Enigmatic Variations

Enigmatic Variations No.1658 – Pseudonym by Gaston

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“Clues are presented in normal order, but there are nine unclued entries. One is the theme’s creator; the other eight comprise the seven members of a thematic group, with one member covering two entries. Twenty-two clues each contain a single-letter misprint. Read in clue order, the correct letters produce two names; the first eleven (all from across clues) spell out the theme’s central character, thought to be a PSEUDONYM for the eleven-letter second name (all from down clues). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

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Enigmatic Variations No.1654 – Verse’s Opening Line by Ifor

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“Clues are in normal order, giving every normal entry successively, in sequence. Answers must be entered routinely, in their entirety. Not all clues have orthodox solutions; seven are missing and require identifying, then answering, never straightforwardly. Highlight a phrase that identifies clues; four lines of six, symmetrically.”

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Enigmatic Variations No.1650 – Undesirable Celebrity by Kruger

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“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.”

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Enigmatic Variations No.1646 – Borderline by Vagans

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“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.”

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