Preview #2

Hello cryptic lovers! For our second and final preview before paid issues start in June, we have two offerings. In February, we offered "Answers", which was intended to represent something like "medium complexity" for a Gnomon puzzle. This time, we have both something lighter, and something heavier.

Our lighter offering is what's called a "Theme and Variations" puzzle. This is a format that appears to have been created in 1956 by Alec Robins, writing for The Listener under the name of Zander. He eventually did 12 for The Listener, and the format has been replicated by several other setters there and elsewhere; I first encountered them in the Cox and Rathvon backlog, and I expect they'll be a regular feature at The Gnomon.

I really enjoy Theme and Variations puzzles as among the lightest of varieties. There's no added trickiness in either solving the clues or entering the answers; the only challenge is in identifying a handful of entries (here, a dozen) which have no cryptic clues, but which clue each other in various ways. If you haven't solved one before, maybe pay attention to the helpful first sentence of the instructions (which testers routinely forgot about.)

Theme and Variations #1 is now the second Gnomon puzzle to be edited by a member of The Rackenfracker, this time Sean Weitner, aka Dadgumituh. Dadgum's work has already graced the site however in the form of The Gnomon's logo which I can't thank him enough for making. And for the second time, if you somehow are here without having heard of The Rack, then well, you're in for a real treat.

Theme and Variations #1
ipuz
solve online ("Cryptic Crossweird" color scheme recommended)
pdf
solutions

And our second preview puzzle is the first to be made by someone who isn't me. "Owed to Pixar" is offered by Roger Wolff, whom I know best as the editor of the Cryptic All-Stars books, which are an absolute tour de force for fans of American variety cryptics, and his book "50 Variety Cryptic Crosswords" (available at the same link) is also just outstanding, filled with a ton of wonderful ideas.

"Owed to Pixar" is a complicated affair with shenanigans affecting both how to solve the clues and how to enter them in the grid, and solvers might want to be prepared for this one to take more than one sitting.

Owed to Pixar
google sheet
solve online
pdf
solutions

And that wraps it up for The Gnomon's free previews. If you like what you've seen, I hope you'll consider subscribing. If you do, I'll see you again at the start of June for our first full issue, with about four more puzzles. Happy solving, all!