Listener 4189, 8 by 13

[Zabadak]

Best of luck with this one, everybody. I nearly quit with it being a carte blanche (sort of - at least we have word lengths) with indeterminate numbers of letters to be removed from clues, clashing letters and mysterious curves in the grid AND (dammit) yet another hunt the missing words game made extra tricky by having to guess the setter's name.
I'm still puzzled by that last bit: "extended sequence" is open to all sorts of interpretations and, while I have the theme, I'm inclined to think I may not know when I've reached the answer the setter intends for entry under the grid. You know how cheesed off I can get with that!
Up to there, a (just about) fair challenge and a tidy enough construction, so as far as that goes, thanks setter, you know who you are even if I don't!

[Cruncher]

Was ready to suggest the creation of an alternative Friday club - for those of us who mostly manage (just) to complete by the second Friday. But actually this fell into place very nicely although a little anxious about my curve having moved down the rankings last year for botching a not dissimilar graphic challenge

[contendo]

Finally reached a stage where I have sufficient answers to understand the theme though the clashes I have don't seem to correspond in position with what I would expect. Give me another 3 days and I might crack it.

[Stavrolex]

Extraordinary! Got nowhere with this on Friday night, filled in the grid in a couple of hours on Sunday, then kept coming back to it hoping for inspiration. As usual it was all there in the preamble, quite unambiguously, and I'm kicking myself for not spotting the title & setter much earlier. Loads of pdms, tough but fair clueing, and a brilliant construction. Best of 2012 for me. Thanks 13.

[ArchieLeach]

I'm also finished with the grid and looking for the setter. I'll be very annoyed if I fail now after getting this far. I take it the setter is a recognised Listener setter? There's no trick here?

[u10]

He had a puzzle published last year and is well known to this board.

[Askival]

Hello all - happy to accept the award for possibly the last post on this thread. I'm probably a member of a rather large club who admire all you regular posters from a distance, gleaning bits of support where I can. However, this week I'm going to do a bit of pride-swallowing and ask for a clue as to how to derive the 'true identity of the setter'. I do feel a bit like the lame wildebeest at the back of a stampede, but for such a brilliant puzzle it's just too frustrating to leave it incomplete such as it is. My e-mail's [email protected]. Many thanks to a currently anonymous 13, and to anyone who takes pity on this last straggler!

[BlackHugh]

Askival - I have sent you an e-mail

[Askival]

Many thanks for such speedy responses from the 3 who sent me some assistance - what a nice thread this is always is. Yes, I was basically there, but didn't have the courage of my convictions to see it through to the logical conclusion. Time for a quick breather before next week's offering.

[Walterloo]

Is it a numerical next perchance?

[Mysterons]

Well this was a semi-numerical !!

Staurologist, unless I'm mistaken the theme also had an outing in a puzzle last year featuring an almost identical curve ?

[BlackHugh]

Walterloo - I think you're right about it being a numerical next.
Mysterons - We certainly have had to draw a similar curve recently but I think it was on a different theme.
Askival -make sure you give us your thoughts on tomorrow's (for those subscribing) puzzle.
Less than 19 hours to go!

[Mysterons]

Quite right BlackHugh, thank you, I'm getting my curves confused !

[Askival]

I thought the numerical's due the last Saturday of May, so that'd mean we have one more before then. Perhaps I'm just being hopeful, since I don't really fancy a week before a Listener I can properly attempt (things like 'MOUTH + PIECE = TUBA' don't really appeal to this solver).

[BlackHugh]

I'm afraid that about a year ago they announced that the numericals were being moved to the week preceding the last week in Feb, May, Aug & Nov. The reason was not explained although there was some debate here about it. I assume that the change is still in force. Myself I look forward to them being of a mathematical bent.

[taittinger]

Agree with Zabadak re "extended" part. Have found sequence of letters (admittedly jumbled) which give very plausible title & setter. But some posts imply another solution - all very ambiguous. Neat puzzle though.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I think your solution may be NV, Taittinger. I believe the extended sequence of the preamble is entirely thematic

[taittinger]

Vision blurred owing to excess fizz. Would welcome guiding light....

[word_cross]

Taittinger - if you have everything correct so far you should see a definite theme emerging. This theme also applies to locating the title & setter.

[taittinger]

Thanks, word-cross. Now have theme and title & setter, but think wrong since another post implied different answer. Pity as it would be v. thematic. Perhaps advise via email? As newcomer, unsure of etiquette.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I'm a newcomer too, Taittinger. I think the etiquette is not to solicit or give public advice of an explicit nature. Gentle nudges are, I believe, acceptable.although the Founding Fathers of the Listener threads may disagree among themselves what is a mild hint and what is a blurt.
I'm sure you'll get a response by e-mail if you give an e-mail address.
And b****r, it's a number thing this week!