Inquisitor 72

[Tichfield]

Yet again there is a mistakle in the clues. This week 3d and 4d have been transposed.

I think the theme is "writers".

I have got the six extra words (I think) but I am totally foxed by seven of the 10 "misprinted definitions".

[Rapparee]

Also one of the entries along the bottom should have 8 letters, not 7.

After much gruntwork I managed to solve the misprinted definitions. I think I have identified two of the three writers and if I am right thay are not conventional authors. But it seems to me that their identification is not necessary to the completion of the grid and submission of the puzzle.
Also, I am baffled by the words of advice...

I don't have my working copy with me at the moment, so may not be able to answer specific questions.

If you can wait until this evening I can give some hints then...

[Tichfield]

Thanks.

I had missed the error in the length of 41a. I just solved the clue, and with a sniff, put it in the grid without noticing the misprint.

Any clues you can give to help completion would be very much appreciated.

[Rapparee]

If you let me know what you are stuck on I may be able answer some from memory and be forearmed when I get home with those I can't....

[Rapparee]

Earlier this afternoon while mulling things over I worked out the name of the third writer from the clues I could remember and thought I was very clever. Well, when I got home later and looked at this again, I got the biggest self-kicking 'duh!' moment I have ever experienced in all my cruciverbal years!
I now understand it all, especially the meaning of the 'advice to solvers'.
Although I worked out the names of all three writers myself, I spent a lot of time confirming them on the internet and this turned out to be unnecessary. I have been well and truly suckered.
I will say no more for the present but will monitor this thread in case anyone needs a little advice.
(What a plonker I am, really!)

[Tichfield]

Well, I have made some progress.

I have all the misprinted definition answers except the third one "Place near Newton", where the corrected letter should be an "S" , with the answer "CA-Y".

I am no nearer getting to the root of the theme. When I followed the instruction I only saw the ceiling.

I did notice that I have not completed 25a. The answer must be ROC, but I can't see the "reported danger" bit.

[Rapparee]

You are right about the correct letter being S, but your C in the answer is wrong. 25a is ROC - sounds like rock (danger).

One big hint - when you follow the instruction do not lift your eyes from the page! And get yer boots on!

[Tichfield]

Thanks for that.

Having finally found the place that goes in the top left of the grid - a place that is not even in Google maps - I have a complete grid.

Despite the hints I have not been able to fathom out what the preamble was going on about, but as said above, it is irrelevant to the actual grid completion. It makes you wonder why Lato bothered if you are not required to do anything with it.

[Rapparee]

Well, I was tempted to just send it off once I had filled the grid but I was determined to get to the bottom of what the whole thing was all about. Once the penny dropped (and I'd stopped kicking myself) I was able to put everything together quite easily and in the end I was satisfied that I understood the theme.

I agree that it's odd that solvers have not been required to demonstrate this understanding in some way and so I'm left with a slight feeling of dissatisfaction because of that.

If you have any further questions regarding the preamble or anything else I'll be glad to answer.

Rapparee.

[Mysterons]

Being from the Wirral I had no problem with 1 across, but can someone please explain why 5 down should be MERMAN - the N is from initially nasty, but I can't see the rest of the wordplay.

[Tichfield]

Merman

Right = R

Magazine initially = M

nasty about this = anagram of a word meaning nasty = MEAN about the R and the M

Giving ME RM AN

[Tichfield]

And lucky you knowing about RABY.

LOL

[Tichfield]

Forget about the "anagram.

Nasty = MEAN

[Mysterons]

Thanks Tichfield

That leaves 'Hello' as an extra word then ? (Which is a shame because I already have 6 !)

[Tichfield]

I am pretty sure HELLO is extra here. But as I did not (or rather could not) solve the "theme" I cannot say for certain.

Once I found out that the theme and the extra words were irrelevant to completing the grid I confess I gave up trying to solve the problem posed in the puzzle's preamble.

[Mysterons]

Thanks again Tichfield - I am beginning to suspect that The Independent has scored an own-goal with this one. As someone who is given this puzzle by a friend after they have finished with the newspaper (hence my late start) I don't think this one will be appearing in any "Best Of" compilations, although it would explain why I can complete the grid without seeing the Neighbours. I may be completely wrong of course !

[Tichfield]

Rapparee
I see it now.

My problem was that I had torn the crossword out of the magazine, so that I did not see the names when I looked up.

I retrieved the magazine, and Eureka!

[Mysterons]

............ and I now have Number 73, along with the rest of page 61, which confirms the 3 identities - fortunately they are the same as last week !

[Rapparee]

Glad to see you have seen that which was to be seen! Fortunately you did not need to know all that to complete the grid. Hope you both got it sent off in time.

For myself I had kept the page intact as my wife likes the picture puzzle on the reverse side. So I didn't spend too much time clocking the ceiling!