“Clues are given in alphabetical order of their answers, which must be entered where they will fit. Starting at the top left corner, the unclued perimeter identifies who became famous and the reason why, while the other two unclued entries reveal what caused this UNDESIRABLE CELEBRITY. Each clue contains an extra word; in normal clue order, the first, middle or last letters of these (approximately equal numbers of each) instruct what must be highlighted in the grid. Unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters from unclued entries could give SHOWS SPRING’S FLASH STUNTS. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Mister Sting
Enigmatic Variations No.1646 – Borderline by Vagans
“Two down entries are on the BORDERLINE and clued without definition. Three other contiguous border entries are appropriate to their location. Wordplay in all other clues indicates the answer with an extra letter that is not entered in the grid; these spell out an instruction affecting 32 cells. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; 37a is in the Oxford Dictionary of English.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1642 – Conflict by Skylark
“28 clues contain a surplus word, which should be removed before solving. In clue order, the first letters give one person’s accusation, whilst the final letters spell out much of another’s rebuttal, which is continued as pairs of surplus words in three other clues. In the remaining 10 clues, an extra letter must be removed before solving (leaving real words): in clue order, these specify the final contents of the shaded cells. The CONFLICT has affected the initial grid, resulting in clashes in seven cells to be resolved in favour of the letters making real words and names. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1638 – Chilly by The Ace Of Hearts
“From the answer to each clue, a letter must be deleted wherever it appears before entry into the grid; definitions refer to the full unmutilated answer, wordplay to the grid entry and word length/count to the answer. In clue order, the omitted letters give a definition (eight words) of a CHILLY word in Chambers (six letters), which must be highlighted in the completed grid. The three unclued entries are examples of this word. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1634 – The Magnificent Seven by Gaston
“Single-letter clashes occur in circled cells; reading in column order, picking one of the letters in each clash will spell out what THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN have in common; the other 14 letters should be entered in the cells. In each clue, the wordplay leads to the answer and a single extra letter; reading in clue order, these letters show how one would access one of the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN using the (appropriately positioned) circled letters. Its creator (4,8) should be written below the grid. One answer is an abbreviation; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1630 – Mixed Doubles by Ifor
“The answers to each pair of clues sharing a number must be MIXED so as to give the DOUBLES (pairs of names) that form the entry. Remaining across clues each contain a misprint in their definition; correct letters in clue order identify a playwright, one of whose works forms the central column. This work, differently punctuated, is part of a line (in ODQ) by another playwright which describes the shaded region of the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1626 – Cops by Piccadilly
“Across answers in six alternate rows are to be jumbled thematically before entry in the grid, and down answers in the fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth columns are to be jumbled non-thematically. Reading from top to bottom, left to right, the letters in the circled cells confirm the COPS theme.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1622 – The Hater Who Had a Hater by proXimal
“In accordance with the state of the unclued HATER before and after a cryptic HATER, three down clues need a pair of consecutive letters omitted and 12 across clues need a letter to be added before solving; these letters give a source. Solvers must change the HATER to the source of scorn, making a word of a personal message to solvers. Finally, a cryptic HATER should be applied to four down entries to reveal the message (four across entries to be highlighted). All entries are real words or phrases at every stage.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1618 – Different Relation by Hedge-Sparrow
“Three related unclued entries all suggest how ten answers must be modified before entry. In the completed grid, solvers must highlight five words (suitably disposed, 38 cells in total, all confirmed by Chambers) which have a DIFFERENT RELATION to one of the unclued entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; all entries are real words or names.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1614 – Hide and Seek by Piccadilly
“In this puzzle, solvers play HIDE AND SEEK, whereby the answer to each clue is concealed within it, as is the definition for another answer. The pattern linking definitions and answers is to be discovered. Clues are listed in conventional order, and solvers must add bars so that the completed grid shows 180° rotational symmetry. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; one answer is a prefix and one proper noun has a two-word definition.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1610 – Adversaries by Shark
“The two unclued ADVERSARIES must be changed to the phrase uttered when one caught sight of the other (creating real-word crossing entries). Single-letter clashes occur in five cells; the letters to be kept spell out who actually spoke these words. Solvers must highlight six cells in a straight line offering (overlapping) four-word confirmation of the sighting. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1606 – Mind Your Language by Ovid
“A change of regime has led to a new political correctness. Six clues have no definition and their answers must be altered to comply with the new requirement to MIND YOUR LANGUAGE. Extra letters generated by the wordplay of down clues spell out a further instruction affecting 12 cells. Numbers in brackets refer to entry lengths. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended, One answer is an abbreviation; 20dn is in Collins.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1602 – Birds by Picadilly
“In eight clues a consecutive group of letters is to be removed, affecting the surface reading. These groups of letters can be rearranged as BIRDS, which are to be inserted into eight normally clued answers to form new words. Numbers in brackets refer to lengths of grid entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; one entry is in Collins.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1598 – Action-packed by Eclogue
“Answers to five clues consisting of wordplay only are thematically connected to their entries. The wordplay part of every other clue includes an additional letter which must be removed prior to solving (always leaving real words). In clue order, these letters provide a refrain (with one variant spelling) of the reporters of this ACTION-PACKED sequence of events, who must also be completed (sharing a single letter). Numbers in brackets relate to entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1594 – Vicinities by Stick Insect
“In each clue, one word must take flight before solving, replacing the escapee from the next clue (or first across clue from the last down clue). In clue order, initial letters of these words provide a relevant source and what must be amended to show VICINITIES (read cryptically), leaving all real words in the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; 4dn is in Collins.”