I am confused about 15dn MOLOTOV. I can see an anagram of tool inside M O and then V but don’t understand where expression and protest fit in. This clue must be one of the nine but can both of these words be omitted?
I have a full grid, and I see how one row, with a small adjustment, is related to the top row. However, I only have the last three "items". In fact, are "items" just "words", or is there something else involved?
I suppose the “expression of protest” is just O: see Chambers. I find these omitted words or phrases very bothersome. I usually try to get the answers in and then sort out the redundancies afterwards. But I’m finding this one very hard indeed.
Dylan - the row with the small adjustment - have you noticed the contents of the entire line below? I've followed the initial 6 word instruction but I guess I must be missing something as it doesn't seem to be quite the amazing ending being alluded to by the other place. Neat, but hardly amazing. I'm puzzled.
I haven't quite finished carrying out the first instruction, but I can see where it's heading. I'd call it pretty impressive, possibly even amazing.
I struggled to assemble the grid after the first few entries, but finally it all flowed nicely. The clues were a very fine set indeed. All in all a very satisfying puzzle.
Now finished. I hope I'm right in taking the penultimate sentence about ambiguity literally. If there's something else that's thematic then I've missed it.