Listener Crossword 4030: Requisite Knowledge by Elfman

[Speravi]

Greetings to all.

I was fortunate in having some free time this evening to enjoy this excellent offering from Elfman. Some excellent &lit clues here, I thought.

When I recognised the verse, I had to smile - I first met it in that "educational comic", if that's not an oxymoron, Look and Learn some 45 years ago.

[bobbycollins]

I really enjoyed this.

I got lucky with the quotation quite early on so managed it in a single three hour sitting. Only held up by my own ignorance - I had the spelling of one of the forenames incorrect for ages.

Not sure if the shape is significant but it looks neat enough.

[robinruth]

Bobbycollins, I imagine you had an e for an a - I did until Mr Clever put me right. I think the fact that the words were put in a symmetrical shape - even if it's a rather unusual structure - must be all that counts. Could it have significance? For us it was a thrill to finish one in two or three hours work. I found it rather easier than 4015 and imagine Toalisi will have little trouble in view of the ones he habitually completes.

[bobbycollins]

robinruth

Indeed I did - how very perspicacious of you!!!

Glad it wasn't just me.

[cluelessJoe]

.. it wasn't just the three of you either!

[Apache4D]

Good Morning All,

I am still on catch up after completing Indication of Height a day before submission deadline, and Office Block this morning, so am seriosuly behind.....

However, I like the fact that you can use a bit of logic as to the number of letters removed and deduce the possible intersections so it is not all cold solving....I have the bottom right hand corner filled so far.

Looking forward to the endgame as always......was v satisfied with office block as when completed it very nicely confirmed all of the misprints, extremely neat and once again a fine display by the setter.

This is my first year of Listeneritis, I too found 4015 the easiest of the year, but not the most satisfying.

I am one of those that does not have the abiliy to rattle them off, but with enough hard work and alot of time will perservere and complete.

Enough wittering, congrats to all the regular solvers, and hopefully i'll finish this before 4031 is published and be back in synch with everyone :)

[Apache4D]

Silentether......am only a few years your elder, and all I can say is once you have the bug there's no going back....I only wish I had been introduced to these sooner, though am not so sure I would have been ready for them!

It has meant that my pre 2009 religious daily attempts/solves of the DT and T's cryptics are kept to a minimum, and when I do attempt them, they are completed a hell of alot quicker, and leave me feeling slightly deflated!! Damn my Listener addiction ;)