EV 1687 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1687 (Hints)
I Am What I Am by Artix
Hints and tips by Gabriel

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Inspired by the title my first thoughts led me to Dr Seuss. I wasted a bit of time rereading “Green Eggs and Ham”. Jigsaw puzzles are somewhat daunting at first since a lot of cold solving invariably lies ahead.  Also, we immediately realised that this is a semi-carte blanche.

Preamble: In order to complete I AM WHAT I AM, solvers must add 16 more ninety-degree, rotationally-symmetric bars and optionally insert the other numbers (n, from 1  to 40) in the grid. Clues are listed in alphabetical order of their answers to be entered where they will fit. The nth letters of the 24 clues to fully cross-checked entries spell out, in numerical order, what must be highlighted. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.

At least the clues are normal. In alphabeticals, answers are more and more constrained as one cold solves but figuring out where they fit is a challenge – in this case, the longer answers will help.  Basically, all entries are  (<=6) with the exception of the four longs. Also, look for consecutive answers of appropriate lengths at across/down intersections that start with the same letter.  I typically sort all my answers by length and then cross them off carefully as I enter them.  In this case, this is a bit more difficult since you need to also add some bars. At some point you’ll notice something interesting about many letter pairs that are separated by bars. A good way in is to solve the long clues and then try fitting in crossers – yes, you might have to backtrack.

Clues:
* Worry dramatically, losing ball? Tell in confession (as before) (6)
The answer is ambiguous given US vs. Brit spelling which isn’t specified. You’ll need to resolve this with the crossing entry. I guessed incorrectly at first.

* Contracting yakuza’s trailer, transported around Hertfordshire town (10)
You usually think of the answer here as a noun. After one letter contributed to the wordplay, we contain a town’s name inside a word meaning transported for the remainder.

* Clement? He wanted reforms in prime locations! (6)
We often see clues that indicate that you need to select certain letters from a string in the clue. The “selecting function” is slightly mathematical this time.  The underlined question-mark hints at “example thereof”.

* A flap failing leads to vessel being lost (5)
The definition indicates that we are looking for an archaic or obsolete word. The wordplay has two parts, the second loses a letter.

* Layer of cells coursing in bloodstream only once old (10)
Since the long answers will prove helpful for fitting answers in the grid, I’ll mention this one as well – the wordplay is relatively straightforward since it’s jumble of its fodder that has a single letter removed.

* As seen on TV, fireman’s garden tool (6)
We’d never heard of the fireman, nor this word for the garden tool either. The fireman, one of a group in a TV programme, dates back to the 60s.

* Gradually pushed Editors to accept grid initially (5)
A common 2-letter abbreviation used or abused?

* Blistering note in lengthy film about health clubs (10)
Underlining the definition helps here. A slightly awkward double inclusion in the wordplay. A very common 3-letter word for “health club” is helpful fodder.

* Wise, for example, to unwed fourth predatory bird! (4)
“Unwed” is used somewhat cryptically surprisingly to indicate removal.

* Cycle round tiny island for historic title (4)
Knowing your Channel Islands will help here.

* As part of revolutionary target, US tracks trees (5)
Inside of a reversed word is a short, specifically Chicago, word for transport.  Also, the definitional plural hints at a group or set rather than a specific kind of tree.

* Sturgeon’s nibbles created by McDonalds primarily? Oh dear (5)
For non-Brits “sturgeon” is invariably a fish.  Most of you though are British I imagine.

* Jawi succeeded this in cursively snakish form? (6)
Unusual vocabulary. BRB consultation required by me. In &lits, “this” often refers to the literal answer.

* Scan which way to go? Here are two options (5)
The definition is a noun and not the obvious one. The wordplay makes a phrase: 1+2+2. There are three, not two, abbreviations involved here.

* What will define answer here? “Bo” will, by the sound of it (6)
Difficult homophonic clue. The underlining defines something that also refers to a children’s nursery rhyme.

* Will’s sister-in-law to get the better of office worker (5)
Will is often a reference to Shakespeare. Consider other options.

* Cold-blooded Amazonian killer wastes holy prince (4)
The Amazonian killer is fairly notorious, but it needs a two letter shorthand for holy ‘wasted’ from it to leave behind the prince.

* Rag irrational score by MacMillan, the genius of the age (10, two words)
A difficult charade of 3+2+3 (something else you might read when you’re not reading this paper, a common short irrational number, and a Scottish word.

* Maybe French disease engulfs tributary of Rhône stratified with sediment (6)
Wordplay is a 2-letter disease surrounding a river with an unusual definition that had me checking Chambers, not to mention the atlas.

Definitions in clues are underlined

Overall, some hard clues and even harder end game given all the grid uncertainties.  But once you have filled in the grid and have numbered the lights, you will be able to read off the message.  Which will confirm what you’ve probably already suspected about some of the cells which will make some self-referential titular sense.  Note there are 44 clues but only 40 numbered entries since there will be one shared across/down entry per-quadrant.

 

Toughness: 3.5 out of 4 on the difficulty scale

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