Crossword

This puzzle marks a 42/27 by 11 in 17/19. Five other unclued lights (one twice hyphened) together suggest another form of 42/47: solvers must shade the pair. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

Each of twelve clues contains a superfluous word. 9 of these words are unclued lights, which are of a kind.  Ignore an accent in one unclued light.

The unclued lights can be arranged into a chain of anagrams of 3 to 11 letters in length, with the addition of one letter step by step.   Across 7 Towboat capsized in channel (3) 11 Contain grease once (6) 13 Against work — was perplexed (7) 15 Bender on river (5) 16 Two flowers of sorts in colleges (5) 17 Prudently state diocese (6) 20 Hymn to alluring female without power (6) 21 Associated feature that is in the can (5, hyphened) 27 Artificial swap of Mafia member (7, hyphened) 29 Warm-up races! (5) 30 One hug could become sufficient (6) 32 Great desire of ogre, edified (5) 34 Herbie's mallet for game (6) 36 Japanese artist's black structure (5) 37 Broadcasting with Grace — but not young Deborah (5, two words) ... 38 ...

‘1/5/28’ (five words in total) is part of a quotation in ODQ and suggests how to find the common element in the remaining unclued lights (41 is in Collins). The author’s surname (6) will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.

Seven unclued lights are words that may be regarded as 13 18.  The remaining unclued light supplies the material with which, in normal clue order, the 18 are 13. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

The unclued lights, (one individually, one of two words and three pairs), are of a kind.   Across   4    Popular executive having brush with copper can’t be condoned (11) 12    Left back’s round, round body (5) 13    Artless pastor immersed in revenue probe (11) 14    It’s steady to be unsteady (4) 15    One member’s a scoundrel (3) 18    Remained firm to the finish and awfully rude (7) 19    Levantine query to god’s high priesthood (7) 23    Returning runner has cost of Malay fabrics (6) 24    1300H — united — agree?

The nine unclued lights (including two of two words) form three groups of three: two of the three groups each contain words of a kind; the final group makes up a four-word title. The theme word which links the groups must be highlighted in the final grid. Ignore three accents.

The unclued lights, two of two words, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.   Across 1 We hear eldest son refrains from claiming media for media (8) 6 Insectivore collected nectar (6) 11 Mostly, robbery's extremely unusual in the whole passage (10) 13 Came across investment vehicle with nothing in (5) 14 Books with titles always found in literature (8) 17 Breaks in Ireland take up time … seconds (7) 18 Greek restaurant upset one on the subject of sales tax (7) 19 Receive parts of broadcast, using these for TV? (9) 22 Some Rhondda inhabitant? (3) 24 Hankered after Albert Camus's life in goal (6) 26 Wanting boundaries, Lara out to reverse sweep (3) 30 Company and partners in contract, or initially those in association?

The unclued lights (one of two words) are of a specific kind. Ignore all accents.   Across 1 H-E-X? (5) 4 Series of numbers causing confab about 1 and 101 (9) 10 In an alienating way, first disproving 4 = 4. See? (10) 11 Shaver heard to be one on the way up?

‘14/7’ (four words in all) is part of a quotation from 29/1D in ODQ and is what the remaining unclued lights do in slightly different ways. The title of the relevant work will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe and an accent.   Across   1    Mate nautical jester heckles (14) 9    Ancient sage twice accepted shares (4) 11    Be very surprised when earl appeases mob?

Definitions in nineteen clues are unreliable. In each of ten there is a superfluous letter, and from each of the other nine a letter is missing. Superfluous and missing letters, taken in clue order, spell four words of a quotation (in ODQ) by 9 (two words). The quotation’s next word is an unclued light which defines the remaining unclued lights, one of which is hyphened.

The solutions to numbered lights are the words missing from the story. The unclued lights are the names of twenty-two Scottish lochs.  However, forty-four names of lochs appear in the story, all of which are hidden or appear in jumbled form in the story. Solvers are not required to list the ‘discarded’ lochs.   I was glad to receive the 26 (hyphened) from both my surgeons who told me that no 5 had 22 following the operation on my knee which I had injured falling off a 41.   They told me, ‘Watch how far you 38 though. You can try one or two miles without any effect. Remember another strain keeps you off the road again.’ ‘So I reckon my plans for my 44 bike trip to the 23 of France have to be 25 short,’ I pensively replied.

‘15A/35/1D’ is part of a quotation from 20 in ODQ and could refer to the remaining unclued lights (including a pair). Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

Each of seven definitions contains one misprinted letter. Corrections of misprints spell an alternative title for the puzzle, defining the unclued lights.

The unclued lights (two of three and one of two words), when preceded by the same word which solvers must include along with their completed grid, can be verified in Brewer.   Across   9    Small cafe spoken of in ski-lift (4, hyphened) 11    Computer functions ’til a server crashes (10) 16    Mature writer backed Ireland first (5) 17    It’s cold, but hot when one is there!

Twenty 9-letter items form a circular chain in which each item recycles eight of its letters into the next one. Eight of the items are unclued entries, seven are words which must be removed from clues before they can be solved, and five are thematic items. One of the thematic items and one of the unclued entries are two-word phrases. The thematic person’s surname must replace one answer in the grid (leaving real words).   Across   1    Police officer is against re-folding this firm (6) 7    Fairly generical diminutive outside right (6) 12    Queen accepts conclusions of her heir and no mistake (5) 16    Place certainly including earth?

Each of sixteen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell two words. Solvers who refer to Chambers will find, in the definitions of these words, a word that describes each of the unclued lights. This word, concealed in the grid, must be highlighted. In one unclued light, ignore an apostrophe.

When paired, the unclued lights (one hyphened) are of a kind. Ignore two accents. (The solution at 15D is not listed in Chambers and that at 36D only at its definition.)   Across 3    Global popularity of a lecturer in Keele, say (12) 13    Covered pathways badly made inside, unfortunately (8) 18    Race-course records medal (5) 19    Forced Alan to be involved with U-turn (9) 22    Chemical company is here in France (3) 24    Endless yearning to embrace secretary causing gloom (7) 25    Allowed fellow to enter, then departed (4) 26    Would it provide some relief and relaxation? (7) 28    Novel resort in Arden?

Unclued lights could be resorted to form eight of a kind.