It would appear that The Telegraph intends to discontinue the Enigmatic Variations series of barred cryptic puzzles in August. We must try to prevent this from happening so please read the new article on the Alberich/Klingsor website which gives details of the issue and a contact email address for the Telegraph’s crossword editor. For an update please see comment #5.
Now that would be a pity, it’s a great puzzle.
I have never tried it as I find it hard like all barred puzzles, but having said that others enjoy the challenge so it should not go.
As someone who has set puzzles in the EV series, though not very recently, I’d say forget about arguments about the number of comments on blogs, but email the newspaper in protest. In my experience, newspapers listen to protests and can change their minds. The more that have written in, the better, in getting them to take the decision that solvers want.
I’d also keep away from any comments on political issues, not relevant in relation to this and similar crossword series, I’d say.
As another EV setter, I would urge crossword lovers – regardless of whether they are EV solvers themselves or (like worworcrossol) they feel that the loss of the EV would severely impact the range of challenges available to the solving community – to speak out against the proposed cancellation of the EV by contacting Chris Lancaster at the email address given in the last paragraph of Alberich’s page on the subject.
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I have just had the following reply from Chris Lancaster:
“Thank you for your email regarding the Enigmatic Variations crossword. I can confirm that the series is not being discontinued, so will be published for the foreseeable future. Hopefully that is welcome news.”
So it looks like enough protests were mobilised and they have listened, as Raich predicted at #3!
Just got the same email. Result. 🙂
That’s good news. I was about to send my email when I saw the updated announcement here!
Ditto – way out of my league but I always enjoy marvelling at them on these pages
Great news. I hadn’t done it for a few years and had just got back into the swing of them so it’s a relief it’s carrying on. Long may it do so
Thanks to everyone who supported the cause. Can I just take this opportunity to encourage Enigmatic Variations solvers to comment on the EV blogs on this site – as a setter it’s great to get feedback (whether good, bad or somewhere in between), and as a both a setter and a fan of the EV it’s great to see that plenty of solvers are tackling the puzzles and reading the blogs.
Great news and a round of applause to those who made their voice heard as well as Chris Lancaster for his correspondence.
I don’t post as much as I used to on the weekly puzzle blogs but will certainly make more of an effort to based upon what I’ve read.
Those who, like me, don’t buy the Telegraph or pay for its puzzles, might be able to access them via their local authority’s public library service, via Pressreader.
Many thanks to all those who spoke up for us here and on the various sites and demonstrated that the EV really is solved and enjoyed by so many, even if we don’t (or didn’t) enter or comment.