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Nice clues, nice neat grid-fill … then gridstare gridstare gridstare. Even thinking logically - what extra letter at the beginning or end could usefully ask another question - doesn't bring a glimmer. It would be useful to know where the chains start. There is, in the New England corner, a question (4 words, 7 letters) but it doesn't seem to lead anywhere, and according to google no-one worthy of note said it.

Cockie,
First chain starts in the second row.
Second chain starts just SE of centre.

The extra cell you need to ask the second question is on its own and between the two chains.

Hope this helps, but not too much!

pegster83 - thanks, but I'm still none the wiser. I don't want you to give too much away, but a letter indication (ie length of each word in the chains) would set me on the right course.

cockie - 18 on the left and 10 on the right.
The right hand shape is simpler, it might help to start with that one.

...and there are several words on the left - only one on the right.

I too have finished the grid (apart from a ? about the parsing of 21a which is defeating me. But I am in the "Good Heavens, where am I going to look for what" dilemma. Have been grid staring for ages and altho' I can see lots of different words whizzing about all over the grid, none of the current hints have led to anything sensible. Perhaps a hint to the theme????

Best MM

manic mary - 21ac - 'nut' is a printer's term for the EN space.

The theme is a famous question from a sci-fi source.

How does erasing one letter show the answer? ... i can see the origin revealed but am missing the answer ? Maybe i am erasing the wrong letter ?

..........unless it's the cell number??

That's what I've gone for, bunty.