Listener 4527

[IainGrace]

Excellent challenge beautifully constructed. Shirley Curran is always good value as a setter. Fortunately for us G spotted the quotation very early on, which helped significantly.

[herbage]

Is this a clue? How many letters? Just the first sentence?

[kdgs2]

Yes, very fair clues and lots of thematic material. I too spotted what was going on very early, but by spotting the offender rather than the quotation. As ever, thank you Chalicea for an entertaining solve!

[12barblues]

This seemed intractable at first, very unlike Chalicea! However, once I saw what was going on it simplified immensely with lots of help in all directions. Thank you Chalicea.

[u10]

Herbage, it looks like an anagram of “challenge” to mean excellent.

[Philoctetes]

The clueing is much improved on the last contribution from our colleague here, and very much appreciated. 28 tickled my funny bone. Is there not one clue that, of necessity, does not follow the preamble? Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Scorpius]

I should have got the quotation earlier as I know the work well, but I had too many gaps as I hadn't fully parsed the clues even though I had the answers. With this clue gimmick I often spend time chasing errant letters after I have an answer that fits the grid and the definition. Like 12barblues I was slow to get going until I spotted the 'offender'.

I agree that it was a very enjoyable and well constructed puzzle.

[Hagen]

An excellent puzzle from one of my favourite setters. For once I knew the quotation, which sprang to mind after identifying the offender. I found the clues harder than usual for this setter, probably because the extra letters can be hard to track down even when you know what you're looking for.

This didn't quite knock "Difficulty" off the top of my favourites list but it came pretty close. Terrific construction and a very enjoyable solve.

[olichant]

Lovely puzzle, beautifully put together. I found it quite tough at first, with some very enjoyable clues.

[starwalker]

A brain that had been tired out by an active grand-daughter somewhat slowed the solving process and stole some of the time available. Rather more tricky than I was expecting, but nothing that spoiled the enjoyment. Thanks Chalicea.

[sunny-dave]

A relatively gentle (but interesting) solve of the original grid - perhaps my mind works along similar lines to the setter's.

Perhaps I could have divined the quotation a bit more quickly, but I was actually enjoying the clues so much that I couldn't be bothered to go looking.

The replacement process was easy enough too - a very satisfying puzzle all round.

Thanks Chalicea

[upsetter]

An excellent puzzle from RuthRobin, tricky to crack initially but fairly plain sailing once the penny had dropped although the clues remained tough throughout.
Many thanks.

[Flocker14]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. One of this setter's very best. Great construction throughout - challenging clues with all sorts of tricky devices and a highly satisfying endgame. I know the source to some extent but had forgotten this particular quotation. For this solver a classic Listener.

[Cruncher]

Very nice puzzle and much more challenging than I was expecting. No easy ride from RR this week!

[Scree]

Started this on the train to Pickering to visit my mum last week. Finished it at my mum's, good peaceful atmosphere for crosswording. Once I spotted the offender it became a lot easier, but some obscure words ensured it was never a stroll.

Lovely puzzle, my favourite from recent months.

I struggled with 1A (even when the answer was clear} by assuming 'running water' stood for a two-letter word beloved of setters which formed part of the answer but left impossible letters for the rest of the wordplay. Light dawned eventually.