Listener Crossword No 4274 -- Sonamb By Porlock

[jim360]

A very pleasant way to end the year. Grid is chock-full of thematic material, and despite the multiple gimmicks it wasn't too difficult to break into the clues, probably a few very generous ones to help us get started. Still got to decode the full message revealed by the extra letters/ words (missing the wordplay to e.g. 36a), but satisfied by my highlighting including the number. Thanks Porlock, and thanks too go to the Listener editors and setters for a bumper year of puzzles.

[dr b]

Not too difficult save for the final pdm; the circled letter hint is a bit obscure for us overseas solvers, but Wiki to the rescue as always. Happy New Year to all & sundry.

[IainGrace]

For those who have finished this, Inquisitor 1314 in The Independent may prove an entertaining and cleverly constructed diversion.

[dr b]

^Anyone with a sendable copy of Inquisitor 1413, and who is in the mood to send it, could send it to [email protected], and this would be greatly appreciated.

[dr b]

Or 1314, even. If you have 1413, please go back to the future & pick me up some stock tips.

[AHearer]

Yes, Dr B., the hint is a bit parochial -- but sorting it out through Wikipedia was probably just a short reading exercise.

[fallster]

A lot of fun getting PDM, which only came at the very end. All done except the number. I know what am looking for but cannot find even one possibility yet. I wish I were more familiar with the subject. Hoping Google will help me find it.

[Scorpius]

I've not found this as easy as everyone else. Strange, because I've had very little trouble with the endgame of the last handful of Listeners, but bits of this have got me stumped. I've worked out the jumbles, and therefore the seven thematic answers, but I can't make sufficient sense of the message to see how the answers are arrived at by the other route. After the fifth extra word I have a meaningless string of letters that could be divided up in several ways, but however I divide them I cannot arrive at any of the thematic entries.
I can see 11 cells to highlight, but until I see the rationale for the thematic answers, the title is a mystery, so I've no idea what numbered cell to highlight; the hint from the circled cells is not very revealing as far as a significant number is concerned. If I end up submitting a solution it'll probably be the result of a stab in the dark.

[perseverer]

Scorpius - your post has me slightly confused, but if you have worked out both the jumble and the entry for the thematic clues, then the penny really ought to drop, and the meaningless string should become clear.

[Cruncher]

Nice gentle fun and a great way to the end the year. Happy New Year all!

[IainGrace]

No Friday finish for us as we had to chip away at it until the PDM. Not quite as enthused as others: decent challenge but slightly pointless contrivance? Took us a while fully to understand 12.

Scorpius, if you compare the final extra letters and the title, the penny may drop.

Dr b, will seek to send the other puzzle to you, if not already received. Not general Listener standard but entertaining.

[angus]

Now I have submitted my solution, I think I have shaded the wrong number, for the title RONAMB instead of SONAMB

[Mesnilpat]

I'm with Scorpius on this one. I dare say that if/when the pdm arrives it will all be obvious. Still a fun puzzle though, thanks Porlock

[Cruncher]

Given that the preamble doesn't specify the shape of the highlighting, is anyone else bothered by the fact the first part appears in two different locations?

[sunny-dave]

I've seen that since my original post - I think either must be correct - there's no way of discriminating based on the methodology used in the other seven thematic clues.

[Scorpius]

Perseverer, given the checked letters, the choices for the thematic entries are limited, so the jumbles alone determine them. What I was then looking for in the (modified) letters was conventional wordplay to the answers, but that wasn't forthcoming.

However, I'm there now, having understood the title while I was stuck in a traffic jam shortly after my original post. I already had that particular theme in mind anyway. Once I saw how the title clue worked I saw how the rest of them worked.

I should think some could find the title clue quite obscure, and, given the non-standard nature of the denotations, I would not be surprised if someone came up with an alternative answer and number (as Jim360 seemed to be hinting earlier).

Cruncher, you've got me bothered. The first part of my answer to be highlighted is in one location.

[Scorpius]

Cruncher, I'm sorry, I see what you mean. I think that ambiguity is a weakness and should have been eliminated. I know which I will go for. A principle that has been applied in the past is "the setter's intention".

[EAChaplin]

I agree and believe the setters intention is very clear. It is possible to find almost anything in a grid by zigzagging about.

[AnFearBeag]

Thanks Porlock for a very enjoyable puzzle to finish the year. I think people may be over-complicating it a bit and looking for additional problems that aren't there. It seemed pretty straight-forward once the PDM had occurred.
Thanks also to all the setters for some cracking puzzles during the year. I know we all like to have a bit of a moan at some of them from time to time, but this years crop has certainly given great entertainment. I would mostly be in agreement on what were the best of them. My own favourites were ELM, Carte Blanche, Nuts and Bolts, Journey to the Centre and Conflict. A shout out too for Vera, if for no other reason than its beautifully laid trap which I, like many others, fell right into, and which taught me yet again that if you cannot parse a clue, your answer may not be correct. I liked X+Y and Skippers too. A really good year for puzzles.
Some good number ones too for those of us that like that sort of thing. Killer Queen was unusual but fun, and I am still having occasional nightmares about converting numbers to Base 12.
This was the first year that I managed to submit an entry for each puzzle, and already cannot wait to start on 2014's offerings.
A Happy New Year to al.

[AnFearBeag]

I should of course have said Base 24. Apologies Radix. Sure anyone could complete a crossword in Base 12!

[Monkmonk]

It seems rather mean to wish A Happy New Year to al when there are so many others who post here :)