Listener 4129, Letters Lament by Tangram

[dr b]

Greetings fellow Listenerites,

This should be a week free of controversy, I think. A nice solid puzzle, with the three different types of clues keeping things interesting. The two thematic grid treatments were a nice touch.

[midazolam]

I agree. Variety is the spice of life. The last two entries were the "two clue answers undergoing further treatment", resulting in fair amount of head scratching. Then I kicked myself for not realising earlier how to finish the grid.

Another good début. Thanks Tangram

[flocker]

it may be free of controversy but it's not free of difficulty in my humble opinion. The most challenging grid this year for me.

[AHearer]

Agreed, dr b, though even with the aid of the quotation there are two clues with which I'm struggling. I'm going to have to do some counting to decide which sort they are in order to finish this.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, I am still struggling, though I have the author.

[Zabadak]

I liked it! A steady fill, and a neat transition to completion. No complaints. Cheers Tangram

[silversolver]

Yes, thoroughly enjoyed this one. Some very tricky clues although things became a little easier once the quotation revealed itself. I liked the representation of the four missing words. Thanks, Tangram.

[Ruthrobin]

Very difficult, I thought. I have just struggled to a conclusion, even with the quotation and still have doubts.

[AndrewG-S]

Found this tough going last night, albeit I was rather distracted by Comic Relief. Progressed rather quicker this morning and have the quotation and thematics but still have to track down half a dozen missing clues. Certainly one of the more challenging ones this year.

[Mysterons]

A good puzzle, though knowing true answer lengths made spotting and solving LL clues easier than would otherwise have been the case.

[midazolam]

Knowing the answer lengths did identify which were the LL clues, but the listener guidelines to setters specifically states that the answer length rather than entry length is recommended.

[contendo]

A tough though enjoyable one. I still have 5 clues to answer and find 35ac particularly testing. The only word I can find to fit (even allowing for a possible misprint) bears no relation to the clue. And I haven't yet sussed the relevance of the missing bits of the quotation. Time for a rest.

[Speravi]

Very enjoyable, so thank you Tangram. I found this quite straightforward, in the main, with only one real doubt requiring significant time for satisfactory resolution.

[tilbee]

Agree with comments so far, another enjoyable puzzle. Got the quotation early on which helped significantly, and so guessed what was looking for with the 'further treatment'. Clues challenging but not overly so, and all done in couple of hours.

[pushmi-pullyu]

Got the quote and the missing words but still 3 entries to go and no idea how to effect the further treatment. Off to work now in the hope that light will dawn while I'm driving (which happens surprisingly often).

[tilbee]

pp - once you have completed the grid, you will already understand the final treatment.

[bellabee]

Very nice but an odd way to fulfil the conditions of the final line of the preamble - the little word troubles me although i've followed the rules to the letter

[tilbee]

Bellabee - yes took me a little time to work this one out. If not already done so, count the different answer (and sub-category) types a/b/c, work out which one this falls into, use the corresponding letter of the quotation appropriately, and all should fall into place. Not forgetting the penultimate line of the preamble !

[starwalker]

Still Caribbean-side here, so grid fill is slow but steady - who cares ! Popular opinion is that this is a good 'un, so looking forward to the finale.

[bellabee]

Yes tilby i've been very methodical with this so i know it's correct. I think what clinches it for me is that the preamble specifies clue answers rather than entries.

[bellabee]

Oops sorry tilbee