Listener 4077 Forced Entry by Mr Lemon

[Zabadak]

I'm not sure what the protocol is for starting a Listener thread, so I hope nobody minds if I leap in. I thought this was a nice, accesible run around, more an impressive piece of construction than a source of penny dropping moments. I was half expecting this to be on a M*A*S*H theme, but so far as I could see, no Hotlips, and no Hawkeye. Maybe my Radar's out!. Compliments to Mr Lemon for a pleasant challenge.

[midazolam]

I can see that this was a feat of construction that required creating a grid that every word must be "misprintable", but that is about all I gained from this Listener. No goal, PDM, and often straightforward cluing. If one entry was e.g. CRAB then the clue could be for DRAB (or CRA*) with the extra letter being A (or N) and so on.

Sorry, but bring back the likes of the very enjoyable Harry Potter, Mr Lemon

[Ruthrobin]

Though I have to agree with you about the lack of penny-dropping moments, I am amazed at the complexity of the construction. I find it a refreshing change to have such a different crossword, Midazolam.

[dr b]

I agree with everyone! An amazing construction, of course (that's true just about every week). But, with no mystery as to what to do, and a fair number of clues that made it easy to get going, I felt no joy at the finish. I guess I agree more with midazolam.

[Clamzy]

I must admit that as a pure solver with no knowledge of grid construction, it looks conventional to me.
However I am astonished at Mr Lemon's geographical knowledge of that island near Bikini:-)

[Speravi]

Perhaps I'm biased (the first Listener I completed was one of Mr Lemon's, and I've been well disposed to that gentleman ever since - we also have Mr Lemon to thank for Enigmatic Variations), but I really enjoyed this. All right, so there was no grand finale but every change yielded a reward when it checked out, I felt. In addition, like Ruthrobin, I relish variety. Many thanks, Mr Lemon.

[Jogler]

We agree with all the comments - maybe this one can be described as more of a journey than a destination? Hats off to Mr Lemon for the construction.

[tilbee]

Fully agree with comments so far. Some easy clues to get you started, which was slightly deceptive, then gradual progress to complete each corner at a time. Had to work backwards to the original wordplay and answer in a number of cases.

[bobbycollins]

Afraid that I found this something of a (solution to 1 down), spookily completed whilst watching a (grid entry for 1 down) between Hull and the Arsenal.

[cluelessJoe]

.... and not even a hint of an added-time winner to liven up proceedings eh bobbycollins?

[Scorpius]

I'm inclined to agree with midazolam. It was a very neat puzzle, as Mr Lemon's always are, but I did find the puzzle and the clues on the dull side. I did not like the use of one particular word as container indicator. I don't want to give anything away so I won't give details.

[jacinth]

Same here. Felt a bit like homework, all very well to start with but the last few problems causing a lot of trouble!

[catstail]

Just getting started here. I read the intro to mean that each solution had a extra letter. The first two I solved could be read either way and I was then stuck- finding solutions with one letter too few. Penny has dropped now, but have wasted a lot of time searching for non-existent answers.
Like Clamzy I like the Bikini island. I also enjoyed the grid entry to 29ac. A new word for me. Am wondering how to include it in conversations.

PS Clamzy. Have solved most of the Xword you kindly sent me. Have hit a block but will have another look later this week.

[Clamzy]

Pleased to hear you are progressing with the number puzzle catstail.
Incidentally a number puzzle came twelfth and last in the Ascot Gold cup last night at the Annual Listener dinner. As they comprise only one thirteenth of each year's Listeners I suppose that's a good result:-)
The 26 all corrects voted Kea the winner (again).

[7lattens]

Enjoyably straight forward (for a change) apart from 33A - a gentle nudge might highlight a downward discepancy

[Ruthrobin]

7lattens, perhaps you need to rethink 31d. Did you adjust the right letter? That error held me up for a while. Once resolved, 33a was the obvious word. Thanks for the info. Clamzy, Kea was certainly a very worthy winner.

[bobbycollins]

Cheers, cluelesJoe!

Not even my old fellow alumnus, Joe Royle (four years ahead of me), could liven things up. So dull that I had forgotten the late winner.

With hindsight the puzzle wasn't too bad, it's just that it never really got into top gear for me.

[teuchter2]

Yes, a very straightforward puzzle, where I learnt a few new words. I'm just sorry I had it in the post before I turned to this thread as I can't appreciate some of the comments!

[Eril]

Does no-one else here copy out the grid? Oh you confident lot! Liked this one, but then I like the number ones. Interesting that some people expressed disappointment that the 'extras' in last week's didn't need to be found to solve the puzzle, and this week (the impression I get is that) some people want extras. Maybe the extra was in the title? Did anyone else see the (Sherlock Holmes) 'lemon entry' joke?
PS Thanks Clamzy for passing on 'Higher Powers' - no time right now to have a go, but next week should give me a chance at it.

[Clamzy]

Eril - Yes I work on a copy of the grid but ........as I said in an earlier thread I have a file full of correct entries but the ones I've sent in????? They're called transposition errors I believe:-)

[cluelessJoe]

Good grief Clamzy, you librarian! Like you I generate my fair share of transposition errors - but I have to rely on John Green to break that bad news round about April each year. As for the file full of correct working copies - wow, that's real dedication. I have a woodburning stove, and my wife nicks all the decent newspaper in the house to line the guinea pig's home - so my historical 'all-corrects' tend to do secondary duty as firelighters and go up in smoke (like my aspiration to 100% tends to do around February each year!)
Happy solving