AZED 2,317

There are two typos in this crossword: Edinburgh is spelled Edinburg at 11ac, and 34ac is numbered as 24ac. Obvious mistakes of course, not likely to detain anyone, but when the standard of proof-reading falls like this, if you can’t at first solve a clue then you begin to wonder if there is a typo in it. Not something one normally sees in Azed’s crosswords — how he generally maintains such high standards of accuracy without so far as I know having any sort of crossword editor to pick up on things is impressive.

(I wrote this before discovering that there is a third typo: The first word of the clue for 4dn is meant to be Chain not Cain. And here at last we have a mistake which does actually cause a waste of time (in my case, because I was doing the blog, considerable).)

The usual: sound clueing, impossibly difficult words whose very existence keeps surprising me, one or two excellent clues, and as so often one (4dn) whose explanation is beyond me (at least it was, until the typo was pointed out).

Definitions underlined and in maroon.

Read more >>

Azed 2316

Apologies for the late posting: I went off to the Sloggers and Betters event in York having forgotten to finish and post the blog (and despite reminding myself numerous times that I needed … Read more >>

AZED 2,315

Blogging these puzzles, having to explain every little detail, makes me appreciate AZED more and more.  I even look forward to the sometimes dry as dust surfaces as a break from the never-ending quest for inventiveness one gets in modern cryptic puzzles.  Plus I never get tired of looking stuff up in Chambers, which must make me look more than a little sad I know.  Thank you AZED.

Read more >>

Azed 2313

An Azed plain competition puzzle is this week’s offering       This puzzle was the usual mix of everyday words and obscure words with some Scottish words thrown in for good measure. … Read more >>

Azed 2312/Out of order

I found this Azed carte-blanche variant (a “jigsaw”) in which clues are given in alphabetical order of answers rather difficult — mainly, because I pecked at it sporadically throughout the week without a concerted burst … Read more >>

AZED 2,311

The usual from Azed: a combination of sometimes less than sparkling surfaces with utterly sound clueing. And of course the words that one never knew.

Definitions underlined and in maroon.

Read more >>

Azed 2310

I mostly made quick progress with this, but for some reason ended up havng a lot of trouble with the NE corner. Some of the parsing took a bit of work, but all … Read more >>

AZED 2,309

I thought this had more of a daily puzzle feel about it then a typical AZED.  Some of the anagram clues might have been lifted straight out of the Quiptic puzzle they were so straightforward.  I spent less time inside Chambers than usual too.  Plenty to enjoy here regardless.  Thank you Azed.

 

I will be away walking in the Cairngorms when this is published.  I will try and answer any queries as best I can.

Read more >>

Azed 2307

An Azed plain puzzle this week, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for me.       When it comes to languages, I am much more comfortable with computer languages than I am … Read more >>

AZED 2,306

Lots of new words but I suppose that should never be a surprise with Azed.  Was stuck on 16D (a laxative) for a while and then conveniently became unstuck.

Read more >>

AZED 2,305 ‘Wrong Number’

Azed gives us these every five years or so. The last (clue-setting competition one, anyway) was in October 2011. So far as I know it is his own idea and must be absolute hell to set. In case you didn’t see the preamble in the paper here it is: ‘Each clue contains a one-word definition of the word required at the number where it stands, but belongs as a whole to a word of the same length elsewhere….’ and he goes on to give some very helpful advice on how to go about solving such a puzzle.

Read more >>

Azed 2304

This was my quickest Azed solve for quite a while: I found I’d written in 13 answers after my first pass though the clues, and most of the rest followed easily (albeit with … Read more >>