Listener 4250 2016111214 91885 By Bero

[trux]

Oh, what a struggle that was! Took me far too long to twig how to get started, and then progress was at snail's pace. Can't say that I'm a great fan (bring back last week's them any time!!) but it does all fit together unambiguously in the end and the PDM held itself off until very close to a full grid which is sort of satisfying (maybe more so for setter than solver), so thanks to ReBo for a thorough work-out, the full 15 rounds....

[fyellin]

And in case you're American, as I am, and have no idea what "penny drop moment" means, it's the moment something you've been staring at suddenly becomes clear. . . . I think.

This forum is the only place I've ever seen the phrase.

[jim360]

The PDM does appear to be unique to these forums -- or at least to Listener solvers! -- but "the penny dropped" is pretty common.

[s_pugh]

That was tough! Cold solved a few of the 'normal' clues before focusing on the thematic ones and cracking them all which enabled a lot of back solving thanks in no small part to Quinaplus for the trickier ones. Then a lengthy pause before the PDM. Amazing how an anagram can lead you on a wild goose chase if you're not careful .... thanks to BeRo for what I considered a very challenging puzzle - whatever the smug people may think! ;¬)

[Texasetes]

My grid has been full since Monday, but I don't consider myself to have finished yet as there are two clues which I don't understand. Although I'm fairly sure I have the correct answers, nagging doubts remain. So I had to post 4259 in its own envelope.

The clueing is pretty tight overall, but thankfully a few clues were solvable on first reading. Others caused me a lot of head-scratching. 15A made me laugh with relief when I finally understood it, but the flaky definition in 33A annoys me.

I was unfamiliar with the theme and I can't imagine I'll ever come across it again, but it certainly provided me with a good mental workout.

[Scorpius]

I cannot see anything wrong with the definition for 33A, which strikes me as standard Listener stuff. Anything more specific would have been rather too revealing.

[youngoffender]

Speaking of Listener-worthy clues, I thought this in the Times on Saturday would make the grade:

Austrian neighbours forgetting first time in billing address? (4,4)

[francspenser]

Ok, after around 10 hours solid work over the past 3 days, I'm finally at the stage that several of you were at shortly after the publication of the puzzle: I've got a full grid and all of the extra letters apart from the one from the title (although, contra to jim360, I do have 'C' as the extra letter for 7D). But I still can't get the theme.

Would one of you be kind enough to email me a hint? francspenser at gmail dot com.

Thanks.

[IainGrace]

Afraid that for us complexity of crossword + limited time available > interest in crossword.

[jim360]

ranc, did you end up getting a hint? If not I'll send you an email.

[jim360]

Franc*

[Alekhine]

Limited opportunity with this and another late start, but what a delight!

I doff my cap to any of you who completed this on Friday evening.

[Staurologist]

They say that you can't step into the same river twice, but I found myself having to step into this puzzle several times before it came out, little by little. On this occasion I fear that BeRo has tried too hard, and has overcomplicated what could have been more elegantly realised. Still, the clues were good and the final authorial reveal was amusing. The title phrase, as given in the BRB, seems to be correctly transliterated, but, surprisingly, old editions of the ODQ give a different version in the original, which seems to be wrong. More recent editions have avoided the problem in the obvious way.

[tilbee]

Thanks for the pointer Staurologist - Have just confrimed that the theme is actually in BRB !

[Texasetes]

A user called 'frankspencer' has since appeared at the place I alluded to, so I don't suppose we'll hear from him again.

[borealis]

Wow. Eight days worth, and now very pleased to see some others struggling too. Some really excellent clueing, although like Texasetes I wasn't keen on the definition in 33a. I am surprised that there weren't more possibilities like that which led to a C in 7d - the whole construction was really impressive, and must have taken an immese amount of checking. Thank you very much, BeRo.

[borealis]

....and, Texasetes, if you've posted 4259 in its own envelope like you say, you really are way ahead of the rest of us.......

[Texasetes]

Oops. Out by ten.

[IainGrace]

Finished.

[trux]

Another gentle ride with easier-than-normal clues (perhaps perforce) and a not too complex endgame. Will be interesting to see how people interpret the preamble instruction! Thanks to BeRo for a fun, if rather too brief, entertainment.