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Candlestick, I got very bored searching the internet for sufficient details to complete the puzzle, and that's even after I had the relevant title. What led me to the theme was to apply the second part of the instruction from the penultimate paragraph of the preamble. There's a limited number of options, and one of them is quite revealing.

I've no idea how to resolve the dilemma about the code options. Since the source material is not available on the internet it's not possible to discover what the thematic error referred to in internet synopses might be.

Regarding the line above the grid, my solution agrees with djawhufc's proposal. I think it's pretty daft but I cannot think what else to draw.

Overall I think the solver is expected to engage in far too much manipulation and mutilation. It's not what I consider an elegant puzzle, worthy though the attempt is. The puzzle would have benefited from a restraining hand.

I agree.

I'd rather the clues were harder than attempting to guess what is in the mind of the setter.

A shame because up until the very end I enjoyed this one immensely.

I still find it hard to accept that "adding a line above the grid, to confirm A" is a reasonable description of "amending a character in the title, to create a new title that is in some tenuous way connected to A".

I can see how you could add a line, well an arrow and some explanatory characters, above the grid to confirm *H*, but that just seems too slapdash. Then again if people are content to believe that "(six each)" is an error that slipped past both this incredibly ingenious compiler and the editors, then perhaps anything goes?!

Hi Verlaine

Normally I'd agree. However you need to change another N in the grid to form a W so at least this would be a consistent approach.

I'm still recovering from the infamous Hare puzzle so God knows what is acceptable anymore.

Is there anyone out there who is satisfied that they have a solution "using code options (six each)"? Like many others, I have a solution using 6 of one option and 5 of the other. But I am reluctant to assume that such a significant error has made its way into the preamble.

I'm a bit further on than I was, in that I have worked out the author and title, the highlighting and the change in the grid. I'm presuming that the expedition in the book is the second one, and the one that inspired it is one of those referred to in the Wikipedia entry for the book (why did their have to be two?) - but I can't see how one could obtain names for the former, and none of the names in the latter which I have found corresponds with any name in either this title, or its original predecessor, so far as I can tell. Am I even on the right track with this expedition?

Yes. There is a name in common but it's not of a person.

However when you get the name there apparently seems a contradiction in the coding of 6-6

I am still struggling with the end game although I have some understanding of the eight items. But I have found the map via Google (my copy of the book is elsewhere) and there is a conflict between H and the map, i.e. It is opposite. Has anyone resolved this?

Annie44, I have noticed that Google Images will find two different maps of the account. One is opposite to H, but the other agrees with H.

Thank you, that makes me feel a bit better!