Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

And with the thud of a PDM, it is done.

Very clever device, Pointer! I should not have doubted...

CLANG!! (I think - as long as there are lots of non-words in the finished shape - and think that shape is used rather like refrain in a recent puzzle)

Are all the hidden mounts in straight lines?

Yes, ukridge

Out of interest, when it comes to the highlighting at the end are people highlighting all of the two mounts or just the bits that would be visible if the people were on them

Good question. I don’t submit, but thematically I think I prefer the latter

Thanks - think I prefer that too

What a brilliant puzzle! Ingenious clues, a reminder of two of my favourite books, and a staggeringly clever last step.

I’m struggling with the cutting.
I have the theme and all the mounts and know the original problem and solution.
Does “all cells are visible” mean all the 169 cells of the original grid or just the 20 that can be moved/repositioned. I see earlier posts that suggest part of the mounts may not be visible for shading.
If the former then the solution still eludes me but if the latter then I can see several ways of achieving a result.

All 169 cells are visible. If you know the solution of the original problem, it might help to consider where the riders are sitting. It's also worth considering which are the most likely mounts.