Listener No. 4403: No Offence By Artix

[AHearer]

That was quite a workout! Unlike several recent Listeners where an early guess at the theme helped a lot with the gridfill, this time I could not tackle the endgame until I had worked my way through all those challenging (but fair) clues. Yes, and I have gone beyond my normal limit for the first session -- I just couldn't put it down. Excellent puzzle: thank you, Artix.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, wasn't it a magical piece of setting with one layer uncovered, leading to another then the superb endgame. Excellent puzzle indeed.

[olichant]

Really superb - comfortably one of my favourites this year. Thanks, Artix. The Listener editors and setters have been treating us of late.

[Hagen]

A brilliant idea, superbly executed. The endgame was a joy; just the right amount of head-scratching before the penny dropped, rather than hours of grid-staring. Superb clues too, which weren't as hard to solve as I thought they were going to be. Many thanks, Artix.

I see I put two bars in wrongly in Dysart's puzzle. Rather than ENOSE and ALOED in columns 2 and 11 I had UNEAT and EMMYS in the top and bottom rows. I found some references to UNEAT as slang for to throw up, and it may not be in Chambers but ENOSE isn't in my copy either. Did anyone else fall for this? Probably not...

[AndrewG-S]

A fine workout and excellent puzzle. Lots of innovative ways to make the clues that little bit more tricky and a clear endgame. One of the best this year. Many thanks artix.

[Scorpius]

I can only echo the sentiments above. It was tougher than I expected but the diversity of devices in the clues and the very neatly packaged theme made it a most enjoyable solve. I cannot say I reached the quotation by following the instruction (did anyone?), but having found the quotation I was staggered by the cleverness of the grid.

Hagen, I suggest you update your Chambers. Even the 12th edition of Chambers (2011) has E-NOSE. I use the Chambers 2005 CD-ROM edition on my computer because of its excellent search facility, but these days I frequently have to refer to a later hard copy to confirm new words.

[Hagen]

You're right, Scorpius, it's high time I invested in the new Chambers. I too still use the CD-ROM for its search facility and anagram finder, and it's a great shame that there hasn't been a later edition in this format (as far as I know). My book copy is even older, so I've just added the 13th edition to my Amazon wish list!

I bet UNEAT's still not in there though...

[jockie]

I echo all that has been said. 2016 is turning into a vintage year.

[starwalker]

Excellent puzzle with some tough clues all neatly put together. Clear ending with no hint of any ambiguity, unlike 4400. Many thanks Artix.

[s_pugh]

I thought that was extremely tough - at the far end of the scale. Took a long time to break into it until I realised what was going on which enabled a bit of back-pairing. Fantastic construction and a challenging but utterly unambiguous endgame. Thanks Artix.

[upsetter]

Brilliant construction with lots of hidden hints.

Some very tough clues leading to a rather obscure quotation - but sufficiently well signposted to get us there in the end.
Thanks Artix.

[HappyUncle]

it's all been said but it's worth repeating. I found myself often on the point of giving up, but then another flash of insight would crack another clue and, eventually, the definitions and their grid entries would add a further nudge or two. It's been a feature of several recent puzzles that the delayed-PDM count has been increased by individual clues requiring them, as well as the thematic elements.

Above all, the process of creation of this tour de force is beyond my understanding. The amount of thematic material alone is a wonder; but how on earth does one set about finding words that can serve two purposes, for every entry? Is a setter's blog too much to ask for?

[Philoctetes]

^What he said^. I am still dizzy with the impossibility of setting involved

[icynorth]

Another absorbing puzzle with a fine ending. Boy, some of those clues were tough! Many thanks, Artix.

[Cruncher]

Pretty tough but mesmerised by the ending.

[crucifer]

Just to add to the praise. Took me a while to get into this but it never became a chore. Ingenious finale too.

(Incidentally, I just popped over to another place to see what others made of this one and was surprised to see another Crucifer commenting. Maybe it's time to think of a more creative monicker...)