Crossword

Clockwise round the grid from 3 run the names (7,4,5,6,8,8,5,6) of four characters in a novel followed by the initials of its author. Two pairs of unclued lights (20/39 and 11/26) each combine to form an anagram of the novel’s title.

Clues are given according to alphabetical order of their answers. Each of thirty-two clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. When arranged in conventional clue order, the extras spell a character’s name and seven-word quotation (in ODQ). In the remaining seven clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal an item situated as the quotation suggests in relation to the unclued 8, 21, 28 (two words), 30 and 37. Ignore an accent in the highlighted item.

Each of the eight unclued lights is a series of letters in alphabetical order which can be formed into eight theme words. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.

The unclued entries (two hyphened) are all synonyms. Each of five clues contains a word that must be removed to enable the clue to be solved. These words can all be augmented by a letter (the five letters appear in sequence in the completed grid, and must be highlighted) to form five more words, which, treated singly or combined in pairs, form nine items. One is a synonym of one of the unclued entries.

The first line of a 4 (two words) consists of 7A and the puzzle’s 3 41; the second line is 7D 12 33 37 (six words in total). Cryptic indications in seven clues are incomplete; in each case, the answer is formed when the indicated part has 12 33.   Across 1    Fret about fixing toy (11, two words) 11    Rook in spot with energy in attacking position (6) 13    Change in Romeo – product of bonding action? (7) 15    Rodents, when after cover, retreating (5) 16    Wise to follow uniform practice (5) 17    Improvement in part for all to see in vessel (6) 18    Leader of England in cricket?

A word suggested by the title can either precede or follow each of the unclued lights to form phrases listed in Brewer.   Across 10    5’s musical art on car plate (12) 11    Chosen the front bits of 40 (5) 13    Artwork showing most of red face cover turned over (7) 14    Crushes forms and PO items (6) 17    Spenser’s questioning adding a seal (8) 21    Might they roughly bisect Arctic Ocean for starters?

Round the perimeter clockwise is a 14-word quotation in ODQ, with its first word represented by a number in the grid. Other unclued lights are words of a kind (including four proper nouns and one of two words) which need treating before entry, as suggested by the final three words of the quotation. One of the treated entries is a proper noun. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.

A beastly business The quote is 1A/92/18D from the poem ‘A Visit from St Nicholas’. The theme was the names of the eight reindeer in the poem. Three were highlighted whilst the others each suggested three unclued lights: Dasher (26, 63 and 83 — sprinters); Comet (12, 48 and 64 — astronomers’ names given to comets); Dancer (7, 49 and 74); Vixen (64A, 85 and 89 — female animals); Cupid (4, 25 and 46 — love deities).   The winners The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of Bletchley Park Brain Teasers by Sinclair McKay (Headline) go to the following. In addition, the first four winners each win a bottle of champagne.   First prize Peter Turner, Bearsden, Glasgow Runners-up F.

The unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind.

3 1A (eight words in total, one apostrophe) and 41 23 32 36 (seven words, including two accents) give two quotations (in ODQ) by 17 (two words), which possibly contradict each other or themselves.   Across 10    With this cube, making something solid? (5) 11    Resolve to remove head of the BBC (5) 13    Old doctor and children taking shelter (5) 14    Tap – what to do when it’s stuck, some say?

Three unclued lights form a nine-word quotation from a thematic work. Remaining unclued lights, including one hyphened, are five trios of words of a kind, each suggested by a thematic word from the same work. Three further thematic words need highlighting in the completed grid.

Cryptic indications in four clues are incomplete; in each case, the part not indicated is supplied by a 1D (two words). Two unclued lights and the 35 are synonyms of the first word of 1D; each of three unclued lights is defined by the second word of 1D, which is also the surname of a fictional character whose first name is the answer to a clue without a definition.

The unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore three accents. Across 1    Unethical point of an Aesop fable (6) 11    Improve, making Oriel, accommodated by a fellow (10) 13    3 in Casablanca in the wet season (5) 14    This psychotherapist poor Leonard can’t take on (5) 15    Oration about province (7) 18    Non-A roads are where to meet (6) 19    It’s under the window, not moving, timeless (4) 22    Old-fashioned people buried here?

Unclued lights are connected to a theme word (which does not appear), three in each of three different senses. Two clued lights form an anagram of a name associated with the theme and should be highlighted.   Across 8    Gulls escape through a hedge (4) 12    Manager almost cut American scientist (10) 13    Remove stain from tyrant?

Each of four unclued lights is the result of an action that may be described as 7 (hyphened), a definition of which is supplied by an unclued light. One unclued light is the result of 39 (a three-word phrase confirmed in Chambers under its third word). Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

The unclued lights (one of two words — ignore its accent) are of a kind.

5 (hyphened) and 14 are types of 37. Remaining unclued lights are other types of 37, given in a form that is either 5 or 14. Unchecked and cross-checking letters in all unclued answers could give: GAPES INDECENTLY— A GOOEY MEAL. Ignore two accents in the completed grid.   Across 1  Check’s omitted in alcohol range (8) 8  Paint base on pen (4) 11  Man’s roughly northern (5) 13  250 farm animals in poem (7) 15  Battle about university sell-off (7) 17  A princess in opera? (4) 18  Why Doctor Who’s ordinary (5, two words) 19  Reserve fish, bagging pounds from the freezer?

One unclued light is a three-word phrase indicating the way in which each of the answers to clues in italics must be entered in the grid. Definitions of resulting entries are supplied by unclued lights.

The unclued lights (one of two words and one hyphened) when preceded by a five--letter word are phrases listed in Brewer. Solvers have to locate and highlight this five-letter word which appears as an inverted L in the completed grid.   Across 1    Enter the world with thick hair concealing head (5) 4    Abandons damaged chest of drawers, having lost the CD (9) 9    Proficiency with or without sporting award (10) 11    Major’s wife cuts sailor’s bar short (5) 12    Cocktail attachment (7) 14    Give in and give out (5) 15    Give a clue concerning ‘tape’ (5) 16    River — one other one. Gracious!