Listener 4085: Atom Smasher by Llig

[Zabadak]

Though there's another thread on on 4095, and I've contributed to it, this might help get the conversation started, though I suspect not a long one. There really isn't much to this (sorry Llig, and thanks anyway). I feared at one point that the clashes would be entirely random, but it does resolve in a way that lets you check the dodgier entries, and that you've got the clashes right. Not my favourite for the year so far: I'm off to Mahler 8 on the BBC. Happy solving everyone!

[dr b]

I concur, I'm afraid to say. A pretty straightforward exercise.

[AHearer]

I agree: this wasn't a great challenge.

[starwalker]

I started this thinking that it would be a good puzzle for all abilities.
Sadly, after approx 75%, I couldn't wait to be done with it. Sorry Llig, but I feel that a good idea went wrong somewhere.

[Zabadak]

Not just me then?!

[daagg]

Agreed, a bit disappointing. I got a bit excited half way through, because the title and the generally scientific theme led me to an analysis of an appendix, which produced the right count. However, the denouement went to a somehow less satisfying destination.

[AndrewG-S]

About 3/4 done and have the phrase from the down clues, judging from the above does not look like this is going to get much more exciting

[Clamzy]

Not may contributions yet - I wonder if people can find this thread as it says 4085 above.
Is there any way to correct the number?

[bobbycollins]

Straightforward and - sorry Llig - rather dull. Having said that I don't see 1a) despite having the first two letters and being sure that the fourth is a clash. I'll have another look tomorrow.

[bobbycollins]

dooooh

Just seen what the thirteen clashes produce, enabling me to get 1a). I was wrong by the way. Must try to get rid of this tunnel vision, but I'm probably too long in the tooth.

[Zabadak]

Sorry about the title, folks - one day I'll get something right. I think the only way tp change it is to start a new thread, unless anyone knows better. Search still brings you here, though.

[IainGrace]

Just starting on this one, on the basis that we tend to be a week behind. Thought 4094 was very entertaining and satisfying (and suitably misleading). Picking up on earlier thread about prizes, we seem to have a fairly consistent record - one win in Listener, Azed, Mephisto and Times. Never won Guardian (Auracaria the ultimate accolade, I guess). Bought the Independent for 3/4 years and won the champers six times, so one for Listener solvers to try perhaps as a limbering up exercise. It famously published a puzzle a few years ago which no one solved correctly - a sign of either fiendish ingenuity or poor cluing.

[midazolam]

It was a shame there was not something else here at the end, although the misprints did provide a complete set. If it was not for this I would be still struggling with 1 across.

The clues on the other hand were shocking in places. I note a discussion elsewhere regarding the use of misprints. On the whole, the initial surface reading should be fluent and if it reads well after the misprint, it is a bonus. In this case some clues just did not make sense until after the misprints, themselves just standing out because of it (e.g. 30). Too haphazard, sorry Llig

[cluelessJoe]

Agreed, one of those puzzles which passed the editors' scrutiny against the odds. Quite messy, some scrappy clues, a grid bursting with non-words. I needed the set to crack 1A too ... and I'm not convinced that was a particluarly 'fair' clue, certainly not constructed following any of the Listener guidelines.

[Clamzy]

I did get 1 across before sorting out the misprints but agree it was of the HIJKLMNO and GEG variety. Like Daagg I spent some time in Chambers appendix being fooled by the title but the PD was something of an anticlimax. Not a contender for puzzle of the year in my book.

[dr b]

Fair or not, 1a was about the only thing in this puzzle that made me smile.

[pushmi-pullyu]

Yes, unless I'm missing something clever here, my feeling on completing it was "So what?"

[easylistener]

A good puzzle but some features not in keeping with Listener traditions. Why erase any letters when they don't have any bearing on anything else? We could equally have erased the other set of letters and it make no difference. No symmetry to enjoy. Nothing to hunt for. And 42a is an old favourite of the non-Listener type of puzzle. Still, I was glad to finish and have enjoyed the discussions along the way!

[tristram37]

Unfortunately we are so inured to staggering PDMs that one without any seems to fall flat. What it means is that the puzzle stands or falls by the quality of its clues, and frankly I thought those were pretty pedestrian, with unconvincing surface readings and some very obscure wordplays - I stll haven't worked out in full those for 2, 20 and 33 down. The discussion in the Crossword Centre on misprints is relevant - that centred on whether the corrected readings should make as much sense as the misprinted. It was taken for granted that the misprinted version would make sense - not always the case here. Beta minus is my score.

[tweaker]

unless I'm wrong (which may be)- 1a was one of my first answers ( chambers confirms it). I though all you would of spotted that clue first off the mark!!!

[teuchter2]

Good to find the usual suspects. I contributed to the other thread saying I was having problems with 34a and 1a. I've now got 34a, having worked out my mistake in that area, but still can't get 1a though I have now got a misprint left. The previous comments on this clue don't make me too confident in my ability to solve it, but if it made someone laugh then its worth persevering for a while yet.