Listener 4187: Prize and Prize-winner by Dysart

[midazolam]

The lack of numbers in the grid didnt hold this puzzle up for long and now having obtained a full grid, the author, birthplace, the removed five letter collection and one of the three novels highlighted, it is now a case of hunting. I do like a hunt...

[ichkeria]

the_heisman
the thing is: if people wish to discuss a puzzle I think it's up to them really. What should happen, in my opinion, is that people finish the puzzle and then come here to talk about it. But because lots of people come to the thread who HAVEN'T finished it, for whatever reason, then it becomes a problem, because hints may be gained which can help people to submit a solution. That is the bit which I think is wrong and disrespectful to the setter. (The solver has only himself to blame). And that's why (and I suspect you'd agree by the sound of it) really hints gained that may should dissuade people from sending in an entry.
Although these discussions are very interesting, and most people go to admirable lengths of self-restraint, proper discussion is impossible for that very reason. But I don't think we should be too hard these threads, as they've evolved from the typical "I'm stuck, give me a hint" approach to "I've finished it and I thought it was great/awful etc etc" which is good.

[Cruncher]

Ichkeria - this conversation comes up time and time again. I think it's fine for people to ask for hints but also feel that they should do that via private communication. Several of us on this site have happily played the part of private tutor on some of the trickier puzzles. And that would keep explicit information off this thread. In in ideal world assisted completions wouldn't get submitted to Mr Green but that is a matter of individual conscience. I don't see how anyone would get much satisfaction from an all-correct or nearly all-correct record if most of the entries had been assisted.
As to visiting the site before completing a puzzle - it would be nice to be able to continue to do so. I find some puzzles really tricky and, moving swiftly past the Friday club, enjoy the sense of camaraderie of realising that there are a bunch of like-minded loonies out there still tussling with a particular week's offering

[tramart]

On the one occasion that I submitted an all-correct (before wide-spread access to the Web), one of the other four came from a couple. So, it would seem that Mr.Green (an eminently fair man, by all accounts) had no problem with assistance, presumably on all 52 entries.
Quite what the difference is between Mr and Mrs X helping each other, A helping B via e-mail, or C helping all and sundry publicly is unclear to me.
As I say to those who get excited over kick-a-ball - It's only a game!

[JackDeCrow]

Well, if someone can explain the wordplay to 5d without giving offence, I'd certainly appreciate it. And isn't the definition in 27a actually incorrect (at least according to BRB)?

[ichkeria]

Crunched I entirely agree with you. All this really stems from the idea that people who haven't finished the puzzle might have their enjoyment spoiled by reading comments here. But that seems a problem easily solved by those people not looking.

[ichkeria]

Cruncher sorry! Spellcheck refuses to accept it!

[ichkeria]

tramart I think there's a difference between declaredcollaborative efforts and help received from all and sundry. However as someone else said it's a matter of conscience as to whether people declare the assistance received. Personally it. As I hope I made clear I think these discussions are excellent and understand people wanting to talk about the puzzle.

[Cruncher]

JackdeCrow - 5d: the wordplay is in the answer. 27a: I needed Wikipedia to confirm the answer - a little piece of history I didn't know

[JackDeCrow]

Thanks Cruncher - will stare at the answer a bit more!

[IainGrace]

Finally worked out the clue number. Thanks for the assistance, which worked for us not in terms of anyone telling us anything (quite rightly so), but in encouraging us to persist with our own endeavours!