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!

[trux]

At same stage, Z, but have long 'plane journey to contemplate the final step. A degree of license seemed to be allowed in quite a few clues, but at least they did all come together in the end. They were a tough set. Thanks, MysteryPerson.....

[Coalminers]

What, no Friday posts! Very slow start. I have found out who you are after having a night to sleep on it, and thanks very much for a very good work out. I was unsure about the variable lengths of letters to take out at first. Lots of PDMs. As usual, I was won over in the end. I don't know how accurate that curved line has to be?

[Coalminers]

And my advice to anyone thinking of buying the new edition of the BRB is....don't give yur old one away!

[Zabadak]

There is an answer! Cheers...you still know who you are, and so do I.

[AHearer]

Yes, that was quite a work-out, and it wasn't until I'd seen how the theme worked that I managed to correct an intial misconception over the placing of two of the shorter entries. Many thanks, um, setter.

[starwalker]

I thought that I had guessed the identity of the setter as soon as I saw the puzzle and the preamble.
Now I have about 75% of the grid filled and the clashes are becoming a nuisance. Nevertheless, it's a good workout and I am hopeful of a successful conclusion. Thanks to . . . .

[silversolver]

Have a full grid, all clues understood, dividing lines and curved line drawn, and clashes resolved... but that setter remains obstinately hidden as yet. Oh well, back to staring at the grid. Lovely tough puzzle so far.

[silversolver]

Aha, the penny has dropped. Thanks from me to "setter" too

[pushmi-pullyu]

Very relieved that others are finding this tough. I've only got a third of the clues so far, and heading fast for the slough of despond.

[Walterloo]

Nice and tough alright. I've a nearly finished grid. Some clues held me back for far too long but I'm liking this so far. I'm trying to remain positive about the final tasks.

[dr b]

I'm where silversolver was at 9:12. Given the theme, what I suppose would be logical puzzle titles are stubbornly refusing to appear. Perhaps I am misinterpreting "extended sequence." Time to put it down for a while.

[bobbycollins]

Life's too short and I'm too thick

[contendo]

I'm inclined to join you Bobby. I've managed to construct a symmetrical grid and fill in 10 answers but thoughts of Sisyphus spring to mind and I'm not sure it's worth the struggle.

[aldanna]

This is one of those Listeners with so many features to make it difficult that I also am admitting defeat, along with bobbycollins (I have a suspicion contendo will really battle on).

[Zabadak]

It's kind of worth the struggle, as it's a thing of beauty in the end and a remarkable construction. I made progress when I twigged what was happening in the deleted letters column.

[TheBear69]

I made it to the end, at last...Obviously one of the harder ones of recent times. Nice puzzle, 13!

I agree with Coalminers advice re the BRB - at least one clue is unfair to 'newcomers'. And I would think that any curve that goes thru the 9 letters in the right way would be considered accurate enough.

[jockie]

Got all but 3 of the answers and spotted the theme fairly quickly, but I can't get the 9 letters to line up in the correct order. Do they?

[contendo]

Aldanna you have a touching faith in my stamina. Well I've got another 5 but it's the clashes which throw me - haven't got any of them yet. Zabadak, are you giving away more than you should? There's nothing in the preamble about a deleted letters column, or do you not mean column in the normal crossword sense?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Same position as you, Jockie, a little while ago. Yes, they are in the right order and helped me get two of my missing answers including the dodgy one alluded to by other posters.I've still got title and author to find. Bon courage!

[IainGrace]

Bobbycollins et al, we shared your view initially but it is not as bad as it looks. Given the symmetry, the break between across and down clues is obvious - don't think that gives away anything to this audience - and it is just a question of plugging away and solving clues. One then speculates, given word lengths, as to which answers fit where in the grid and you should eventually get on to a roll.