Listener 4336: Company Liquidation By Kruger

[jim360]

Short preamble but a lot going on. Nice to have an unambiguous finish too! Thanks Kruger.

[contendo]

I enjoyed this. Like others I found the quote early (in the middle of the night). It took me as long to get 7D as it took to do the rest of the crossword - a neat clue. Anyone agree with me that 35A doesn't quite seem to work?

[Inanna47]

I seem to have got yet another one wrong by following the instructions to the letter. I went to the library : there was no HERE in the ODQ. I'm seriously considering giving up altogether

[Cagey]

Have not quite finished yet.. The needs of life and children have taken over. But enjoying a lot. Have quote and I think just a case of working through the remainder of a great set of clues.

Cruncher, you are not alone. I have reached what I think is the very last part of the Ferret puzzle (and the last bit of this months Magpie still to go, due to a lack of work at work this last few weeks). Am also enjoying this one a lot. Have not looked at in a few days now, so maybe inspiration will hit when I look at it again. The rest of the puzzles have were good fun too, would encourage any fan of themed crosswords that might not have subscribed to do so.

[perseverer]

Inanna - check your submission against the solution notes on the Listener site

http://www.listenercrossword.com/Solutions/S2015/Notes_4333.html

[contendo]

Re my comment on 35A, my mistake, I forgot about the extra letter in the wordplay.

[AngryUncle]

Well, it's funny you should say that, AHearer ...

The quotation and its originator have had a very peculiar effect on me.

[borealis]

Having enjoyed this weeks - ta, Kruger - I can’t agree with several of you who seem to be complaining of the leniency of the marking for Flying Tortoises “In The Event of Fire”. Now in general the are a few moans here when small differences are not accepted (Kolb, wasn’t it?). In 4333, if you get the idea that Dante’s quote has to go around the edge ‘cos it’s an anagram of the letters there, I would’ve thought that any word arrangement in demonstrable use could be allowed unless there was good reason for one to be preferred, such as a named edition of ODQ, the letters making all real words, or similar. I don’t think inaccurate translation of the original comes into it - there are a fair number of inaccurate translations in common use. I bet there would’ve been more complaints if only one word order had been allowed!

[EAChaplin]

Abandon all hope...Abandon hope all...All hope abandon etc.,if the preamble hadn't specified a particular order any anagram would suffice - as has turned out to be the case. The old adage that the essence of a good crossword is that you are absolutely sure you are correct after solving, didn't apply to this one largely because of that preamble error.

[jim360]

Apparently the intended meaning was using the word order as implied by how the quote appears in its original language (and then some poetic licence choosing "ye" over "you" and adding "here"). I suppose one way of making this clear would have been to say "using the word order as implied by how the quote appears in its original language".

[AngryUncle]

Dante again ... My objection was only partly concerned with the mis-translation. I used asterisks to emphasise the real gripe, that the preamble specifically required 'using the word order found in the ODQ'. As the notes on the Listener Crossword website make clear, there were thus two acceptable versions: one in ODQ 1 and 2, the other in ODQ3ff. The editors don't then say that 'either' order was accepted but that 'any' order was. Therein lies the problem.

[Scorpius]

A better challenge this week, thank goodness, and no puzzling over an endgame. I guessed the quotation after solving only twelve clues, mainly because I had five letters of a significant word. That early revelation helped a lot but it wasn't all downhill after that - I struggled a bit to complete the SE corner. Very enjoyable puzzle.

[olichant]

Lovely puzzle. Really impressed at those who solved it quickly - it took me a while. And some terrific clues. Thanks, Kruger.

[starwalker]

Finally got there. Thank you Kruger for a challenge, an unambiguous finish and for showing me that I need to trade in my netbook for something with a little more oomph.

[petefoxes]

I had the same two-stage PDM on the treatments, and now have the quotation and originator. I've found the cold-solving quite tough so am trying to find some inspiration to finish off the 50% of my grid which is still unfilled ... Enjoyable so far but I'm taking a lot longer than most, by the looks of it. Thanks, Kruger.

[x_word_fan]

Cruncher - are you nearer on the Ferret problem? I think I am where you were.

[Cagey]

All finished now on 4336. I enjoyed this one a lot. Thanks Kruger.

Cruncher and X_word Fan, I am also still stranded at what I believe will be the last step of the Ferret. I thought inspiration would come having put it aside for a while, but so far nothing. It is comforting to know others have been caught at the same point. A very enjoyable solve so far despite this.

[Cruncher]

I may be a step behind you both. I've worked out the missing words in the first two paragraphs but can't yet work out how to carry out the instruction in the second paragraph despite much googling. I am presuming that the seemingly obvious single letter in the grid is the 29 of the 20?

[x_word_fan]

The single letter (of which there are 4- one at the start of object (3 letters)) is what causes the 29 of the 20 - look on the perimeter.

[Cruncher]

Thank you x_word_fan! Very much in keeping with the original and a reassuringly obvious word. Haven't the foggiest about the next stage though

[Cagey]

I think this is close to where I have reached. But last step still eluding. [email protected]