Quizzes & Puzzles4 mins ago
Listener 4198, 24 Across by Pilcrow
71 Answers
Pretty straightforward even in my current befuddled state: the double clues resolve easily enough. I query "our" and "hero" in the rubric, and whether the lower case writing thing really works, but then I write funny anyway. My regards to all who assemble in this place.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I liked this puzzle a lot and thought it quite clever although I am obviously in the minority. It was easier than of late but it made a pleasant change not to have the extra letter in every clue format and the double clues added interest. I agree with Ruthrobin that there is some doubt over the word "initially".
Like many, seriously underwhelmed. Too many of the clues are not "double", and few required much pondering. And as for "repositioned"? I can understand why it is referred to like that, but it does depend on one's handwriting! And why is it a "representation". Too much wrong here. Where's my shard of Z.
I agree the wording is ambiguous, but I think it means initially lower case, then amended but still lower case. I almost sure, though, that a submission in standard upper case would have to be acceptable given the ambiguity, and the hardship for our beloved assessor in reading lower case letters such as I might produce.
I share others' scepticism re the heroism. My instinct is to leave the lower case letters (because of the reference to certain initials which are "to remain as capitals") but I agree it is not clear.
This probably isn't the place to post this - but now the solution has been released, I just thought it worth adding that (in my opinion, for what it is worth) the Alan Turing crossword by Hotspur was incredibly elegant and even beautiful.
This probably isn't the place to post this - but now the solution has been released, I just thought it worth adding that (in my opinion, for what it is worth) the Alan Turing crossword by Hotspur was incredibly elegant and even beautiful.
Research suggests that this puzzle is not Pilcrow's finest. His last puzzle received very favourable reviews on a certain blog, yet the preceding one was completed in "a little more than thirty minutes" by one reviewer (who confesses to being dismissive about that and three of Pilcrow's earlier Listeners).
It's hard to judge Pilcrow's overall standard from so few examples, especially when they show such a range of difficulty.
For those with access, his two previous Listener puzzles are available online; I'm tempted to have a crack at the last one, even though I now know how it works.
It's hard to judge Pilcrow's overall standard from so few examples, especially when they show such a range of difficulty.
For those with access, his two previous Listener puzzles are available online; I'm tempted to have a crack at the last one, even though I now know how it works.
Was away but found a copy of the Times at Figari airport. Completed the puzzle on the flight home - probably fastest time ever for me and with absolutely no aides whatsoever - so definitely at the easy end of the spectrum. Some quite elegant clues, so thanks must go to Pilcrow even if my allegiance lies elsewhere in thematic terms, and we was robbed (in 1971) by one of the "hero"'s predecessors; it still grates. Have to assume "double" clues reflects a 10th anniversary. On less positive note, title was pretty insipid - yet surely offered many possibilities? (Too soon for us to run a side competition to find a better version?)
Also in the position of wondering exactly what format the submission is supposed to take. An ambiguous preamble might make sense sometimes, but here it leaves far too much room for doubt about whether the letters are to remain in lower case or not. I, like RuthRobin, am going to assume that the 'initially' refers to the position before the letters are repositioned, and submit the entry all in standard capitals.
Add me to the list of the underwhelmed - some nice clues, but a disappointing end.
Add me to the list of the underwhelmed - some nice clues, but a disappointing end.
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