Welcome back! As I mentioned last time, I've got a Puns & Anagrams puzzle today. See below for the links; in the PUZ version, there is one clue (36-Across) that I could only use the Notepad to replicate, so be sure to click on the Notepad for that clue.
Puns & Anagrams #1 - PUZ
Puns & Anagrams #1 - PDF
Puns & Anagrams #1 - SOLUTION
Puns & Anagrams is a format that is related to the cryptic, but stands alone and does its own thing. Will Shortz wrote a column explaining the basics of P&As a few years ago, and I can't put it much better than Will, but I'll try to sum up the most important concepts of the P&A that I keep in mind as I write these.
P&As differ from cryptics in two key ways. First, unlike cryptic clues which may read more like complete sentences, P&A clues are structured like a standard crossword clue, no matter how much wackiness the clue may entail. There is an imperative function of a standard crossword clue that the P&A must replicate; cryptic clues often lack this function. A fun characteristic of a P&A is that it can incorporate the familiar notations often seen at the ends of crossword clues (Abbr., e.g., et al., etc., cross-references, and so forth) into the wordplay itself. Keeping in mind that the clues must retain the structure of standard crossword clues, I like to think of a P&A like a parody crossword, in a similar vein to a Something Different puzzle (or "Cuckoo Crossword"), except that in a P&A, the grid is normal.
The second key difference is the grid. Since every letter in a P&A is checked twice, there's a lot more "falling into" answers than there would be in a block cryptic puzzle. Cryptics are much more rigid in their cluing structure because the solver inherently relies on each clue, since half of the squares in the grid are unchecked. In a P&A, it's possible to get most or all of an answer filled in by solving its crossing entries; hence, each P&A clue isn't required to give a straight definition, nor are anagram indicators required. This "looseness" in cluing rules is in place because the solver can rely on crossings much more so than in a block cryptic.
Hope you enjoy this change of pace - back to Cryptic #10 in two weeks!
Happy solving!
Delighted to see the return of Puns & Anagrams puzzles, a true testament to the quirkiness and charm of wordplay! Your comparison to a parody crossword is spot-on and really highlights the unique joy these puzzles bring. I'm particularly excited about the challenge presented by the clue in 36-Across – the notepad twist adds a novel touch. The distinctions you've drawn between P&As and cryptic puzzles make a lot of sense, especially in terms of grid structure and clue reliance. Looking forward to wrapping my brain around this one and, hopefully, cracking it with a bit of wit and a dash of luck.
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