Listener 4078: The Fragmentation of Reality by Lavatch

[Zabadak]

This one's a gem: don't be put off by the complex instructions or that fearsome 65,536 possible combinations: It all comes out well in the end. Good, fair clues, some lovely PDM's, and a satisfying final resolution. And I learned some stuff that I didn't know (to my shame) about the main theme. I especially liked the character that needs to be ringed - thats a doozy that I've not seen used before: does anyone know of an instance?
I'm also interested to know whether the title has a particular reference to the subject: I can find one isolated connection, but a fair bit in the general vicinity.

[catstail]

Have just had a pdm. I jumped to the wrong conclusion about which group of elements from which thematic title. Was wondering how Lavatch fitted all those other putative elements in. Doh! WIll now go and make tea.

[Philoctetes]

Yes, I also tried to find the other title (a particular favourite of mine) elements, but there would have to be a grid filled with so many Ks it would have been a total masterpiece of construction. I am still unsure of the title, and why the number 65536 was given such prominence - but it's in the envelope now, so forget it.

[cluelessJoe]

Nice puzzle and well packed with thematic material. For me the title's relevance is elusive enough for me not to be bothered, and the prominent big number in the preamble slightly tarnished things - coming across as more 'aren't I clever' than 'here's an indication of how many clashes you need to resolve'. Nevertheless more entertaining than several this year.

[Jogler]

A particular reason for stating that huge number eludes us. On the subject of the title, we believe that one of the thematic elements gives its name to an effect that would reasonably describe it. Zabadak, I knew it rang a bell (sorry execrable pun), it has been used before and maybe even by this compiler.....

[BobHWW]

I found this reasonably tough (as was his Spectator last week) but I'm surprised the error in the clue for 21Ac wasn't spotted. Or have I missed something?

[perseverer]

Greek, not Roman?

[x_word_fan]

A long battle for me - but a pleasing ending.

BobHWW - I see no problems with 21a though the word play for 10d still eludes me.

[x_word_fan]

Apologies BobHWW I see what you mean - I hadn't checked that

[dr b]

xwordfan re 10d, think of an abbreviation for a class of ailments which includes "crabs (prehaps)", surrounding a word meaning "fled". For a while I had the second title of group B as being included in this answer. So I guess there are actually 3 thematic titles in the puzzle.

[cluelessJoe]

x_word_fan, for 10d check out Chambers' pluralised/informal definition of crabs and that's one of an enclosing three letter abbreviation.

[cluelessJoe]

sorry dr b, I see you just beat me to it

[x_word_fan]

Thank you both for that - pleasingly my knowledge of those ailments is non-existent.

On another tack, as a newish devotee of the Listener, I am intrigued by the reliance we all seem to have on the internet. I suspect not many would complete the current one without it - in days gone by were the themes less obscure or were many hours spent in the library?

[Zabadak]

I suppose if you were really stuck you could use the number 65536 to work out how many 50/50 clashes you were supposed to have in the grid, but that may be no more help than saying there are 26 to the power of 169 alternatives for any standard 13X13 grid!
x_word_fan: I have (sometimes not very happy) memories of trawling through the Encyclopaedia Britannica (in paper form) for help on themes, and I think at least once, I visited the library for help, where the woman on the desk, having had the same query several times already, knew where to direct me. The Internet may, as you suggest, mean that we no longer bother to store up great swathes of knowledge, because we (and the setters) know we now have ready access to the whole of the world's store. If we use the right keywords, that is!

[teuchter2]

I'm still struggling to find the second thematic answer, which is frustrating as I have got everything else. Even looking up the answer to group A in Wiki hasn't got me there. Can I take it that it is of the same ilk as the one with the related characters and the possible third title in 10d? I had spotted that one as well, but it was obviously not the answer.

[dr b]

teutcher, Once I had the name from group A, there were only 3 titles that I thought of immediately (as these were the only 3 titles I knew of attributed to the name *hangs head in shame at gaps in cultural knowledge*). So, the missing title is probably the obvious one. The penny dropped for me when I noticed the very careful use of one word describing what must be "ringed". In hindsight, the only word that could be used without giving the game away.

Hope that's sufficiently oblique yet helpful.

[Speravi]

Brilliant. They don't get much better than this. Thanks, Lavatch.

On the subject of the Roman deity, I would conjecture that there was confusion with 'lares et penates'.

[teuchter2]

Thanks dr b. I have finally got it! I have to confess that you knew three more than I did, but I do not have much interest in such things.

[catstail]

Re the title. Is it something to do with the elements, and the Effect. Reality could be said to be fragmented between the various elements.
Hope that is suitably vague but helpful.
Am now going to double check my answers. I still haven't worked out the wordplay of 12 and 40 across, so am not convinced that I have the right solutions.

[catstail]

Sorry, Jogler answered the title point above.

[silversolver]

Agree with all the above comments - a Listener classic. Have just finished after the usual hours of blood, sweat and tears and particularly enjoyed the final denouement including the ringed character. Thanks, Lavatch.