Ev Sunday Telegraph Enigmatic Variations 1108: Dreams By Rasputin

[jim360]

The main penny-drop moment came on approximately the second clue I looked at, but the endgame is certainly worth filing the grid for. Any grid packed with 60/144 cells predetermined by thematic material is an impressive construction, so thanks to Rasputin for going to the effort of making the idea work. Some very terse and clever clues too -- 19d for brevity and 23d for the idea of the wordplay were my favourites.

[jockie]

Try as I might I could find only 50 (not 51) cells to erase. Is something wrong with my (or Rasputin's) counting? Otherwise a fine Sunday stroll.

[dr b]

I also got 51, but the idea of erasing them all was too much to bear, so I highlighted instead. Took a bit longer for the PDM but well worth it. I imagine this was indeed a tough one to set.

[novalis]

Hi all!

I make it 51 as well. The PDM came as I read through the clues initially to look for redundant words.

[devadolly]

No PDM yet but enjoying the clues, think I like 7d best so far. Have a good idea of what might be necessary but 51 cells? No where near that yet!

[novalis]

Hi Devadolly!
There is an excellent hint in dr. b's comment.

[Ruthrobin]

51, I assure you, Jockie. Rasputin is a combination of three of us and this was tremendous fun to set - then there are several test solves and editorial solves and vets, so, even if we were all rotten at counting, it would be picked up (hopefully) though I have to admit that errors have got by all that checking and double, treble, quintuple checking in the past.

[salveMe]

51 all present and correct, and much enjoyed. Thank you, Rasputin (all three of you).

[Christiana]

Glad for the reassurance re.the 51 cells. Have a filled grid apart from the final letter of 1d and haven't struggled too hard with that yet. Had my PDM moment and know what to highlight, but can't make the cell count come to 51. Could someone confirm if the four specific items are proper nouns, as I have a possible 5 of those, but one could be one letter shorter, for something that also fits the theme. Even so, I can't as yet get the cell count right. I assume it's 51 blank cells rather than 51 letters in the words to be removed?

[novalis]

HI Christiana!
The last letter of 1 down helps to form one of the set of six generic words to be removed. Of the four specific items two are in the first verse and two in the last ( ignoring the chorus ). Yes, it is a total of 51 blank cells.

[Christiana]

Thanks Novalis - I had the four you mentioned, but hadn't realised about 1d - will look again at that. It will mean dropping one of the others I thought were part of the equation

[Christiana]

Yes, got there now. Shows how even one cell incomplete can throw you on the endgame.

[dr_b_too]

I can only get to 51 by deleting two of the cells I also have to highlight. Is this correct?

[novalis]

dr_b_too. No, you do not delete any of the highlighted cells.

[LifesABeach]

One of the nicest for a while! (IMHO)...a lot of theme packed into the grid.
Took me a while, but I got there eventually.
Everyone has to have a favourite clue - 14D floated my boat.