Enigmatic Variations – Page 46

Enigmatic Variations 1077: A Figure produced by Oxymoron

Sat July 20, 2013 at 12:01 am by Shenanigans

It’s always a pleasure to blog an Oxymoron (or Schadenfreude!) puzzle, and this one was titled A Figure produced by Oxymoron—intriguing! Only eleven misprint clues this week, the balance being made up of … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1076: Equivalence by Samuel

Sat July 13, 2013 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

All the hallmarks of a classic EV in the preamble: misprints in the definitions of fourteen clues leading to a ‘suggestion’ as to how to enter eight answers ‘thematically’ – with three other … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1075 – Blame the Setter by Chalicea

Sat July 6, 2013 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

I got through this one quite quickly, aided by a liberal use of solving aids once I’d worked out how the clue worked (always useful for anagrams of words that are new to … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1074 Almost Without Poor Clues by Ifor

Fri June 28, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Straight clues, but an unconventional entry for one down clue in each column. A phrase to be deduced and advice against using a pen to fill the grid! Once I got over my … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1073: Crowning Glories by Glow-worm

Sat June 22, 2013 at 12:01 am by Shenanigans

“Four musical CROWNING GLORIES are clued without definition.” So we were celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation. That would explain why she popped up in so many of the clues. Sixteen … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1072: Companions by Wiglaf

Sat December 7, 2013 at 11:15 pmSat June 15, 2013 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

I found this puzzle quite challenging, partly due to a gap in my cultural references, which will be revealed – although I suspect many people who don’t have this gap may have got … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1071 – The Empty House by Nutmeg

Sat June 8, 2013 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

My house is, indeed, empty as I write these few lines, as is my stomach. My diary is empty, as exams very recents came to an end. Apparently, most empty of all is my head, since I can’t think of any more appropriate introduction to this enjoyable puzzle.

Enigmatic Variations 1070 Perimeter by Kruger

Fri May 31, 2013 at 9:48 pmFri May 31, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Relatively straight forward in the preamble department – extra letters from the wordplay spell out a quotation and this will enable the solver to complete the un-clued perimeter cells. Sounds straight forward enough. … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1069: Greetings … and Farewell from Rustic

Sat May 25, 2013 at 12:01 am by Shenanigans

Little did I realise when I wrote my last fifteensquared blog that I would be blogging another Rustic puzzle this month as well … for all the wrong reasons. Sadly, James Leonard, Rustic … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1068: Bargain by Nutmeg

Sat May 18, 2013 at 8:07 amSat May 18, 2013 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Some sad news to report first – which I don’t think has been mentioned on this site yet – is that the preamble to EV1069, published on Sun 5 May informs us that James Leonard, … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1067 – Top and Tail by Wan

Mon May 13, 2013 at 3:20 pmMon May 13, 2013 at 12:22 pm by Mister Sting

Firstly, my apologies for having this blog up so late. I have finals starting soon and I misjudged my workload. I’m sorry for making you all wait.

Enigmatic Variations 1066 Taxing by Eclogue

Fri May 3, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

So how taxing is taxing? That is my first question – Misprints in the definitions of all but 2 clues, once corrected they will reveal a French proverb and ten thematic adjustments to … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1065: Hotiuhtw by Rustic

Sat April 27, 2013 at 12:01 am by Shenanigans

Having escaped from the jaws of Playfair codes with yesterday’s Listener (Oh, No! Not Another Playfair), courtesy of Mordred, here I am well and truly in at the deep end! Time to see … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1064: Upper Half by Shark

Sat April 20, 2013 at 9:42 pmSat April 20, 2013 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

OK – I know when I’m beaten – I surrender! I’ll come out quietly with my hands up. A seemingly simple preamble, a reasonably quick grid fill, and then two-plus weeks staring at … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1063 – Reform by MynoT

Sat April 13, 2013 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

‘Reform’? Surely not a puzzle about everyone’s favourite right-wing purveyors of guff? (Actually, hold that thought…) In any case, I sometimes get rather stuck with trickier missing letter clues, so I wonder if this one is going to behave. (Actually, I don’t. Obviously, I’ve already solved the puzzle at this point. But let’s not damage the fourth wall any more.)