Emily Cox

Words in this puzzle’s six outer Rings are playing a cryptic form of Musical Chairs. Within each Ring, clue answers are to be entered clockwise and in order, beginning at a point to be determined. But each Ring has two or three spaces—or chairs— too few for its answers: letters losing their seats will always drop out between two numbered Sectors, and should be removed to the central ring, where they will sit at a number matching one of those two Sectors. Sector answers, which are to be entered inward from their numbers on the perimeter, will aid solvers in placing Ring answers and discovering which Ring letters must be unseated. When all 16 dropouts have been properly tit into place, you’ll see where they’re sitting. Answers to clues include eight proper nouns.