Observer

Azed 2758

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A new proprietor, a new interactive interface, but the same reliable Azed. It feels as if there are fewer familiar words than usual, but despite that I managed to fill the grid fairly quickly. On the other hand, some of the parsing was a bit tricky, with 32 down proving elusive until the 11th hour. Thanks to Azed for the puzzle, and best wishes to those attending the lunch in Oxford today yesterday, which I’m I was sadly unable to attend on this occasion.

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Everyman 4,097/27 April

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New owner, same crossword, same setter … a big day for The Observer, but what looks like for now the same Everyman crossword that has been in the paper for the last 80 years, compiled by a number of setters but always intended as a tractable Sunday cryptic. Who knows if things will change, but for now let’s see what this week’s puzzle had to offer.

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Azed No. 2,757 plain

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This will be the last Azed for The Observer under present management, a plain that is probably on the easier side. Let’s hope that his crosswords can continue in their present form.

Definitions underlined in crimson. Anagram indicators in italics.

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Everyman crossword No 4,096

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I think this is one of Everyman’s better efforts. There are some very nice clues and the surfaces (except for one of them, which I grumble about in the blog) are on the whole tight and sensible.

Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophones, juxtaposition, missing letters, reversals, anagrams, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.

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