Listener 4222 - 27 By Mango

[Texasetes]

A very entertaining puzzle which I couldn't put down: a nicely cryptic preamble, some tricky (but fair) clues, an excellent grid and an endgame which had me beaming. The general theme became apparent fairly early on, but pennies dropped until and after the grid was filled.

I have doubts about the precise appearance of the final grid but things will probably resolve themselves when I'm awake.

A great puzzle with which to end the Listener year. Thank you, Mango.

[SethMould]

Enjoy!

Stephen Mann
Chief Typist
Mango

[AndrewG-S]

Full grid but still noodling the endgame. Fun so far!

[emcee]

Yes, I'm at the same stage. A full grid after solving a mixture of entertaining and difficult clues. I need to carefully reread the preamble a few more (hundred) times as I'm still unsure about the final appearance of the grid.

But a lovely puzzle. Many thanks to the Mango-people.

[Charpy]

I'm in the same position as the rest of you. In principle I can see what I have to do, but the instructions are so vague I'm not at all sure how to represent these actions in the final grid.

Such a pity. What might have been a cracking puzzle so cloaked in ambiguity that it can only be finished to the satisfaction of the setter by guessing what the setter really wants. Not for me. Sorry.

[upsetter]

Charpy, towel back over the head. The setter does not instruct you to represent the actions to which you refer. The preamble is precise and fair; just keep reading it!

[aldanna]

Yes, full grid without serious problems. Himself guessed the theme quickly and has now been delegated to deal with the end game.

[teuchter2]

Finally finished grid after a bit of difficulty with the oedipal pair. I found these clues quite tricky, but I think I understand what to do now. I thought it was going to be even more clever when I saw how the first juncture related to the thematic item, but I don't think it can be all like that for obvious reasons. Oh well, back to the cooking and cleaning for family arriving this evening via Dens Park - another NE hint?

[olichant]

This was wonderful, and such fun surface reading for many of the clues. Many thanks to Mango, and to everyone else for making me welcome here over the last year.

[tilbee]

Thouroughly enjoyed this. Started at a canter but then significantly held up as clues seemed to become more difficult as moved towards the middle. Think I have the end game resolved - the fact that all of the shaded cells have been called into play gives me some confidence. Thanks to Mango for another enjoyable puzzle.

[contendo]

Yes. Tilbee, I had the same experience: rapid progress yesterday in the upper and lower thirds and then stuck most of today in the middle, but it's gradually filling in. Got the 27 theme early on but not yet clear what to do with the shaded cells. I confess I don't understand the wordplay for some of the clues I've answered.

[IainGrace]

Solved about two thirds and see where it's leading. Symmetry helps to place the central across entry.

[trux]

Indeed, a very elegant construction. As a previously quite keen exponent of the theme, found endgame precise and most entertaining. All in all, an excellent puzzle with which to finish off the year. Particular thanks and well wishes to Mango, and to all Answerbankers.

[AndrewG-S]

Well I think I am done, but not entirely without ambiguity which makes me wonder.

[tenflags]

Well for once I think it's all pretty clear (even if some others haven't found it so don't) .. pride before a fall maybe .. but loved the end game, and all the little pdms and smiles along the way. Cheers Seth & Co.

[pushmi-pullyu]

Not by any means there yet, but the oedipal pair made me laugh aloud. A happy new year to all Listener solvers and would-be solvers.

[Arcticpenguin]

It looks as if "English" isn't to be used in the final stage although preamble doesn't preclude it. A friendly finish to the year.Nice one , Mango.

[Charpy]

This has been a year of coin-flips. Should upside-down letters look more like the letter which they have to become, or more like the original letter only upside-down? Should a letter remain capitalised, or should it be entered in lower case to resemble a Russian letter? There have been other examples as well and it's been personally very disappointing to have made the wrong choice in every single instance this year.

Now we have the latest puzzle and I agree that the choices are much clearer this time. If you look at the instruction derived from the down clues and note the use of the word "disappearing" in the rubric, it is very clear that there should be no vestige of these thematic objects remaining in the final grid. By analogy there should only be one remaining of the other type of thematic object, even though this means you must draw a circle around its now empty starting cell and another around its final resting place.

All of this is as clear as daylight to me - clear, but I suspect not what the setter intends, for now we have a grid with a lot of spaced cells and it would be possible to have a correct grid even if the solver had not solved all the clues correctly.

Thie instructions could equally be interpreted in an entirely different way which I cannot explain further without giving the game away which is not something I'd ever want to do.

After much deliberation I have decided to submit my grid with no alterations whatsoever, bar the two encirclings demanded by the rubric. This is based more on the difficulty the setter would have had expressing the instructions unequivocally, than what has actually been written.

But, hey, it's only a guess! Given my track record this year, I would strongly advise advise anyone who is all correct so far this year not to follow my example.

[aldanna]

Yes, a fun puzzle to end the year on. I have personally done nothing but solve the clues but Himself seems to have worked out the end game in a convincing manner. Happy New Year to everyone!

[Mesnilpat]

I am, as ever, plodding through the clues and making good progress for me. The theme has just become apparent, as it's something I know next to nothing about, I shall prise my 'Himself' away from his computer for consultation and insight. Enjoyable so far - not as tough as I found 4221 to be.

[tilbee]

Charpy - agree that there is some room for interpretation here. My solution has a number of thematic elements 'disappearing' but not the one that needs to be circled (by the very fact that we are instructed to circle it twice !).