Unclued lights are a set of literary 40s. Their creator is hidden in the grid and should be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 1 How ducks eat, billions in valley (6) 7 In college, record time to take degree (6) 11 Garden visitor, immature female, tiny size (10) 13 Cleave small, timid mammal
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Unclued lights were names of GHOST STORIES by M.R. (MONTAGUE RHODES) JAMES: CASTING (1A) THE (29) RUNES (10); THE TREASURE OF (9A) ABBOT (58) THOMAS (100); THE TRACTATE (42) MIDDOTH (33); OH WHISTLE (43) AND I’LL (68) COME TO YOU (1D) MY LAD (24); THE STALLS OF (44) BARCHESTER (115) CATHEDRAL (82);
Unclued lights (six of two words, one of three), correctly linked, make ten members of a seasonal set, one light doing multiple duty. Ignore one hyphen and two apostrophes. Nineteen across clues contain a superfluous word; initial letters of these words in clue order form the full name of the creator. The name of the
Unclued lights, singly or correctly paired, are of a kind, as given in Chambers. Ignore one apostrophe. Across 5 Maiden admitting born overseas originally, not in Danish city (6) 11 Author’s note on leader of band (6) 13 Sort of thinking muscle real troublesome (7) 15 Old royal servant, one that looks to captivate
2 describes a pair of unclued lights (three words altogether), which in turn include the others. Across 12 Single by pop group: ‘Go for violent crime’ (8) 13 Beast’s sardonic-sounding refusal (5) 14 Wing and tail feathers missing one month (8) 16 Book I inscribed for myself? (4) 20 Will’s to resurrect a year’s
Unclued lights make five pairs with something in common. Across 1 Fragrant nuts announced (5) 4 Neat workers secure line for pole holding basket (9, hyphened) 9 Unsuitable papal rooms exchanged (10) 11 Incitement to hold round dance (5) 15 Proud to pull tons (5) 21 I waited outside as daughter went for some
Unclued lights form three sets of three, each set related in a different way to a theme-word which is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted. Across 1 Keeping on certain subject, I am an unusual scientist (13) 9 A court’s brief shade (4) 14 Mount paintings an artist submitted (6) 15 In
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
Clockwise round the grid run six of a kind (one of three words and one three-word pair). Other unclued lights show where you might find others of their kind. Unchecked corner letters could give PLAY-DEN PLANK. Across 11 With everyone away, call hourly for singers (6) 13 Old bird biting end off confectionery (3)
Procne (37D), Tereus (23D), Scylla (19D) and Arachne (30D) were all given as anagrams, as was Ovid (42D). Daphne (1D) changed to laurel, and Niobe (7A) to stone, as in the Metamorphoses (45A). First prize Stephen Saunders, Midford, Bath Runners-up R. Wightman, Ilkley, W. Yorks; Rafe Magrath, London SW13
In ten clues the wordplay leads to the answer plus one extra letter. These letters in clue order give a name (two words) to which are questionably attributed the unclued lights (in Brewer), which make three phrases: one of six words, one of three, one of four (thematically five?). Across 4 See me in
The shared name was PERRY (18), shared by GRAYSON (28) Perry and Perry MASON (2). GP, whose alter ego is CLAIRE (3), is a TURNER (32) Prize winner. PM is a lawyer created by Erle Stanley GARDNER (27); Della STREET (10) is PM’s secretary and Paul DRAKE (37) is his private investigator. PERRY was to
The unclued lights (one of two words), correctly paired, are of a kind and are defective in the same way. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Indecision of poet shortly to tour America (8) 5 A band restrains it likewise (6, two words) 14 Judge half a fool (3) 16 Shrewd to capture rook
The theme word was China, the Mandarin Chinese word for which is Zhongguo (the pinyin transliteration of 中国). Unclued lights were Chinese cities (34A, 3D, 30D), types of china (16A, 30A, 9D) and words meaning ‘friend’ (2D, 37D, 38D). First prize Janet Fletcher, Johnstone, Renfrewshire Runners-up Virginia Porter, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff; Ernie Morrison, Coleraine, Co.
The unclued lights (ignore two apostrophes and an umlaut) are of a kind, as verified in Brewer. Across 1 Seating right up to date (5, two words) 6 Run off book in a moment, not English (7) 11 Learner chews roach sadly (10, hyphened) 15 Shortly irritate returning US politician (4) 16 Bill interprets old fears
Unclued lights consist of a quotation (in ODQ), its speaker and source, and a synonym (one hyphened) of each of its three words. Its author appears in the grid and must be shaded. Across 1 Excel as old Greek character among women (11) 11 Cable runs past part of bow (6) 13 Look in
Extra letters in clues form the phrase BITE THE DUST. Thematically created entries at 10, 11, 19, 29 and 34 (in which the types of dust are pother, pollen, stour, bort and ash) are defined by 15, 30, 18, 39 and 9. First prize Andrew Bell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Runners-up Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Cheshire; John
Corrections of misprints in clues give STEP ON THE GAS, indicating the unclued lights in each of four columns in the grid. First prize Virginia Porter, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff Runners-up Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd; John M. Brown, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire
Around the perimeter starting at one corner run two lines of a verse (ten words). Two unclued lights give the name of the author (in her formal style); other unclued lights give one association with each of the adjectives in the quotation. Across 10 Smile conceals a natural character (5) 11 Eastern exercise in
The works were Striding Folly (anagram of 11/22), Whose Body? (36/1D), The Nine Tailors (2/48), Strong Poison (9/30) and Gaudy Night (17/46). DOROTHY L. SAYERS (diagonally from the SW corner) was to be shaded. Title: anagram of LORD PETER WIMSEY who features in all five works. First prize Mark Rowntree, London SE10 Runners-up Mrs S.
