Listener 4218 - System Analysts by Stick Insect

[TheBear69]

I feel this is an extraordinary feat, especially constructing clues which are valid cryptic clues AND provide all of the thematic hints; the end result is a thing of beauty.

On the other hand, I doubt 16 clues (many of which are relatively easy) is going to be enough to satisfy the Listener addicts.

I do cringe whenever I see the word 'line' (mis)used in the instructions; I realize Chambers supports the use of line=curve, but the mathematician in me knows a line is straight.

[starwalker]

Now back from hols, this seemed to be something of an assault when I first saw it. Slowly working through the clues before even thinking of attempting the arrangement. In fact, if I can get them all tonight, I may just leave it until tomorrow, and celebrate.

TB69 - cannot say that I agree with you on 'line' given the position of the dots.

[writesbad]

does that mean "straight line" is a tautology?

[Ruthrobin]

With a full grid, I am trying to make sense of the endgame. I'm perfectly happy to have 16 easy clues but really struggling to see my way through the complex preamble.

[midazolam]

After solving all 16 clues cold, I have the 4 hints (very impressed by Stick Insect's cluing ability that one can cold solve all the clues and get 4 thematic hints from them without losing the soundness of the clues), I also have one of the curves but the second curve I am not sure where to end as there is no final dot where I think it might be.

As I write this I have just looked up the theme in Wikipedia and it ties it all up but it confirms that the internet is becoming more and more reliable. I doubt I would have found the lines in the local library. Despite the illustration in Wikipedia there must be an element of leeway allowed as long as this line passes through the relevant cells

Nice theme Stick Insect and I also like the very pertinent choice of clue number at 12 given the clue. Your best so far (remembering well your last effort with the Maxwell Demon). Thanks

midazolamcrosswords "at" gmail.com

[Ruthrobin]

Aaaah! Truly brilliant - this makes me feel very small indeed! Thank you, Stick Insect, WHAT A FEAT OF COMPILATION!

[AHearer]

An absolutely brilliant construction, with clues that, for me at least, were tricky enough to compensate for their being few in number. It was only for the last three or four that I was confident enough to rely on the cross-checking letters to help me along.

As to lines, is a rhumb line a line or not?

[jockie]

What more is there to say? A quite brilliant piece of grid-filling and although most of the clues dropped out fairly swiftly the fitting in of the answers was a pleasing antidote to yet more Leveson will-they-won't-they on the news. Thank you Stick Insect.

[Alekhine]

Yes, great fun. An amazing construction, but thankfully not too taxing to complete as I still have a handful of holes in 4217 to deal with.

Work .. the curse of the Listener classes.

[jim360]

Still haven't even started last weekend's - might look at it on Monday. So far 6 clues solved, and wishing I could figure out how those might go in because honestly I hate having to cold-solve my way through any more than ten clues while I'm not god enough to do that. Rant will, I hope, be short-lived given the high praise this puzzle's received.

I'm just going to do my plug for another UC appearance this Monday. Place in the Quarter-finals up for grabs, which would be the farthest any team from King's has got since at least before I was born...

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, jim360 - keep at it - you'll love it! And we'll be watching you and keeping our fingers crossed on Monday.

[fortyseven]

Easyish clues, whose answers fit together surprisingly quickly. The pdm, confirmation from the internet, the realisation of a very clever grid construction...and then it's all over. Whilst not wanting a marathon each week this is very much a 100 metre dash. Time for the December Magpie, methinks

[dr b]

^Good enough for Usain Bolt, good enough for me. Nice proof that they don't have to be mind-bogglingly difficult to be a lot of fun.

[tristram37]

I haven't even started it yet but I am not pleased at yet another cold solve. When are we going to have a proper crossword again?

[Texasetes]

There's been too much cold solving lately for my liking, and my heart sank when I saw some more. But at least there were only 16 clues, relatively straightforward as it turned out, and the PDM was worth it. How a setter manages to write sound clues given the restrictions imposed by hidden messages like these amazes me. Thank you, Stick Insect.

I wasn't wholly impressed by the grammar of the preamble, though - the editor(s) must be on holiday. Did anyone else wince?

[silversolver]

I agree with all of the above - a brilliant puzzle and an astonishing feat of construction. Small but perfectly formed... many thanks, Stick Insect.

[perseverer]

Another voice here in praise of the construction of both grid and clues, although I wouldn't have minded a few more clues. Also my random choice of how to orientate the entries turned out to be the correct one, so that saved a bit of juggling.

[aldanna]

Aren't things so much easier when you read the instructions properly? I had not registered the "alphabetical order" bit, and was progressing very slowly, but am now relatively speaking whizzing along, encouraged by the comments here. Always watch UC anyway, but will do so with extra interest again this week. Ridiculous to say "good luck" when we all know it's recorded. Good luck!

[Staurologist]

Did anyone think that there should have been extra dots (see the Wikipedia trajectories)? The complete trajectory of analyst 2 is clear, but analyst 1 seems to peter out.

[emcee]

Another excellent puzzle. With the slow progress I made with the clues I'm glad there were only 16! Although once I had a few entered in the grid, life became easier.

I don't think there is any quibble with the lines to be drawn (I can think of a reason why the "missing" dot is not there).

Once again, a brilliant construction - I wonder how long it took to ensure the clues were still OK despite holding four hidden messages?

Many thanks Mr(S). Insect

[teuchter2]

Got clues and arrangement last night and the four hints today, having been out most of the time, so I'm now heading for Wikipedia. At least I know what shape the line should be, but I'm not quite there yet.