Listener Crossword 4246: Solution Notes
Construction by Shackleton
Puzzle explanation
The first message was “book of Genesis, eleven four”, leading to the Tower of Babel, which could be constructed by joining the two sides of the grid. Some across entries wrapped around what would be the join in the cylindrical construction. The other message, “title of Led Zeppelin song”, referred to Stairway to Heaven, represented by a staircase spiralling up the tower. This contained the Francis Bacon quotation “All rising to great place is by a winding stair.” Babel is the Hebrew name for Babylon.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ADONAI | (IDAHOAN − H) * |
| ALBINIC | NIB < in ALIC(e) |
| ALL OF | ALLOW with F for W |
| ALLY | RALLY − R |
| ALMS-FEE | FEMALE * around S |
| ANGLIST | (AN + GIST) around L |
| ANTIWAR | TIW after (A + N) + (M)AR(s) |
| ATAP | TAP(a) after A |
| BAAL | BANAL − N |
| BACKLIST | BLACKLIST − L |
| BE FOR IT | BEFOR(e) + IT |
| BO’S’NS | BOSS around N |
| BY-LANES | LAN in BYES |
| CELLAR | (RALL + EC) < |
| DRUNKEN | DR + UN + KEN |
| EARL | LEAR with L moved to the end |
| EASE | LEASE − L |
| EINSTEIN | NINETIES * |
| ELDER | WELDER − W |
| ELIDE | EDILE < |
| ERNIE | ERNE around I |
| EUROPOL | (LOP + O + RUE) < |
| FAIR | A in FIR |
| GAEA | GAE + A |
| IAMBIST | (IS A BIT) * around (poe)M |
| LINGAMS | L + IN + GAMS |
| LOUPE | (COUPLE − C) * |
| MESSRS | MESS + SR < |
| NARY A | ARYAN with last letter moved to the front |
| NINE-FOOT | FINE * in (TO + O + N) < |
| ODESSA | ODEA around SS |
| PONT | POINT − I |
| PREONS | PRS around (E + O’ + N) |
| REARM | REAR + M(ozart) |
| RESETS | REST around E + S(hore) |
| RISIBLE | SIB in RILE |
| SNOOZLE | (OOZE after SN) around L |
| SONATA | (per)SON AT A(cademy) |
| SPARING | S(chool) + PARING |
| TALLAT | (AT LAST) * with L for S(ea) |
| TELE-AD | (DELET(e) around A) < |
| TOGOLESE | TOOL around G + SEE * |
| TOWNIE | ZWITTERION * = (TOWNIE + RITZ) * |
| WESSI | (o)WES SI(xty) |
| YBLENT | BY < + LENT |