Listener crossword 4071

[starwalker]

This week's offering is "Five Dots" by Franc, which feels somewhat reminiscent of one or two of his previous puzzles.
More difficult than some of the recent offerings, but sound and unambiguous once the theme is established.

[AHearer]

(unloading ramblings of brain) Yes, starwalker, a bit more of a challenge this week. I found the last few across clues to be the soft underbelly of the statement, but even with that identified to reveal the extra words I didn't find it an easy ride.

[Ruthrobin]

I have had to complete this in a rush and have found it most rewarding. Finally sussing out how to find those clashes and what they produced was exciting (as it must have been originally).

[midazolam]

The theme I must say I enjoyed very much, particularly at the PDM regarding the 5th dot (and the dots are in their correct order). Some easy and hard clues this week.

The way I got there I am not too entralled about. How some of the clues read, the asymmetrical grid (I suppose the blanks were left out made it look tidier) and why some clues have e.g. Will, old, Scot and others do not. In fact there is one clue I would be so much more happier about if the Scottish reference was in there somewhere.

Maybe I am being a bit harsh as the theme came together very nicely

[Zabadak]

I agree midazolam: something to indicate scottishness in one clue would be welcome , though the relevant wordplay is unambiguous. Just as well as the critical letter is unchecked.
I liked this one, especially the fifth entity. Many thanks to Franc for a good workout

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, the Scottish word in question almost led me astray.

[daagg]

I thought this was very good, with a mixture of easy and hard clues - 36ac and 43ac were particularly fun. I was surprised when I looked up the author because, from the quote, I was expecting something much more recent. I was also a bit dense about what was hidden by the dots, although the preamble is very fair on this. The positions of the dots are accurate to about 10%, which is amazing.

I thought the extra words were a bizarre bunch!

[bobbycollins]

Can somebody please enlighten me?

Am I missing the joke in Zacsmaster's contribution or is it just downright rudeness?

[daagg]

Of course, the viewpoint of the author would not have allowed him to see the layout of the dots as they appear in the grid. Indeed, they have never been seen like this!

[Cruncher]

Fun puzzle. Have no idea whatsoever about the "ratify" wordplay but as the letters were checked no matter.

[cluelessJoe]

Cruncher - six letter word with 'part' missing from the middle.
bobbycollins - I assume that Zacsmaster blundered into a Listener thread for the first time - probably saw what was flagged as an 'unanswered' question, and on opening thread was surprised not to find one. It was a blunt retort, but we have seen worse on here in the past!
As for the puzzle, I totally concur with Midazolam's thread - nice theme, a good mix of clues, but shame about the grid and the route. Ambitious of Franc to include such a long quote, but it led to an irritating mass of extra words, some of which were so obviously forced (and made for some very ugly surface reading). Ultimately salvaged by the fifth dot - very neat.

[bobbycollins]

Thanks, cluelessJoe. I rarely see on line discussions apart from this so know little of the general protocol. Still sounded damned rude though.

I actually enjoyed the puzzle and blundered onto the theme quickly after sussing the quotation thanks to having the short stories of a certain PGW pretty well implanted into my ageing cerebral database. I agree that the fifth dot puts the icing on the cake and, if my solution is correct, what a fortuitous coincidence.

[catstail]

Still in the early stages - but plodding on. The five dots intrigues me. Have been thinking of everything that can be represented by 5 dots - from constellations, to geometrical figures, but I know I shall have to solve the crossword first. (No, this is not a request for hints about the theme). This is what I enjoy about listener crosswords. To me, it is like a quest, and the further I get into a crossword, the more I am drawn into it.
Will continue with the cryptic part and if I fail which I will - will be agog for the answer in a couple of weeks time. Until then am eyeing anything that could be shown by 5 dots.
Am very impressed by those who solve it on the Friday night!

[kwyjibo]

17 ac was one of the first clues I solved so I had an idea of the theme early on. I agree that some of the extra words were contrived, making the quotation easy to guess although it's not in ODQ. I had guessed what the fifth dot would probably be, but not how it would be included. Very neat ending. Best of the year so far, methinks.

[x_word_fan]

It was only looking on Wikipedia after I thought I'd finished when I saw I had missed out the smallest entity. Clever how it comes from the two possibilities. This and the previous 3 weeks have all been on topics in which I have an interest - is it too much for me to hope that next weeks will be about Bolton Wanderers or snooker?

[daagg]

I wonder if you get extra marks for placing the dots away from the centres of their cells, to get the positions as accurate as possible. Why do I find myself humming "Old Macdonald" this weekend?

[cluelessJoe]

x_word_fan ... not sure about the snooker, but I think the Bolton Wanderers one is scheduled for around April - I gather it's called
"going down accompanied" by Pompey
Might meet you in 'div 2' next year, though hopefully earlier, in the next round of the cup - provided we can give Spurs the same New Year present we gave to ManU come Wednesday. I wish!

[jacinth]

Just got the statement and theme - quite tough this week I thought, but all fits into place nicely.
x_word_fan: we had "Man City" some time ago in number 4039 "Intimacy", so perhaps someone can do "Non-Worldbeaters" for you. Speaking as a Man City fan I think the title is appropriate!

[7lattens]

One dot to confirm until I can say LO and behold completed - although the only place it could appear to be LOcated is to me partially JUvenile !!!

[7lattens]

By J I've got it - should not have made the assumption that the 5th dot was the main subject matter !!!