1 - 1 = 1
by Mike Selinker
Solution: LOVECRAFT
Each word can be transdeleted (losing one letter, then being scrambled) to a clue word. Each clue then refers to two members of that category, one of which is a transdeletion of the other.
Ladies related to Steve Martin's character in Father of the Bride: Annie - Nina = E
Noble gases discovered by Ramsay and Travers: Xenon - Neon = X
Ingredients in Rachael Ray's crab salad on Food Network: Oregano - Orange = O
Voice actors on the Nineties TV series Spider-Man: Barnes - Asner = B
Top coaches at Stanford University for the ninety two season: Walsh - Shaw = L
Italian Americans who have covered "Over the Rainbow": Satriani - Sinatra = I
Ford vehicles smaller than compacts: Festiva - Fiesta = V
Speakers in Twelfth Night's Act three scene one: Olivia - Viola = I
First names in the top quarter of last year's US FHM hundred sexiest women: Cameron - Carmen = O
Head coaches for the Detroit Shock: Lieberman - Laimbeer = N
Deep elves part of the same generation as Angrod in Tolkien's Legendarium: Aegnor - Argon = E
Brothers in the rap act Pretty Ricky: Mathis - Smith = A
Factions in the Kevin Sorbo Hercules show's "The Outcast" episode: Centaurs - Cretans = U
Defensive tackles currently on the Georgia Bulldogs: Weston - Owens = T
Actresses on the Charlie's Angels episode "Attack Angels": Brothers - Roberts = H
Texan professional sports teams: Astros - Stars = O
Extant temples in Mediterranean capitals: Parthenon - Pantheon = R
Categories of United States Armed Forces servicepersons: Marines - Airmen = S
Pleasant family relatives in The Sims: Daniel - Diane = L
Municipalities in the Inventory of World Cities: Manila - Milan = A
Sticky things kids use in arts and crafts class: Paste - Tape = S
Topics of comics containing Tom Mandrake artwork: Spectre - Creeps = T
Inductees into the second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class: Robinson - Orbison = N
Nationalities of major wars in the mid eighteen hundreds: American - Crimean = A
Basketball gold medalists under Lenny Wilkens: Malone - O'Neal = M
Words after "Lunar" in British names for moths: Hornet - Thorn = E
Deleted letters spell "EX OBLIVIONE" AUTHOR'S LAST NAME, which is LOVECRAFT.