The wordplay in all across clues and in sixteen down clues are thematically modified. The across clues have extra letters, which spell out a message; the modifications applied to down clues are to be worked out. There are also two unclued entries, which must be replaced in line with the theme.
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations 1277 Remake by Eclogue
Half the clues lose a letter and the other half gain, with the letters lost matching the letters gained. These letters can then be rearranged to provide a thematic link to a surname … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1276: XXXX by Ifor
Here we had Ifor opening his soul to us, but obviously in code. The preamble read: An exhausted and destitute Ifor says “I’m XXXXX and on my XXXXX, so I’m going to stop … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1275: Replacements by Artix
I have to admit I found REPLACEMENTS by Artix a pretty tough EV – so much so that I even considered calling for ‘replacements’, from amongst my fellow EV bloggers. But I persevered, accumulating answers … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1274 – Structure by proXimal
Puzzles like this one, where the clues given in alphabetical order of their answers, tend to involve a fair amount of cold solving before a tipping point where (if the solver is lucky) everything slots into place. I have a soft spot for them, but the obvious worry is that one will run into difficulty with the cold solving.
Enigmatic Variations 1273 Adieu by Gaston
Bonjour Gaston – Extra letters in the wordplay – these give a pointer to the number, order and content of the 7 unclued entries. The ending is to highlight a character. Sounds like … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1272: Fugue by Kcit
Oh dear… a musical theme this week: not my forte. I just hoped it wouldn’t be too technical, although the preamble indicated otherwise: The FUGUE’s four-note motif appears four times, entering lower each … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1271: When One Becomes Two by Harribobs
I believe there was a book (and a film?) titled ‘The Men Who Stare At Goats’…and, for a while, I thought I was auditioning for the sequel – the solver who stares at … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1270 – Uplifting by Chalicea
The preamble tells us that there is an UPLIFTING sentiment found in five sides of the perimeter. However, the grid is a square, so what does this mean?
Enigmatic Variations 1269 Significance by Oxymoron
A nice short preamble – additional words in all clues and many entries are not words. Interesting. The first thing that became apparent with this puzzle was the mismatches between some entry lengths … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1268: Talking Points by Poat
A fairly straightforward preamble from Poat this week, indicating some misprints and some colouring in to do in the endgame: In TALKING POINTS, the vertices of a figure appear in one-third of grid … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1267: Half by Steve
As John Cleese once warbled in a Monty Python sketch: ‘Fiddle-de-dum, fiddle-di-dee, Eric the half-a-bee’… Steve seems to be challenging us to solve or find HALF a something in this EV…Eric the half-an-EV? … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1266 – Missing Lights by Shark
Sorry this one’s late! Apparently I hadn’t set it to publish automatically.
Enigmatic Variations 1265 Association by Maranga
12 thematic clues with an associated definition and an extra thematic word. The remainder are normal. As preambles go quite long but straight forward. It took me a while to get the theme … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1264: Alternative Shortlist by Jago
Jago has primarily been a Listener setter, with puzzles going back to 1975. He has also had one Inquisitor two years ago and one EV about twelve years back. No clueing gimmicks from … Read more >>