Listener 4336: Company Liquidation By Kruger

[jim360]

Short preamble but a lot going on. Nice to have an unambiguous finish too! Thanks Kruger.

[trux]

Well done, Jim, for such a speedy solve. I found cold solving quite frustrating, even though I now see how well constructed so many of the clues are. Not sure I really approve of this type of final grid, however. Nonetheless a good challenge, for which many thanks to Kruger.

[Flocker14]

A fortunate hunch right at the beginning about the treatments, followed by another one about the quotation meant I could get home fairly quickly with some reverse solving. A notch up in difficulty from the last couple of puzzles - but nothing too challenging. I must say I really did enjoy it, though. Many thanks, Kruger.

[Contrarian]

Still waiting for the first real challenge of 2015.

[perseverer]

Struggled with some of the wordplays, so a bit more of a challenge.

[lyrabelacqua]

Nice, but still relatively gentle. But by the pricking of my thumbs...

[AHearer]

I was busy last night, so didn't get started on this one until this morning. I could see part of what was going on fairly soon, but it took a bit longer to twig the rest. I was lucky in getting enough of the later down clues to spot the originator, and from then on it was fairly straightforward. Some nice clues, so thank you, Kruger.

[doctormatt]

All sorted. A good challenge and the link to the theme was clever.

[Mesnilpat]

I thought this was going to be tougher than it actually was when I read the preamble. As it happens I am now free to enjoy the hint of Spring out in the garden. Thanks Kruger for an enjoyable puzzle.

[UglyUncle]

I haven't started this one yet, but I have read the astonishing statement in respect of the Dante puzzle that 'Any word order was accepted'. I opted for 'All hope abandon ...' (ODQ 1), as it contained the essential 'ye', but I could see a case for 'Abandon all hope ...' (ODQ 4 onwards, at least) despite the modernising 'you'.

What I assume the note means is that 'Abandon hope all ye ...' was also accepted. This is doubly vexatious, not just because it's an inaccurate translation but *because ODQ was specifically indicated* as the source to be consulted.

It's all very well for some commentators to harrumph about the 'devaluing' of the annual stats by those who seek hints on solving, but when the editors themselves start contributing to the process I fear The Listener has reached a new low. Anything goes?

[Contrarian]

UglyUncle, I agree. "Abandon hope all ye . . " is an unacceptable mistranslation.

[s_pugh]

Most enjoyable, and with pretty tough clues making some of the thematic entries especially hard to identify. Got lucky with very early identification of the quotation not that it really helped that much. Thanks Kruger.

[upsetter]

So much better than last week with plenty of tough clues even if one didn't have to find the message before the method of entry became apparent.
Not, perhaps, one of the great listeners but perfectly adequate.

[IainGrace]

G clocked what was going on at an early stage. Not a congenial quote/originator for us. Are we not due 2014 stats soon?

[perseverer]

Stats may well appear next week ( or two).
Listener Dinner report is always included, and if Jago is not too busy fending off criticism of last week's puzzle, that should be ready anytime.

[AHearer]

On the Dante puzzle, I agree with UglyUncle (why did I just type that as AngryUncle?). It did seem to me that the intended version was clearly defined by the preamble (irrespective of the fact that several other versions would be inaccurate translations from the original). I do have a question, though, for more experienced Listener solvers than I: has there been a Listener based on the theme of misquotations? It could be a rich seam to mine.

[jim360]

Not experienced enough to know, but I agree that it has good potential that :)

[starwalker]

Out of the country at the moment with a less than reliable connection. Not made too much progress with this, as yet. Re the Dante puzzle, I am firmly in the UglyUncle (outraged) camp. What is the point of a preamble that the editors have written or approved, if it is then ignored ?
Humph - sorry Kruger. Hope to get back to you later.

[Philoctetes]

Re: Dante. Given the multitude of possibilities, I deliberately went for the most convoluted, and left blanks for "hope" and "wish". I wonder if that will be allowed! (Barely started this one yet)

[Cruncher]

Much more straightforward once the quotation is sussed. Have been keeping myself in practice with the new Magpie and wondered if anyone wanted to share thoughts on Ferret's Prize Puzzle? Have a completed grid and a theme but trying to sift my way through the misinformation. Wonder if anyone else is in the same position?

[icynorth]

Like others, I found out the main treatment quickly after solving 3 clues, and the rest of it came gradually thereafter, which was satisfying. I had a brief wild goose chase when I was convinced the originator was a colleague of the actual one, after getting the last four letters.

A very enjoyable challenge - thank you! I'd love to know how you go about compiling grids like that - it would take me years, I'm sure.