Pabulum

2424: Poem V

1A (four words) and 44 (four words) are quotations from the first verse of a poem (in ODQ). Five remaining unclued lights are examples of 1A, while 44 might be a comment on the other four. The poet’s initials will appear upwards in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 9    Food for

2421: Tina

‘40/37/1A’, as he has been called, was born in 28 (two words) and died in 30/36. He was a reluctant ‘guest’ at 16’s twenty-seventh birthday party. 22 and 40 combine to form an anagram of the name of one of his works, while the puzzle’s title suggests the name of another. His surname appears as

2415: The limit

1A (hyphened) suggests a word which, with changes to its 7D 33, becomes the four other words (including a name) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (including a pair). The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 7    Outburst of song from tailor (3) 11    Lid of fryer accepted

2412: Transponders

It is the centenary of a daring feat. Unclued lights (two of two words) include two surnames, two locations (two pairs) and the aptly positioned name of a key item (a pair). Ignore an apostrophe.   Across 1    Matronage almost outraged Lily (8) 6    Appear briefly and go quietly (4) 12    Toolmaker out of Alaska

2406: Heptad

Clockwise round the grid from 6 run the names (9,5,7,6,8,7,8) of the leading members of a group. The unchecked and corner letters could make SILVER INVENTORS RUN AROUND and 18 is an anagram of the group’s name (two words). An English version of the name (two words) the group gave to a seminal work will

2403: Hexad

The second and fourth letters of six unclued lights (defined by surplus single words in six clues) form a set whose name is cryptically suggested by the remaining pair.   Across 1    Acknowledged 500 vatu due (6) 5    Raptors seek rats chandler set free (8) 10    Seabird collecting books about one UK fleet? No way!

2397: Obit V

We recently lost a fine 13, whose legacy includes 10 (two words) and 9 (two words), and four other unclued lights (including one of two words and a pair). A further two unclued lights combine with a clued one to give an anagram of the 13’s name (two words); the clued light must be shaded.

2394: Opening time

The first three or four letters of eight unclued lights (including one proper name) form a set said to be safe for 1A. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.   Across 10    Sauce that will do OK for Frankfurters (4) 12    Sea-fishers lent warmer pants (10) 14    Upset goddess upset menial (3) 15    Departed by rail, oddball with

2388: Sea rocket

‘12/15’ (six words in total) is a quotation (in ODQ) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (two hyphened), whose fifth and sixth letters might give A NUN AMBROSIA. The surname of the quotation’s author will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 1    Scots bike across district in region round

2385: R and R

The theme is two historic people who were contemporaries. Unclued lights give their forenames, places of birth and death and occupations. A geographical feature (5) linking the two will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. The solutions at 22 and 27 share the same two unchecked letters.  

2379: Shocking

Eight headwords in Chambers consist of the same word. Unclued lights (including two trios and one doing double duty) give definitions of these headwords. The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 5    End with cloudy sort of wine (7, hyphened) 10    Strappers said to break down (4) 12   

2376: Somewhere XI

On 15 September somewhere bordered by 31 and 5, and whose capital is 40/10 (ignore an accent), celebrates its 43 from 35. Its main exports are 36 and 19D and, unusually, it has no 1 (two words). Its IVR (2) appears downwards in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.  

2370: Problem XII

Fans of classic 12 will know that where ‘Q’ = ‘the number of’: Q26 x Q1D x (Q34 + [Q36D/5A x Q15D]) x Q14/20 = Q the puzzle. 14/20 is four words in total.   Across   1 Red vestment eastern compère retains (6) 10  Seeds of casaba once processed (10, two words) 11  Ruth

2367: When pigs fly

Five unclued lights form a quotation from a work concerning the 18 of 19, 15A and 23. The 18’s name will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 4    Placidity of English queen nearing Ross and Cromarty town (9) 9    Dumb mimickings parish rioters bandied (10) 11    Old statesman from Burundi

2361: Snoot

Unclued lights are anagrams of eight words which are of a kind.   Across 1    Result of hooker’s foul work? (13, two words, one hyphened) 9    Flower from 19th State in yellow and light brown (except for edges) (7) 11    Penniless cleric one passes (7) 16    Lord, say, occupies lounge (5) 17    Poet’s pigsty fellow

2358: Poem IV

Unclued lights are words from a poem, its author and a relevant location. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.   Across 7    Music like reggae from Saskatchewan (3) 11    Carriage policeman pulled over beside hedge (6) 13    Judge meets drug addict who’s declining (7) 15    Ionian cardinal crossing Iowa (5) 16    Strong pickle’s sound (5) 17    Seminary

2349: Novel

Clockwise round the grid from 3 run the names (7,4,5,6,8,8,5,6) of four characters in a novel followed by the initials of its author. Two pairs of unclued lights (20/39 and 11/26) each combine to form an anagram of the novel’s title.   Across 8    Aged saint keeps working a long long time (5) 9    Weed

2331: Anagrams

Unclued lights suggest nine different words, each made up of the same five letters. These letters will appear in the completed grid in an alphabetically ordered sequence which must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.   Across 6  Young sailor turned cricketer (6, hyphened) 12  In the normal way all sections united in study (10,

2328: Second coming

6A and 42 (whose unchecked letters give IDEA) combine to suggest the title of a novel. Remaining unclued lights give the forenames (in one case a nickname) of six of its characters, whose surname (5) will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.   Across 1    Interceder tried

2322: In memoriam

A pair of unclued lights (three words in total) give an event. Remaining unclued lights, including a pair (three words in total), each bring to mind the same relevant word in one of three different ways.   Across 1    Collectors trim and polish bits in disrepair (14) 9    Ape with recurrent depression in trap (7)