Enigmatic Variations 800

[cruciverbali]

Today's puzzle is Title Unnecessary by Oxymoron. Looks like Killer is still on the loose - obviously didn't have the credentials to be the 800th EV puzzle.

[midazolam]

thanks c - i was at a crossword loose end today otherwise

here is todays mephisto

[cruciverbali]

Thank you for the link midazolam - I enjoyed last week's Mephisto

[midazolam]

well i think this weeks ev is far harder than the listener - a difficult challenge

[midazolam]

but i might add that i see why the killer is still on the loose

[devadolly]

Please help! Oxymoron and I just don't think in the same way, in fact I think we occupy a different universe! Some very leading clues to try and set me off would be very welcome as it really is the weather to have a good crossword to 'worry' over a cuppa.

Thanks

[novalis]

Thought my ( big )number was up with this one!
Like you I expected a "lazy" day getting my quiz ready for next weekend ( editing and typing up ) but it wasn't to be.
Let's hope the killer is arrested next Sunday.

To Devadolly - Not answers "per se" but the answers which have gaps to begin with are
across 13 & 15, 17 to 36 inclusive and 42 & 44
down 1, 2, 5, 10, 18, 21, 22, 25, 32, 33 and 37.

Those in the middle and in the bottom right area of the grid should yield an identical symmetrical pattern from which the pattern for the top left area becomes clear.

It is appropriate and there is a massive clue in the title of the puzzle.

[cruciverbali]

Oui, d'accord midazolam - this week's Listener was tres facile in comparison to Oxymoron's offering.

Vive la difference !!

[novalis]

Oxymoron always sets a demanding but fair challenge --- and this certainly was.

[cruciverbali]

It will be interesting to see whether Nutmeg's Choices (Inquisitor 62) is more demanding.

Can anyone remember the last time that a setter had 2 puzzles published on the same day ?

[devadolly]

Thank you for your hints Novalis , though I fear I am still swimming in mud! Mr O gives me the same feeling of stupidity I used to get when faced by maths and physics problems - I fear that area of my brain is very lacking. Will plod along for the rest of the week, always trying for a Eureka moment then open next week's Seven with Hope!!

Many thanks to all

[novalis]

To Devadolly,

The extra clue letters spell out "read from top to bottom left to right". By following this instuction and filling the gaps with letters which, when added, will give a word ( e.g. 1d the clued answer is "thae" but entered th*a*e then add e & v to give theave ) you should be able to read something very appropriate.

[novalis]

Sorry Devadolly --- ignore "from". It should be "Read top to bottom, left to right. For 1a you are looking for a type of wave. ( Remove "r" fromm waver.

[devadolly]

Thank you again Novalis - Tsunami was one (of the few) clues I had managed, but I had the spare letter as v missing from an annagram of Ivan must. I also had thae pencilled in for 1d (the literary side works reasonably well!) but couldn't see where the other letters came from, or how to put them in.

Will disect thoroughly in a fortnight and try not to revert to panic mode whenever I see his name at the top.

Regards

[novalis]

Devadolly - Note the two letters added in thEaVe.

[midazolam]

novalis - you dont need e or v in thae they are just blank

and i am not sure you needed to give the sentence away as that is part of the challenge of the crossword

it was a good challenge and clue hints i feel are much more of a help with these type of crosswords. i have no objections with help with this or the listener and i am not being nasty

you are a massive help to the crossword community novalis

[midazolam]

oh and cruciverbali can one get hold of choices by nutmeg?

[cruciverbali]

Inquisitor is not available online as far as I am aware. A friend passes their magazine on to me after the weekend. If you e-mail me ([email protected]) I can send you a scanned copy.

[novalis]

To midazolam.

I appreciate that you weren't being nasty and take your point in the spirit in which it was intended.. I was merely trying to help somebody who seems to be really struggling with this week's puzzle.

Not sure though about not needing the e & v and leaving blanks. Instructions read "Finally solvers must join up the INITIALLY blank cells......." I've interpreted that as the blanks should be filled with the requisite letters, especially as earlier in the instructions there is reference to "completing the grid" and the last part reads "Chambers 2003 verifies all grid entries". Putting in the missing letters results in actual words and that is my reading of the "verifies ALL grid entries". Could, of course, be totally wrong with that conclusion.
Sorry about the capitals -- they're merely to stress what I regarrd as the key words.

Thank you for the kind comment at the end of your post.

[novalis]

Sorry --- should have added this. Also in the instructions is the comment "will assist solvers in COMPLETING the grid."

[MatydaLover]

Novalis,

No doubt about it, you're right - otherwise it's an incredible co-incidence that it all fits.

I have to say I missed that completely - I was satified with my pretty little circles. Glad to know I'm not the only one!

Well done indeed!