Inquisitor 133 by Tipster

[nigel2]

Have solved all clues and understand how the down clues are to be entered thematically - but don't yet see how 40 across is completed or the alternative titles. Any hints or suggestions gratefully received.

[turnerjmw]

The title is a good clue to 40ac. The entry for 28dn should confirm how it is to be entered. If you google the question you might get a clue as to what the whole puzzle is about

[nigel2]

Thanks, turnerjmw, but that hasn't helped me to see the light. I can see the "ends" relevance in the title - are the gaps in 40 ac the "odds"? Googling the question has brought up lyrics and an old TV show - neither of which seem relevant! Are the alternative titles present as consecutive letters in the grid or in some hidden order?

[turnerjmw]

The "and ends" relates, I suppose, to the modifications of the seven clues, but the first word of the title relates to 40ac. If you imagine how they might be displayed, the ending of 28dn will confirm it. If you type the question into google, but don't hit search, you should get a drop down box with various possibilities, one of which should click with you.

The alternatives are all consecutive, though the 10, 4 are not together in the grid

[nigel2]

Thanks again, turner jmw, I'm inching towards a better understanding. I now understand how 40ac conforms to the first part of the title (with the solution of 28d confirming it) but still don't understand what fills the gaps in 40 ac between the "ends" of the down clues. The significance of the question also still evades me - possibly being obtuse! I think I have some of the alternative titles - I think the 14 (two words) is 10 (from an across clue) and 4 (from a down) and 5 is from a down but can't yet see the first 10 - reading across or down. Hopefully, there's light at the end of the tunnel!

[turnerjmw]

You're almost there. The question's significance has to be inferred, with the addition of the words "if you xxx xxx xxx ?". If you look up the theme, e.g. on Wikipedia, in conjunction with the first word of the title, you should be able to find a figure that fits in at 40ac. But there is a small pitfall. The figure might be one smaller than the one your searches reveal. It's a characteristic of the way the first word of the title works. As for the ten letter alternative, again, look at the number of possibilities.

[nigel2]

Thanks again, turner jmw, have twigged the theme and found the relevant answer for 40ac after googling. On review, not entirely sure this answer can be fairly deduced from the question (from the extra letters in across clues) without first of all working out the nature of 40 ac (deduced from 28d) and the theme from the alternative titles. The way the preamble is written suggests that the alternative titles follow working out 40 ac. Certainly more convoluted in its connections than the usual Inquisitor. Still struggling for the (10) title but can see the theme (7) jumbled in one part of grid and wonder whether that will uncover it.

[turnerjmw]

No worries, nigel2. It was certainly the toughest Inquisitor I've ever seen. Possibly unfair, too, but the construction of 40ac was very clever. Actually that jumble is a red herring, which wasted some of my time. It's simpler than that, if I'm right. Just a straight clue answer relating to a number which features prominently in the theme (how many?)

[s436]

This thread was very useful, thank goodness that's over for another week!

Two points of note - given that the setter's name is thematic, can we assume it's an alias used for this week only?

Also, did anyone feel that 31dn (the "kingfisher" clue, with a somewhat contrived answer) was pushing it a bit? Not that I could do better, I must say.

[turnerjmw]

I presume, like you, the setter's name was chosen for the occasion, s436. As for 31dn, I'm not sure. I struggled with it, and assumed it was an alternative spelling alluded to but not overtly in Chambers, but it can clearly be confirmed, via google, as someone who ended up as a kingfisher. A little contrived, perhaps, but given that the wordplay led to it unambiguously, I don't have a problem with it.

[nigel2]

The only number, turnerjmw, I can see is at the top of the grid but that is nine letters not ten and I still don't see how that relates to the theme! Re the setter's identity, the "ends" feature in 40ac has been used as a device in past by Schadenfreude so he could be a good bet for making a suitably fiendish "guest appearance".

[nigel2]

Actually, I think I now see the ten letter answer is a possible description of the "number of choices" in the theme - phew, got there in the end! Sort of enjoyable but a bit of a thematic slog on the whole. Many thanks, turnerjmw, for being so helpful.

[turnerjmw]

I am sure we agree on the ten letter answer, nigel2. Funnily enough, there is a version of the theme which is offered in betting shops where the last letter is an "s", rather than an "r", which led me to it. I fear my dissolute existence may have given me an advantage in this one. Makes a change from having to know the complete works of Wagner or Handel, I suppose.

[dannigel]

Same as you, but haven't got anywhere. Really annoying!

[dannigel]

We also have (just) groped to the solution but it feels a bit obtuse! Are we alone in feeling that recently some clues have not followed Ximenes rigorousness, that to us, gives the integrity to these 'time-wasting' crosswords :-)