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Having left this early on because of other demands on my time, I was then called in for (planned but much delayed) surgery. Afterwards, I didn’t feel up to re-engaging with it. I may have missed out on a masterpiece of construction. Tant pis.

Hope your surgery went well jack

Thank you. Although this Listener seemed “a bridge too far” while I was coming out of the anaesthetic haze, I did have a go at the Spectator - and made a complete idiot of myself by asking for help when I already had all the information I needed!

Yes maybe a bridge too far at the moment, and everyone should be an idiot sometimes it's very liberating. Speedy recovery.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Muraria and Simond9x. I'm still in doubt as to whether my brain is correctly wired to finish this puzzle, but at least I understand another line of the preamble. Sadly, it just seems to make things even more complicated. And there was me hoping it would simplify matters!

Take care,
Suzannah

All I can say is that I nearly didn't bother with it because of the preamble but things gradually became clearer once I started the gridfill.

@dodgepot and piffleworthy (and anyone else that has tackled or is tackling 'Squaring the Circle' by Amicus.

Thanks Dodgepot. 👍I wondered if it was worth starting a thread for any solvers? I've progressed pretty well but some of the parsing (I've got 5 ???s !) has me baffled.

I never imagined "riding to drxx's rescue - not that he needs it and I hope he takes this as a validation of his "concerns" but firstly, I loved this puzzle and I especially liked the necessary application of additional logic to "straightforward solving" regardless of the grid entry requirements but I am from a Mathematical background so I do feel he has a very valid point - not that this was strictly necessary (I concur with the earlier posts re logic) [again not implying that drxx is not capable of such application]. Should this additional "step" be required to solvers who do prefer more "standard" Listeners is hopefully, open to debate and whether it's a puzzle of the year or whatever; healthy discussion should always be encouraged.

I know I said I'd duck out of this but I have to say I appreciate your generous remarks, ginge.
To be fair, the 'logic' that has me going around in ever decreasing circles doesn't come easily to me - in fact it has to be wrung out of me. Harribobs was the previous setter who put me through the wringer more times than I would have liked (although I admired his US states puzzle and said as much at the time - but there were far too many circuits after that).
I remember watching his fans piling in to vote for him for the Inquisitor's POTY. There were names I'd never seen seen before on that thread too. Some people didn't even understand the rules and tried to give him ALL of their points. At least the comedy tempered my disappointment when he won it - I don't expect to have even that small consolation this time (I never participate in the voting, but I always hope there are still some people around who share similar values - and there are still a few of us without degrees in mathematics... I think...}.

Re: Squaring the Circle.

I have begun this and am making decent progress, solving 17 clues (hurrah!) although have not cracked jumbles or code.

WIP and so I don't presently feel inclined to ask for hints.

However, I did recreate the puzzle for clarity. It's on one page. Let me know if interested.