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Essira I am sure they do. But I am floundering like everyone else appears to be. B is clearly not 2. There are 20 different letters of the alphabet used in the puzzle, but no idea if this is significant. Have full grid and writer. No idea about author.

Remember the first sentence of the preamble, and the last sentence also seems unusual.

Thank you both at 11 and 12. Not sure whether it is my logic or my lateral thinking is at fault..or both. Maybe general ignorance!

Ah, thanks gem94. Now I get it.

I have a full grid, and I have the correct section shapes. However, I am no further forward with any other part of the end game. I too am confused by the Z=20 reference as there is no Z in the grid.

Help!

Thanks gem94, have done some googling and some of it has dropped into place, but am probably defeated. Will soldier on!

OK, now got the author!

Had been hampered by the wording of "All C clashing..." Am sure it will become apparent.

Finding the question and its author requires reading one of the instructions to the base of the thematic number [this line of thinking also reveals why Z=20]. The clashing letters hint at an author one of whose books 's titles is a number, famously containing a striking example of the thematic number. So I think, anyway, but I have to admit to being quite stuck on the shapes, as well as the reference to C clashes and the BBC edition of the dictionary.

legbiter - change BBC to base 13

Legbiter, your first and last sentences seem to contradict each other. The first explains the last.