“In each of 12 clues an extra word must be removed; these words define the theme. A further 12 clues each have a letter missing; these letters suggest how to derive the exact wording of the theme – which must be written below the grid – from CROSS WORDS. Answers to the remaining 12 clues “clash” in 6 cells; entering the correct letter in each affected cell will display a symmetrical representation of the theme (24 cells in total), which must be highlighted. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations 1737 What he said by Vismut
A complex preamble – the useful bits – remove a word from all bar 2 clues and use the first and last letters to produce 4 messages. One is a quotation – the second message is an instruction based on the previous 4 words of the quotation. The third is the unchecked letters for the perimeter and the last a second instruction to put the speaker’s name in the grid. Then highlight what he’ll do no matter what.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1736: Crack Up by Shark
Hi everyone. Sometimes a crossword brings you joy, sometimes double joy. This one also left me with an earworm, which may be deducible from my final comments.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1735: Unstated by Kcit
Kcit challenges us to find an UNSTATED end to a poem where the relevant part wasn’t even in the original published version. To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld: ‘There are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns…and there are unstated endings to unpublished verses…‘
Enigmatic Variations No.1734 – Dynamo by Ifor
“Clues to perimeter entries comprise wordplay only. Each contains an extra word. Reading either the second or penultimate letters of these in clue order, followed by the alternative choices,
Enigmatic Variations 1733 All’s well that ends well by Kruger
Two unclued entries and a mainfestation of this in a number of entries. All words, phrases or proper nouns in the final grid.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1732: Protection By Check
Hello all. No kitties were harmed in the writing of this blog …
Enigmatic Variations No. 1731: Columns by Chalicea
Chalicea has some ‘inspirational’ COLUMNS for us this week, although my first instinct on hearing the word ‘column’ is to think of data in tables or Excel files…less inspirational than than Doric or Ionic columns, or even well-written newspaper features…
Enigmatic Variations No.1730 – Popular by Skylark
“In each of 17 clues, there is a misprint in the wordplay part; correct letters, in clue order, spell out the first four words of the most POPULAR part of the theme. An extra letter must be removed from every other clue before solving, spelling out an instruction involving 21 cells in two straight lines. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1729 Design classic by Pandiculator
A misprint in each clue, four empty cells, an unclued entry and then some artistic rendering. Apologies for the delay in posting – Thursday had it’s moments is all I’ll say. Some tricky … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1727: Complete by Stick Insect
This puzzle almost COMPLETEly defeated me – until a PDM at the 11th hour of the 10th day after publication, just before the submission deadline…
Enigmatic Variations No.1726 – Gripping Yarns by Luxor
“Two clues are provided for each of the shaded rows. Solvers must reorder the letters of their answers to give two creatures which might feature in GRIPPING YARNS. These are to be entered consecutively. Solvers must highlight a three-word phrase (13 cells in a straight line) describing the overall theme. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1725 10 Across by Raffles
Two clue devices this week. Extra letters in the wordplay and misprints in some definitions. Also 10 unclued entries and a piece of encryption to solve at the end. The gentleman amateur cracksman is our setter – for those who remember the novels by E W Hornung or Anthony Valentine on TV in the early 70s
Enigmatic Variations No. 1724: First or Second by Vismut
Hello, with apologies this blog is a day late.