Listener 4175 : The Winning Line by Ozzie

[trux]

Zany clues, almost laugh-a-minute stuff and a remarkable (and surprising) dénouement. Brought much needed mental warmth to the icy surroundings here. Terrific stuff, great fun and the best of 2012 so far by a country mile. Many, many thanks to Ozzie...

[Mesnilpat]

Sorry to be dense, what's the Magpie?

[Staurologist]

Having filled the grid and seen the instruction straight away, I was slow to see the description. However, when the whole thing seemed to be coming to nought, making me very cross, I suddenly saw it. The whole structure then fell into place, and I spotted the ambiguity, whose clue served the real answer better than the red herring (which I am sure was deliberate).

Given ETAOINSHRDLU, the lipogrammatic construction couldn't have been too difficult. A real challenge would have been to have constructed a set of n blocks that were all correct descriptions. That would have been really impressive.

[Ruthrobin]

Mesnilpat, the Magpie is a monthly publication that you can get on-line containing six Listener-style puzzles by the same compilers (generally). Read this discussion on Derek Harrison's message board:
http://www.boards2go....751502&user=dharrison
Magpie's puzzles range from the much easier (than the average Listener) A to the very difficult E with a numerical one thrown in. The magazine is beautifully presented with an editorial and the previous month's puzzle solutions, and works out cheaper than buying the Times on Saturdays. Subscriptions have fallen this year and we are all chewing our fingernails in fear that it will fold up. Please subscribe! Magpie, Magpie, Magpie!

[tilbee]

As a new subscriber to Magpie I was fascinated to understand not just the pains that the setters go through to present a worthy puzzle for our enjoyment, but also to get these published. I feel that I should never criticise a puzzle again. For example see attached regarding the (in)famous Klein Bottle from last year.

http://www.piemag.com...from-the-mind-of-mash

[perseverer]

While I hesitate to criticise other posters, do we have to be clever?

(Unrelated) -
Mesnilpat - Magpie is an online subscription magazine where there is some fear that it will be unable to continue due to lack of subscribers.

[Mesnilpat]

Thanks for the replies ref Magpie - sounds most excellent, I shall definitely be taking a look

[teuchter2]

I am still struggling with a few clues, having got the description and the instruction quite quickly. I could probably submit what I have, but it's annoying me that I can't understand rank 10, second clue, and file 8 second clue (although I think I have the answer to that one). Also eluding me is file 10 second clue, so there is one letter I don't have.

[Zabadak]

Hi perseverer. I think the only cleverness that's required here is the ability to discuss a crossword, even (rather more than usual, this week ) individual clues, without giving anything away. Other than that, anything goes.
PS for others - spreadsheeting helped me twice on this one, once for getting all the words in the right place, then again for following the instructions. I guess it could also be done in any word processing table, too.

[IainGrace]

Thanks, Rogue-Elfe. Got 13 but still scratching heads slightly about the other two. Sure we have the right answers, so it's just a matter of intellectual satisfaction.

[the_heisman]

Very enjoyable and for me the right mix of satisfying clues and a great series of PDMs without requiring endless gridstaring. Thank you Ozzie very much and I am with Perseverer on "cleverness" in the sense I think he/she meant it.

[TheBear69]

I did not see any ambiguity, Staurologist...I agree this was a lot of fun. The wordplay that is eluding me is that for rank 12 pt 2.

[magichour]

I also did not see any ambiguity in any of the answers. Hoping that I have correctly interpreted the 'distinct blocks' in their normal form in the context of the theme, which I have done everything correctly, leaves only one possible winning line. Still some wordplays to resolve but otherwise complete.

I probably found this more difficult than it should have been, due to making wrong assumptions about some word placements which then completely stymied other answers. A restart did the trick. Very good puzzle, pretty tough.

[magichour]

that should have read 'if I have done everything correctly'

[tenflags]

Very pleasant fun between the rugby. Caught up to the point where grid filled and see instruction.. need to see 'mostly ....' bit now...

I am always amazed at how I sometimes understand answers that some A listers have struggled with and yet I struggle with others (most in fact).

Can't see what I expect to happen yet so time for a cuppa..

[SethMould]

Sorry to butt in, but there has been mention of the Magpie. Learn more here:

www.CrosswordMag.com

[tenflags]

Not sure if this will make it 'clickable' or not Seth ?

http://www.crosswordmag.com/

worth a go

[SethMould]

Thanks tenflags! Something else I didn't know.

[Philoctetes]

I have a general question, on a topic referred to in this thread, but please don't answer if it gives too much away. Is there a conventional meaning for "..." in clues? I have always treated it as simply improving the surface reading by linking two clues. Is there anything more?

[Ruthrobin]

I hope Don Manley won't object to my quoting from his 'Chambers Crossword Manual'. The relevant sentences say simply 'Sometimes though a setter will attempt to find connections between clues. For example, successive clues may be linked together by three dots to suggest a common theme...' He the goes on to give an example.

[Staurologist]

The ambiguity to which I and others have referred occurs in File 11 (b), and involves the first letter, which could be a two-substitute rather than a one-substitute.

If anyone wants explanations of any of the clues in this puzzle they can e-mail me at [email protected].