Listener No 4323 Artix Onepo

[Ruthrobin]

Oh but this was tough. Has Artix managed to silence the Friday Club? Indeed we struggled but what a cunningly constructed grid and convincing finale. Many thanks, Artix for yet another masterpiece of construction!

[BobHWW]

I too was a bit surprised that there were no Friday postings. This was a nice puzzle but I found it pretty straightforward, though perhaps I was fortunate to get the grid layout almost immediately and also by being so very old that the PDM was not that much of a surprise!
Thanks Artix.

[Cagey]

Grid layout I think straightforward from logic only. Filling it am not managing!

[s_pugh]

I figured after two stinkers we were due an easy one. Wrong! Managed to cold solve 20 or so and started to attempt a grid fill which identified 2 further answers so I’m guessing I’m on the right track but this is certainly a very tough one. Just hope I haven’t set off on the wrong track!

[Scorpius]

Grid construction wasn't too bad since there some helpful features provided. I've filled the grid, including the perimeter (though can't quite work out the wordplay to 1, 22 and 29) but have yet to see what to highlight, though I have a likely word from the first six columns. I'm puzzled by the reference to 'the initial grid.' Since the preamble asks for no grid changes, the initial grid seems to me to be the same as the final grid. No doubt hours of staring to come. all a bit wearing after last week's marathon.

[AndrewG-S]

Slow cold solving start until I realised that a lot of progress on grid could be made fairly simply. Then all started to fall into place. An excellent work out with lovely links between various thematic elements. Thanks artix.

[s_pugh]

Grid fill hunch proved to be correct, full grid and perimeter. Now suspect my efforts have been totally wasted as the dreaded word search draws a complete blank, and like Scorpius I cannot work out what is meant by the ‘initial grid’. I do so hate puzzles that end up in ambiguity.

[s_pugh]

PDM! Underwhelmed by the finale, sorry Artix but that seemed laboured and wholly unconvincing.

[Pasquin]

I too got the grid layout very early on, but then made slow progress. I thought I was in for a very lengthy spell of grid-staring, but the required rearrangement of the elements came with a big groan. So difficult and yet so simple, and a nicely teasing preamble. Thanks, Artix.

[emcee]

I thought this was far more satisfying than last week's Radix puzzle despite only taking a fraction of the time.

Thanks Artix for a decent challenge.

[fyellin]

Grumble. Filled grid. Reasonably sure I have the correct answer for the highlighted letters (from the "rearrangement"). But no idea what it has to do with the title or even what the title means.

Is there some piece of UK knowledge that I, as an American, am less likely to know?

[Contrarian]

Surprisingly easy. When I first saw that 12 answers had to be 12ed, I thought it might be much harder. But I suppose that 90-degree symmetry, plus the initial bar/number information means that this wasn't a carte blanche in the true sense.

Thanks Artix.

[aldanna]

I enjoyed this one. A joint effort, I solved the clues and Himself sorted out the grid. As BobHWW says, the final pdm must be much easier for the more mature.

[Pasquin]

fyellin, the thematic phrase is very colloquial, and it's unlikely an American would know it, even if you were of a certain age. Put the phrase you have (with spaces) into Google, and the first entry takes you back to school and you should get the cryptic connection with the title.

[Pasquin]

Sorry, I meant the highlighted term, not the thematic phrase.

[fyellin]

Ignore previous message. The penny dropped.

[jim360]

As someone of the younger generation, I may end up being somewhat stumped by the final step. At least the grid fill has been fairly accessible, making a change from last week's horrific ordeal.

[Scorpius]

I'm inclined to agree with s_pugh that the theme is underwhelming. I don't see any thematic reason for 12ing some answers, so assume it was just to make the puzzle more difficult. Nor do I see the significance of the 13-letter word apart from the prefix. Was it just there to fill a perimeter gap?

Still, it was enjoyable to solve the clues (still baffled by 29) and construct the grid.

[jim360]

I suppose it's just about playing on the theme of six. There was a similar puzzle in the EV by Shark last year. I thought both was rather enjoyable, with a pleasing symmetry to all clues having the same answer length etc. Themes don't always have to be breathtaking in scope to be enjoyable. This puzzle was, perhaps, a Strauss Polka to Radix's Ring Cycle-esque offering last week. I know which one I enjoyed more.

[Cagey]

Have just finished this one and last weeks listener this morning. Depending on viewpoint (i.e. my employer vs me) it has either been rather unproductive or productive. This one seemed really tough until reread bit about all being real words.
So one slog of a puzzle and one more enjoyable. Will let you take your pick which is which.
ThanX to ArtiX and RadiX
X

[sunny-dave]

All done - easier than last week, but not much more satisfying.

A shame really - I liked the construction, the clues were a nice mix of easy/hard and getting the grid filled was a satisfying moment. Just a pity that the final penny drop was distinctly underwhelming.

Thanks Artix - a good workout despite my muttering.