Listener 4183 Continental Drift by Shark

[Ruthrobin]

For the second week running we have a brilliant new Listener setter (though Shark appears regularly in the IQ, EV and Magpie series) and what impeccable cluing. This was sheer pleasure with pdm following pdm wasn't it? Ingenious novelty in the device and the 'jumbles' not as daunting as they appeared at first sight. Thank you, Shark!

[WessexGirl]

As a 'newbie' here, I don't want to speak out of turn, but it seems to me that the surface reading of 42d isn't intended to be taken in isolation. The comma and line of dots at the end of 41d indicate that it should run into the following clue and be read as a whole:

"Mary Jane's thumb, head and look a foot".

Dare I say it, I think it could be improved with commas around the word "look".

I found this puzzle, and the previous two I could get hold of (4180 and 4182) very enjoyable, just right for a Listener beginner to cut her teeth on!

[AndrewG-S]

Wonderful puzzle, I was a little daunted with so many jumbles but actually they fell into place. Endgame was well worth the effort, seems a shame to put it in the post. Many thanks Shark

[silversolver]

I echo all the comments above - an enjoyable and well-constructed puzzle indeed.

[JackDeCrow]

Aargh! Just had my stats from last year - one mistake and that appears to have been gratuitously failing to fill in one letter! Still, after two years of two mistakes, I guess that's progress, albeit frustratingly slow. Liked 4183 though - if they carry on like this, another year's graft should pass pleasantly enough!

[tenflags]

did the grid before even looking for adjectives - slowed me down maybe.. anyway I thought there were some good clues here.

[freiheid]

Ouch! I don't post here that often, and I'm not sure my perfectly innocent comment about clue surface readings deserved the Z Cup, whatever that is. Perhaps it is awarded to whoever has the temerity to deviate from the party line as laid out by Ruthrobin.

[dr b]

freiheid, the Z(abadak) Cup is awarded to whomever has the least favorable reaction to the week's puzzle, so named because that person is often Zabadak (although I have won it several times myself). Hold the Cup high! This is an honor! And, this thread is just the place to come to express whatever you thought about the puzzle; no groupthink required here.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, treasure your cup Freiheid! You were not meant to be wounded and we hope to have your visits more frequently. The only 'groupthink' is the annoyed reaction we stir up if anyone spells out a solution.

[bwillis]

dr b
the Z(abadak) Cup is awarded to WHOEVER has the least favorable reaction . . .
The object of TO is the whole clause "whoever has the least favorable reaction...", of which WHOEVER is the subject. I am afraid I can't suppress my old vocational pedantry. WHO for WHOM never bothers me. WHOM for WHO is awful. Freiheid got it right.

[trux]

bw : and how would you feel about "whomsoever" in this case....?

[dr b]

Rats! I knew I should have gone for "The Z cup is awarded to them that hates the puzzle the worstest".

[IainGrace]

Couple of clues to solve but virtually there and highlighting done. Great fun. No need to identify all adjectives, save for the intellectual satisfaction of doing so.

[tilbee]

'Whoever' or 'Whomever' ? Well between you and I....

[magichour]

I liked the theme this week and thought the grid was very well constructed. The adjectives idea was neat. One or two word plays still to resolve, but all highlighting done and grid complete. I agree that following on from last week's puzzle, this was another enjoyable solve.

[Zabadak]

A very late entry this week, as I only took this on this morning. Friday I was busy driving a steam engine, a reward for being patient enough to pass 60.
Loved this one, and because I was perhaps a little slow on the uptake, enjoyed one of those wow! moments as I dutifully searched for the "nounal" (bleh!) letters. A bit like the Jackson Pollock of so long ago. Fine construction all round, and another real Listener.

frieheid, wear your badge with pride, stick the trophy in pride of place on the mantlepiece. I always do.

[Postigod]

Started late but thoroughly enjoyed this one - a great feat of construction and well-clued.

Got held up for a long time on 19a, 31a, 27d, 20d and 21d - still don't understand the wordplay for the last two of those, or for 17a.