Listener 4073: Quartet by MynoT

[midazolam]

I think we have turned a corner in terms of difficulty.

Another outstanding grid construction. The lack of unches made the task easier once the quotation was got, but the way it all tied in together was very pleasing. Some straightforward and some tough clues made this my favourite of the year so far.

Thanks MynoT

[cluelessJoe]

Ignore my nudge Speravi, I see you got there while I was typing it!

[Speravi]

Thank you anyway, CluelessJoe. However, I'm now having second thoughts: it seems to me that either the thematic elements can be made coherent by treating them thematically (and the quotation gets mutilated), or the thematic elements can be highlighted in their incoherent "fullness" (whilst preserving the quotation). It's pleasing to treat thematic elements thematically, but wrecking the quotation seems a high price to pay, aesthetically.

[Mysterons]

The sets are presented in a logical (chronological) order easylistener - entry in the grid is also sequential and the required highlighting shouldn't involve any alteration to the quotation

[Ruthrobin]

A silly question perhaps, but (with regard to highlighting) I am wondering whether the quotation is part of the 'thematic elements'. it seems to me that it is.

[Ruthrobin]

postscrpt - I mean the entire quotation - not just the bits that are parts of the thematic elements (treated thematically).

[Mysterons]

'Thematic elements' must refer to the four ------- (missing word from the quotation), including the four corner cells (hence 'in full') - if highlighting the entire quotation was required, 'in full' would be superfluous.

[failedagain]

Thanks, Mysterons, for telling everyone how many thematic elements there are and where they are. Nobody asked those questions.

[Ruthrobin]

Thanks Mysterons - that was the way I was heading.

[Cruncher]

Brilliant

[tilbee]

Best, and most challenging one, for several weeks- didn't know what to do for some Saturday afternoons !. For those still having dificulties I found Set2 the easiest to cold solve. Once you ave 6/7 of these, experiment to find out where these can fit, then it is plain sailing - as long as you do not make up you own (incorrect) answer for Set4,Once Again....."Rehears" anyone ?

[daagg]

And there I was thinking they had started to go soft on us. This was the hardest struggle since Phi's 50:50. I went down a serious blind alley by having a wrong (but reasonably convincing) answer to the "lock old fool" clue. However, things fell into place reasonably steadily after sorting that out, although I didn't really see the full picture until the very end - which is the best way, I think.

It's lovely when you've finished.

[Cruncher]

Rehears... Yup me too

[shelouse]

Yes, me too. Lovely puzzle, MynoT. Thankyou

[Deviant]

Didn't think that this was as hard as some people have suggested. Yes it involved quite a bit of cold solving, but once I got a corner (from Set 1), there was never much chance that I wouldn't finish it.

An enjoyable crossword with a very clever construction, though one or two words I had problems tracking down - the one mentioned in the preamble wasn't in my Collins, though it's not the latest. I think I'd agree about my favourite of the year so far.

[teuchter2]

I think I've finally got there, but just to reassure myself, do the thematic elements complete the quotation per se, or am I looking for something extra. Altogether, I enjoyed the challenge of this one.

[daagg]

Teuchter, there is a word missing from the quotation, and the thematic items are defined by this word.

[7lattens]

Just shaded in the four elements and what a marvelous construction - just left to deduce the linking letter between the two Roman parties and the nameless fruitcake !!!

[aputt]

hi- long time lurker on this forum, first-time poster. this is my first year of attempting the crossword regularly, having had sporadic success over the last two years. this one is a toughie for sure, and two clues are driving me particularly mad, namely the ones about hydroids and sea squirts. any gentle hints as to what's going on in these please?! am i right in thinking that the definitions are 'sea squirts' and 'phosphorescence'? i have solved 7 clues from set 1 and feel that if i could get one more i could start filling in the grid. any help would be appreciated. thanks

[Ruthrobin]

Yes aputt for the definitions - look in Bradford - under your definition word and assume that energy has been added to another - look that up in Chambers and your clue will be clear. For the other, Bradford provides the elements of the Latinate word you need (there are settlements down under too!)
7lattens - think of other, more colloquial uses of 'fruitcake' - look in Chambers for an obscure usage when that word has 'no name'.

Yes, 'failed again', I know those hints are too explicit, but I have been the poor soul who was new to these things and missing one word and know how miserable the situation is. The thread has run its course, I am sure, and all the competitive solvers sent theirs days ago.
Yes

[aputt]

thanks ruthrobin- looks like i need to get bradford's!