http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblogBLOG RSSSun, 29 Mar 2020 18:48:49 GMTSun, 29 Mar 2020 18:48:49 GMThttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/verodyssey-launchesVerbodyssey:  Excruciverbiage® Volume VII, the latest set of twenty-six previously unpublished cryptics, is now available from Amazon.  [We hope to offer it via IngramSpark soon.]  Kelly, Alex, and Mari Price have contributed the cover art and title.  The collection includes a prize puzzle, but one can instead (or in addition) receive a free cryptic by requesting it in an email message to excruciverbiage@gmail.com.Onward:  "Bad Beat", a 19x19 blocked cryptic, is complete.Sat, 16 May 2026 00:14:21http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/verodyssey-launcheshttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/plus-oneWe anticipate publication of "Excruciverbiage® Volume VII:  Verbodyssey" in early May 2026.Sixcruciverbiage (Excruciverbiage® Volume VI) and Irrefutably Inscrutable (containing all puzzles from Volumes V and VI) are now available.  Other, earlier collections are as well."Internationalism", "Repeatable", "AI", "Familiar Places", "Brothers and Fathers", "What's In A Name", "Internalised", "Last But Not Least", "Tantalizing", "Nine States", "Asher's Puzzle", "Cryptic Indeed", "(5,9)", "DuallingSun, 26 Apr 2026 23:23:13http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/plus-onehttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/supporting-a-nother-setterContent from the Web site of the late compiler Alberich/Klingsor (Neil Shepherd) is once again available.Sat, 01 Mar 2025 19:03:20http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/supporting-a-nother-setterhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/mrs-excruciverbiage-has-published-another-bookKaci the Pirate, Scourge of the Seas is now available!What happens when Kaci and her crocodile companion Nizel-Kabo find a treasure map?Sat, 08 Apr 2023 22:37:43http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/mrs-excruciverbiage-has-published-another-bookhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/forwardVolume V is live!Excruciverbiage V:  Augmented Fifth  has--as its title implies--twenty-seven themed cryptics:  Ego Submersion; Abstruseness; F; T; No, Really, I Can See Clearly Now; (An)other (An)abecedarian; Jason's Puzzle; Perennials; Quotidian; Hybrid; Contradictions in Terms; Nothing Much; Our Heroes; Use As Directed; Ripped; Peanuts and Pie; Similar; Είναι όλα ελληνικά για μένα; It's All Greek To Me, Too; One of the Two; Two of the One; The End;  23;  24; 9; Affirmative; andSun, 26 Apr 2026 23:23:19http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/forwardhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/it-s-onThe newest collection, titled Excruciverbiage IV:  Mincing Words, is now available.  A compilation of volumes III and IV (Unnatural Selection) and the omnibus (volumes I - IV, called Quadraliteral ) have also been released.  Links here connect to Aerio, which is our new primary distributor:  they let us create promo codes for discounts, and those promo codes are listed on the Works page of this site.  Additional links to Amazon and Barnes Noble are provided on the Works page as well; theTue, 28 Feb 2023 03:55:16http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/it-s-onhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/next-projectsTwenty-six (or 104, depending on that which one counts) cryptics have been completed.  It is likely that Book the Fourth will be released in May 2021.Working titles for completed, unpublished puzzles: Ghosts; Ultimate Abecedarian; One Bar; One Left; Meanness; Upscale; Zero Alpha; Prime Numbers; Fixed Correspondence; Hearsay; Duplex; Monopoly; Transposition; Differentiation; Gargantuan; Parts Unknown; ON THE LEVEL; Boo; Dipolar; Obfuscated; Hi; Centesimal; Descriptive Geography 101;Sun, 27 Jun 2021 03:40:46http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/next-projectshttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/book-the-thirdExcruciverbiage III:  Vex't Text  is now available via Amazon print-on-demand.  It includes twenty-six previously unreleased cryptics, including a prize puzzle.  All all themed, and eleven are variety cryptics.Mon, 12 Apr 2021 02:01:05http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/book-the-thirdhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/inside-outsideThe picture of snow-covered slopes is a bit of a tease for those of us who would ski were such activities possible.-----------------Twenty-six cryptics have been completed as part of the forthcoming Volume the Third.  An April 2020 release seems increasingly likely.Cryptics in the forthcoming collection:  Consequential; Upstairs, Downstairs; They Might Be Giants; Fixed That For You; A Dream Within A Dream; Dynamite; Hush; You Don't Say; X Words; Scintillescent; Pastime; Abecedarian Jigsaw;Sun, 29 Mar 2020 18:48:49http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/inside-outsidehttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/counting-up-counting-downUpdated with updates including updated dates.  No decline in silliness as yet observed or expected.Twenty-five of twenty-six as-yet-unreleased cryptics have been completed as part of the anticipated Volume the Third.  An April 2020 release seems plausible.  Formatting and cover art as yet unfinished, although we may have a title.Cryptics in the forthcoming collection:  Consequential; Upstairs, Downstairs; They Might Be Giants; Fixed That For You; A Dream Within A Dream; Dynamite; Hush; YouFri, 27 Mar 2020 03:53:56http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/counting-up-counting-downhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/kelly-s-article-published-today'tis here:Sat, 09 Nov 2019 23:02:52http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/kelly-s-article-published-todayhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/signed-copies-direct-purchaseTwo queries for visitors (for those interested in cryptic crosswords--I am receiving unwanted solicitations for assistance in building this site):  Would an option for purchase of the collections directly through this site be welcome?  Currently, all purchases occur via Amazon.com.Are signed copies of interest?  Such would require direct purchase through this site.Fri, 08 Nov 2019 02:07:18http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/signed-copies-direct-purchasehttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/puzzle-for-previewNot enough information available from the Amazon preview pages?  Attached is 'You Don't Say", to be included in the as-yet-untitled third volume of the Excruciverbiage® series.Sat, 27 Mar 2021 02:22:54http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/puzzle-for-previewhttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/welcome-vistorsYour patience is appreciated as we bring the site online.Kelly's writing project--unrelated to cryptic crosswords--is in progress.  Details will be shared when available.Daniel is in the midst of setting additional grids, with fifteen of the planned twenty-six puzzles completed.  Publication of Volume III in 2020 seems likely.Mon, 04 Nov 2019 02:32:45http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/welcome-vistorshttp://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/guide-to-solving-cryptic-cluesNone of the Excruciverbiage® volumes contain guidance for recognizing and solving cryptic clues, as many excellent resources are available online.  Mike Selinker and Roy Leban offer this primer.Mon, 04 Nov 2019 02:40:01http://excruciverbiage.com/current-events-weblog/guide-to-solving-cryptic-clues