Listener 4144: Location, Location, Location by Shackleton

[midazolam]

Despite only solving 2 of Shackleton's puzzles before (the Jackson Pollock puzzle and the Morse code/Beethoven prize winning puzzle of last year), I have been eagerly awaiting the next.

This does not disappoint. A nice PDM, which is what the Listener is all about. Excellent grid construction with fabulous clues (particularly liking 35). It doesn't top last years puzzle, but very enjoyable nevertheless.

Thanks Shackleton

[email protected]

[dr b]

Pretty gentle for a carte blanche, helped quite a bit by the 13-letters answers. I greatly enjoyed the PDM regarding the nature of the "locations"! The misprints are very well disguised. Not one of the harder ones of late but a lot of fun.

[Ruthrobin]

I haven't finished yet but agree about a lovely grid and superbly disguised misprints and brilliant clues (35 and 28 too). I think it is quite difficult Dr B.

[midazolam]

Yes, 28 also struck me as a superb clue

[AHearer]

What a clever grid construction -- getting the subject appropriately located within the constraints of symmetry was a triumph. Good clues, too. Thank you, Shackleton.

When the closing date is past, I must post the details of a very entertaining volume I picked up recently in a remainders book shop.

[Zabadak]

This for me has turned into another of those deeply frustrating ones where the penny refuses to drop. I have the whole grid fill completed including the isolated ones, and can only see one logical way to divide the double letter square, even though it appears trivial. I have the locations, but their collective hint doesn't go anywhere yet, and the "subject" (the obvious one?) and year remain stubbornly elusive.
Whether the opacity is influencing my judgement I can't tell, but I'm not that impressed by any of the clues (sorry!)
I expect when (if) the penny drops I'll be more impressed, but as it stands (and I can't see what difference locating the subject and year makes to the final grid, as there's no highlighting requirement) I'm rather underwhelmed, especially given Shackleton's previous efforts, which I loved - especially the Pollock. I'll get back to you all!

[Zabadak]

I take it all back - apart from the bit about the clues, which I still think aren't that much. At the risk of really annoying anyone who finds themselves in the same position as I was, it IS a decent penny that drops, and yes, it is a brilliant piece of construction.
Obviously, when I get stuck, all I need do is bare my soul here and the gods that take delight in administering large doses of d'oh will kick in for maximum humiliation. Ah well! Cheers, Shackleton, a mighty fine piece of work. Now where did I put my shotgun?

[TheBear69]

Having seen this sort of thing before, I can't say there was any PDM for me; just a straightforward solve. While some of the clues were quite nice, I thought several were way too wordy with extraneous words.

[starwalker]

The 13 letter answers certainly made this easier than I was expecting. Grid now filled and locations identified - now to join the hard stare club.

[Ruthrobin]

The Bear69, I'm surprised, I haven't found a single extraneous word and, having completed, am dazzled by the hilarious concealment in some of the clues. Have you looked up the words you considered 'extraneous'? Perhaps they just add to the deliberately deceptive surface readings (Please don't give any here!) Wish I could come up with misprints like those!

[trux]

An absolute joy IMHO,with brilliant use of theme. Loved it ! Was actually getting quite sad as I neared completion because, like the best of books, I didn't really want it to end (even though it was only the last - LH side - of gridfill and I already had all of the thematic stuff worked out). Much admiration and definite gratitude to Shackleton.

[Zabadak]

Curious, isn't it? If you spot the letters to go in the isolated squares, and have a lucky stab at how the two letter square is entered, you CAN actually produce a perfect solution without knowing what's going on.

[dead-eye]

i may well have a guess at the two letter square. everything else sorted, but can't see the connection.

[aldanna]

Well, so far I am finding this quite hard. I am sure that as drb says, the 13-letter answers are a great help. Unfortunately, I haven't got either yet. Still, I shall battle slowly on as usual - but then am off on holiday, so will look in again for 4146.

[Zabadak]

Aldanna - the other two are quite handy as well, especially since one of them's 1d (or 1a, depending on which pair you're identifying)

[Clamzy]

This guy is the reason I gave up entering clue writing competitions some years ago. I just couldn't match his inventiveness. OK it's not quite the equal of last year's but there were clues a-plenty to lead me astray, in addition to the ones mentioned above. I enjoyed it immensely - thanks Shackleton.

[tilbee]

Think I am in the position describd by Zabadak above. Completed grid and made assumption around two letter square, but awaiting that final PDM related to the 'whereabouts of the subject'.

[cluelessJoe]

I see you've got yourself a security blanket now Z

[pushmi-pullyu]

I've also filled the grid but am stuck on the two letters. Some lovely clues, my favourite being 19. I must admit I would never have got 12 without Word Wizard!

[pushmi-pullyu]

Just like you Zabadak, no sooner had I announced that I was stuck than light dawned. What a clever construction.

[dead-eye]

can see it now. distracted by the year but i am wide-eyed now.