Listener 4179: O Gather Twelve by Augeas

[Zabadak]

Back to the relatively easy ones then, though I think the final step's a bit of a swine if the subject's not all that familiar. One of those with a reasonably straightforward grid fill (with one slightly ambiguous answer that could throw you off the whole track) and then at least the potential for staring into space for a while waiting the proverbial descent of the small change.
Best wishes to all, thanks to Augeas for working it all out, and the best of British to our noble scorer when he comes to check the rather random looking results.

[Alan7777]

After a late start I'm at the same stage as several others - a complete grid and no real idea of the theme. Hoping for inspiration .......

[BlackHugh]

Alan: [email protected] if you need any gentle nudging

[Alan7777]

Thanks BH but I'll give the grey cells a little more time to see if anything emerges.

[Staurologist]

I enjoyed this puzzle, which gave me a decent run for my money. I think that it is rather unfair to criticise the setter for a puzzle that you find too easy or obvious. The setter thinks of a theme, in this case based on a phrase, constructs the grid accordingly, and writes the clues. It is then up to the checkers to decide whether it is suitable for The Listener. So if there is anyone to blame (and I don't think that there is in this case) it would be the checkers, not the setter. Here the grid was well constructed--it was symmetrical (which I consider an important aspect of grid construction, onyl to be abandoned if the theme demands it) and the thematic letters only occurred in clashes (except where unchecked), giving consistency to the theme. The clues were sound and well overcame the difficult challenge of the reduced wordplay. The theme also reminded us that the BRB is more than just a dictionary. The one weakness, in my view, was that you had to conjure the theme up from thinnish air, which was why I was a little disappointed that my favourite linguist (see Wikipedia) was not honoured in the process; doing that would have led solvers more directly, and educatively, to the theme. I find myself, again, agreeing with Stavrolex.

[Mesnilpat]

Just got the theme! Once the penny drops, it seems so obvious, but it eluded me for days. A good learning curve in the process, which is always to be appreciated.

[ArchieLeach]

I'm not very quick at these usually but the theme came quite easily. Do something obvious based on the preamble and something related to the grid drops out and you can take it from there. The quinapalus site is of some help, though it doesn't contain the exact four word phrase.

[Alan7777]

I was getting close to asking for help but the penny dropped. In truth I should have got there much sooner as I was in the right area all long. Thanks to BH for the offer of help - perhaps some other time. As I use the hard copy version of the Times I now have the evening off.

[BlackHugh]

Alan - it was a good PDM I thought! I'm one of the crossword club subscribers so I've already started the next one (but I'm not one of the clever clogs who complete it on Friday!) - it looks interesting and do-able.

[teuchter2]

Still haven't got theme, but haven't tried too hard as I've had a visitor staying with me this week. For the sake of completeness, I would like to get it sorted. Perseverer, have you still got my email address to send me a gentle hint too?

[BlackHugh]

teuchter: [email protected] if you want

[borealis]

Very late finisher clocking in - only started on Thursday, and finished 4180 before this. Yes, the last pdm was a leap, but I enjoyed this and was surprised to find the negative reaction when I checked in here. Thanks to one or two of you for pointing out that it was in the BRB; fun finding it. I must admit to checking my ideas with a daughter who studied the appropriate subject though..... Thanks Augeas - not too grim at all!