

[Flocker14]

Remember something vaguely similar in the past, but still a very enjoyable workout indeed. I can't really see that there are two possible ways of entry and even if there were neither is specifically indicated so it would be unfair for the judges to discriminate, wouldn't it?

[lyrabelacqua]

The specific phrase "All answers need to be written thematically to fit into the grid" seems to me to indicate what is required. There are several answers which go in "straight", but nevertheless are still "thematic" because of what each cell contains.

[IainGrace]

The final grid contains only letters and every cell is thematic.

[Hagen]

I’m in the letters camp too, but there is a case for the alternative and I’m not sure either side can prove their point with certainty. I don’t submit so I’m not bothered, but I do feel for those who do send in completed puzzles!

[fyellin]

I wished a could convince myself that IainGrace's interpretation is correct. It feels ambiguous to me, too.

[dsmarley]

There’s a third way, too, which would combine the other two methods and give a very thematic appearance to the grid.

However, I’m guessing that if anything other than or more than the letters of the entries needed to be entered, the preamble wouldn’t be worded as it is.

[Cruncher]

Hmm. My feeling is that, given that "all answers need to be written thematically", letters will not work as some answers would be thematically unaltered

[sunny-dave]

Surely the only requirement is that the contents of each and every cell fit the theme - and if a clue answer happens to lead entirely to cells that are ‘single’ then I think it is still ‘written thematically’?

[IainGrace]

All answers need to be written thematically to fit into the grid. There is nothing to suggest that letters are to be converted in any way. It is all about fitting the grid. That at least is our rationale.

[sunny-dave]

Agreed.

[Pasquin]

We've had puzzles before that require something like this entry method. There's a bit more here. The someone is associated with a certain thing, which surely is the theme here. If answers need to be entered thematically, they have to resemble the thematic thing, which has a distinctive appearance which orders its components, and the title hints at this.

[emcee]

I agree with Pasquin.

[IainGrace]

As the deadline for submission looms we are satisfied that our original interpretation of the rubric is wrong. As has been noted, ALL answers are to be written thematically.

[JS1988]

What a remarkable U-turn.