Listener 4188 Painless by Rasputin

[Coalminers]

I can't believe I'm the the first to post this week, so will someone tell me where I can find the real thread. Anyway, very enjoyable, and a subject that I have always enjoyed. Thanks Rasputin.

[tenflags]

Yes it doesn't come up under a basic search Coalminers.
I have not finished yet but have the theme etc... new to me but then much is. All good fun.

[Zabadak]

Started this after 9, so very contented to have finished before the witching hour. I like radials anyway, but this was a corker with a fine finish to it. I freely confess to a LOT of reverse engineering to crack the more devious and recalcitrant clues, but there's a lot of generosity shown by Rasputin (how often do you get to say that?) to balance the toughies. Thanks for an excellent piece.

[TheBear69]

I agree with the above...some very tough clues indeed. One of the extraneous letters is eluding me but I feel sure I have the complete, final grid right.

[cluelessJoe]

Yes, most enjoyable despite a very early spot of the theme. Like Z, a lot of back-solving then required, but helped by having placed all the thematic letters. Yet another fine Listener debut, and I look forward to the next Rasputin.

[AHearer]

As usual with radials, I was struggling pathetically until I got the theme. After that it all fell very prettily into place. Many thanks, Rasputin.

[starwalker]

I shall be careful what I say here as I suspect that RR will be keeping a watchful eye.
Just down to the last few and thoroughly enjoying it. Interesting how certain batches of clues seemed to be easier than others. Thanks Rasputin.

[Walterloo]

I echo Ahearer's comment. This certainly came together once I entered the questions. Some devious definitions and wordplay in the clues. Very enjoyable indeed. I think Rasputin has done a Magpie or two, if I'm not mistaken.

[magichour]

Have had an initial foray into this and have just had a nice PDM with the theme. Enjoying it so far, will look forward to having more time later today to tackle it.

[Charpy]

Agree with Ahearer and Walterloo. All done except for verifying the wordplay in 20. Have to take the memsahib out now, so checking etc. will have to keep.

[tilbee]

For once a theme I knew, and which came to me early on rather than having to wait until grid completion. Certainly key being able to enter the questions into the grid, given the relative difficulty of the clueing. Overall very enjoyable.

[vetuste_ennemi]

The converse of last week's which was easy to solve without any knowledge of the theme: I wouldn't have been able to complete this one had I not spotted the theme early and taken advantage of the help provided by questions and location.
And the thematical positioning was a delightful touch.

[easylistener]

Great fun - a favourite theme for many of us I guess.
Got to the end though without completing the instructions for changes. Have spotted what the changes should be but without instructions.
Lovely puzzle!

[dead-eye]

Well known theme, that certainly helped with the solving. I will try not to give anything away this time.

[vetuste_ennemi]

And the title was pleasing.

[dr b]

Fun puzzle; my only quibble is that the source material was also used in an EV within recent memory (=2-3 years, in my present mental state). Hardly the fault of the setter (yay Rasputins!) but the thrill of the pdm is diminished slightly when my knowledge of the theme comes from another puzzle.

[vetuste_ennemi]

EV some years ago, Dr B? It rings a bell. Wasn't there a picture involved?

[dr b]

Yes, googling "enigmatic variations" and other appropriate words will take you to the 15^2 blog for that puzzle.

[contendo]

Viewing the comments here with caution (one eye closed) in view of Ichkeria's strictures in last week's thread. Glad to see no-one's given anything away. I've solved just over half the clues and got just over half the extra letters, so still have no clue as to the theme. The pennies are not so much dropping as slipping through the mud. Enjoyable nonetheless. Dr B, your appearance has certainly changed.

[dr b]

Well, I decided to drop my literary pretensions and just go with a simple photograph of myself.

[silversolver]

Painfully slow progress until the penny dropped with the questions, then a significant acceleration to a very satisfying finish. A very nice puzzle with some tough clues.