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I've completed, and enjoyed, this puzzle (not without a little help from this splendid thread) ....but have one lingering doubt. How is the book title a " striking thematic example " ? The YEAR divides neatly into a multiple and a prime number, but THAT prime number is NOT the thematic one ! Encoded I have a letter plus two digits, and assume this is correct but am unsure, as hinted for the reason above. Do I have the wrong title by Mr. E.B ? aka ....Any reassurance would be welcome !

"Striking" appears in the first line of the book. I don't think it means anything more than that.

Seems I must brush up on famous opening first lines of famous books. Many thanks , kilgore trout !

Hello everyone,
We are just about there but having trouble with 18D and 14A.
A gentle push would be much appreciated
Many thanks

Hi,
We have just got 14A
But still would appreciate a hint for 18d
Cheers

D(E)AW. Another word Spenser could not spell.

Many thanks KT
All finished now
Cheers and best wishes

What a frustrating puzzle (who on earth ever does anything in Base 13 anyway?). Reference greengage's comment above (No. 48) the shape used (as suggested by saddleworthian) does work because in Base 13 the letter I is 12. Using this system I think I have sussed the top right hand shape and the second shape down in the middle but the rest just baffle me. I know that I am probably being extremely thick but how do you total a shape which contains a letter that, in the A=1, B=2.........Z=20 system becomes a letter? L seems to appear prominently but that encodes to C. I only need to resolve this multiple thematic sequence bit so that I can decide on the clashes. I have a full grid with the TITLE and Q&A. Any help would be appreciated before I give up.

Convert letters to numbers in the standard way, A=1 through Z=26. Only the instructions are in base 13.

...... as kt said, do your additions in base 10, and if you need more convincing, convert the totals to base 13