Listener 4457 Polo By Apt

[Contrarian]

Apologies if this is not the first thread. I couldn't see an earlier one.

This was quite straightforward, but right up my street.

Thanks Apt.

[AHearer]

Yes, this was fun. The lower left corner held me up for a while. One nice thing about the observation is that it doesn't contain any words that lead unambiguously to it -- though once I'd got the first half it rang a bell and I knew where we were going. Many thanks, Apt.

[olichant]

I echo the above. Gentle treatment of a fun theme. Some good surface readings in there, too.

[upsetter]

If we've filled the grid, how will anyone know if we have got the quotation or the sequel?
This would appear to be a weakness. Good clues nevertheless.

[starwalker]

Fairly straightforward. Just a couple of wordplays o resolve, but as far as I can see, there is no ambiguity anywhere. Good treatment of a (previously unheard of) quotation. Thanks Apt for a pleasant debut ?

[Aloysius535]

This needed an extra step. Once the incorrect letter phrase is identified (without getting all the incorrect letters) the perimeter answer is obvious. Clues were a nice mix. I especially liked 12d

[Hagen]

I'm always apt to get stuck in one corner, and it's apt that it was the SW corner, just like A Hearer. One is apt to forget that in the past quite a few Listener puzzles consisted of little more than an apt quotation round the edges, so this was an apt and rather nostalgic reminder of past Listener styles. As Upsetter aptly says, there was no way of proving that you'd got the theme, but I'm apt to forgive that when it's a relatively easy and unambiguous solve. I'm apt to forget names, but if Apt is a new setter, he clearly has considerable aptitude, so it's only apt to thank him or her for the puzzle.

(Contrary to what some believe, I - and most others here, I'm sure - don't rush to my gadget to register my apparent success with the Listener crossword, but I definitely have to be first to get the bad jokes in!)

PS Recommend the Chalicea IQ - it's a beauty.

[Philoctetes]

I was sidetracked for a while (perhaps aptly) by the current Dr Who storyline, but got there in the end. All absolutely fair. I too chuckled at 12d

[icynorth]

Agree with the above. Not too taxing, but no less enjoyable for it, and it's introduced me to something new. Thanks, Apt!

[Scorpius]

It's not often that I fill the clued part of a grid in around an hour, though I found three misprints particularly tricky to work out. Not that it mattered too much as I guessed the name and was able to fill in the perimeter after a brief Google search.

It surprised me that the preamble should mention a sequel without asking solvers to add it below the grid. I wonder if this was an editorial decision because the 15x15 grid takes up more than the usual amount of space.

I agree that there were some nice constructions and surfaces.

[HappyUncle]

Funny thing - I took longest over the SW corner too. It often happens, so perhaps there's a universal law that predicts it. I enjoyed the puzzle but agree with the reservations of others. The endgame seemed to consist only of working out the significance of the title.

[emcee]

I enjoyed this puzzle but , as with others, found the endgame a little weak. Still, a good debut from Apt and I welcome further offerings from this setter.

It is nice to see the thread appearing a little later. Personally, to remove the race element for some (which this thread was never intended to be) it would be good to see the thread beginning from 1800 each Friday.

[borealis]

Like the title, and many of the clues, including 12d. Solved clockwise from NE, getting perimeter/theme about half way. that led to incorrect letters. Finished top centre - so I am afraid the SW law failed. Enjoyed it, but I thought the last sentence of the preamble was not needed with the indication elsewhere. Thanks Apt.

[sunny-dave]

That was very pleasant - an Old Skool Listener in many ways - devoid of some of the more irritating fiddly stuff that seems to be introduced far too often these days, often for no reason other than to extend the solving time.

Yes - I really enjoyed that a lot - thanks Apt.