“Eight suitably positioned and thematically connected elements are hidden in the completed grid. Five of these are of a kind and should be coloured appropriately (35 cells). Three others (the first and last two on the MAP) should each be highlighted by drawing rectangles round the relevant elements (13 cells in total). Solvers should add to the MAP by finding a ninth element, forever associated with the theme, whose six cells should be coloured brown, including one cell that had been shaded earlier. Apart from one that is L-shaped, all elements are in straight lines. Two answers are abbreviations. ”
Mister Sting
Enigmatic Variations No.1478 – Excusez-moi by Eclogue
“The correct letters of misprints in definitions, in clue order, provide a French version (ignoring one accent) of a common English idiom and some additional assistance, which together will explain each EXCUSEZ-MOI required in a number of undefined, but otherwise plain, clue answers. Enumerations refer to entry lengths. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; one answer is an abbreviation.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1474 – The Mover and the Lover by Ifor
“The originally-completed grid contains three empty cells, to be filled with letters taken from elsewhere in the grid, so showing a thematic movement. The effect of this movement must be undone by changing one entry to two new words and inserting a bar. Clues to all answers occupying 7, 8 and 9-letter slots contain an extra word. Read in clue order, one letter from each (always the second or penultimate) spells out the MOVER; the alternative choices identify the LOVER. Numbers give cells available; ignoring empty cells, all answers and entries are words in Chambers Dictionary (2016).”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1470 – Level Crossing by Hedge-Sparrow
“Two unclued entries, to be completed by solvers, are the site of a LEVEL CROSSING and an (incomplete) inscription commemorating it. Seven answers require a non-standard method of entry (numbers in brackets after clues refer to entry lengths). The missing part of the inscription is represented by modifications applied to six other answers prior to entry (three each of two types). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; 40 and 1 down are in Collins.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1466 – All That by Poat
“The two unclued entries comprise a duo and an alternative rendering; ALL THAT must be completed by filling the empty cell. Four of the duo’s works, treated in accordance with the rendering, appear symmetrically in the grid, and must be highlighted along with the completion (34 cells in total). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1462 – Incomprehensible by Kruger
“Clashes occur in ten cells and must be resolved in a way that many solvers may consider to be INCOMPREHENSIBLE to them. Wordplay in half of the clues yields an extra letter not to be entered in the grid; in clue order, these letters give a further instruction. Numbers in brackets refer to the space available for entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended, 12 is in Collins.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1458 – Cover Story by Gaston
“Clues are given in normal order, but there are five unclued thematic entries, one of which must have seven of its cells blacked out in the completed grid; the other four are all of a kind. Solvers must highlight 19 suitably placed cells in the completed grid, thus completing the COVER STORY. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1454 – Ramjets by Eclogue
“An extra letter not entered in the grid is generated by wordplay in each clue; read in clue order, the extra letters give three names which will lead solvers to the definition of RAMJETS, the eight unclued entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1446 – Band to Reset by Ifor
“Clues are normal and in conventional order; bars (which would not be symmetrical) must not be shown. Numbers given are answer lengths. Three cells each containing more than one letter must have each group replaced by a symbol. In the completed grid 20 cells containing two names and one letter showing a position in a sequence must be highlighted and three letters italicised; the centre cell is left empty. Solvers must empty six further cells which allow BAND TO reset, leaving real words. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1442 – IT Feature by Stick Insect
“Ten answers have been affected by an IT FEATURE and must be amended before entry in one of two ways. For the remaining clues, half contain a superfluous word which must be relocated into one of the clues in the other half before solving. Numbers in brackets refer to entry lengths. Letters in the four shaded cells can be arranged to provide an acronym of the IT FEATURE, which must be written in full below the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; two answers are abbreviations.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1438 – Understocked by Artix
“The left-hand and bottom perimeter cells represent empty supermarket shelves which must be ‘restocked’ (making new words) with the initial letters of the first 12 words of a song. One of its subsequent lyrics explains the specific item that was UNDERSTOCKED. Solvers must write the title below the grid and highlight the two artists (two blocks of cells in straight lines) responsible. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1434 – Dark and Stormy by Chalicea
“Single-letter misprints in the definition parts of 18 clues must be corrected before solving. The correct letters, read in order, describe the DARK AND STORMY speaker of the words around the perimeter of the grid, whose name must be highlighted (11 cells). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1430 – Trap by Gaston
“Three pairs of cells are TRAPPED by two symmetrically and thematically placed chains of 11 cells each. All 28 cells must be highlighted in the final grid to illustrate the TRAP. The three unclued entries of a kind are also thematically positioned. Two separate groups of consecutive clues (19 in total) contain a single superfluous letter in their wordplay. Reading these in clue order will give a hint as to where to find details of the TRAP. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1426 – 55 by Augeus
“The seven unclued entries are the names of an eponymous character whose nickname (55) should be written below the grid. With one exception, all clues contain a superfluous word which should be removed before solving; the initial letters of these words give the character’s location. The normal clue’s number gives the age of the character. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1422 – 34 28 24 by Oxymoron
“In ‘34 28 24’, wordplay yielded by clues either includes an extra letter not entered in the grid (16) or ignores a letter in the entered answer (15). In clue order these letters spell out what must appear in the perimeter reading clockwise, starting at cell 31. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”