Gravestone collaged with Ghoul, by dizzt
----------------- Sunday, October 25, 2009 ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emil Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz This Sunday’s chilling acrostic draws its quotation from Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book -- “a tragic tale: a sleeping family, a talented murderer, and an adventurous toddler—orphaned, but not assassinated. Small and alone, by accident and luck he escapes the scene of the crime and climbs a grassy hill to safety. At the top of the hill the boy finds a fence, and on the other side, a dark, quiet place.” 
The quotation: ONE GRAVE IN EVERY GRAVEYARD BELONGS TO THE GHOULS YOU WILL FIND IT WATERSTAINED AND BULGING WITH CRACKED STONE AND A FEELING OF ABANDONMENT IF THE GRAVE MAKES YOU WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT IS THE GHOUL-GATE The author’s name and the title of the work: NEIL GAIMAN THE GRAVEYARD BOOK The defined words: A. Potentially spooky shift of work (2 wds.), NIGHT WATCH; B. Malevolent sprite in Germanic lore, the subject of a Schubert piece, ERLKING; C. Seen without being present to the senses, IMAGINED; D. Main character in “The Vampire Chronicles”, LESTAT; E. Author of “The Fifth Head of Cerberus” (2 wds.), GENE WOLFE; F. Did as Dorian Gray did only in his portrait, AGED; G. Put into a final resting place, INHUMED; H. “Haystacks” artist, MONET; L. Where a ghost hunter may look, ATTIC; J. Weeping daughter of Tantalus, NIOBE; K. Son of Nyx (Night); twin of Hypnos (Sleep), THANATOS; L. Rear half of a centaur, HORSE; M. “ETERNITY is really long, especially near the end” (Woody Allen); N. “Stop haunting me!” (2 wds.), GO AWAY; O. One who returns from the tomb as a spirit, REVENANT; P. The depths of hell, or its angel, ABADDON; Q. Ones found near a corpse, VULTURES; R. What a malevolent person may cast (2 wds.), EVIL EYE; S. “YOUNG Frankenstein” (1974 film); T. “Horrible” homophone of Word Y., AWFUL; U. Motive in “The Cask of Amontillado”, REVENGE; V. Dark urge connected to Word K. (2 wds.), DEATH WISH; W Ominous goblin in the shape of a dog, BARGHEST; X. Man-eating she-monster of fairy tales, OGRESS; Y Carrion; rubbish, OFFAL; Z. Mischievous gremlin, KOBOLD. Happy Halloween!
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Puzzle 1 (Upper left) -- Across: 1. It’s usually good to stick to them, FACTS; 13. Escapee who fell to his death in the sea, ICARUS; 16. Fix, SCRAPE; 18. Good resting place?, HEAVEN; 20. Harbored, IN PORT; 22. Plus other things, ET ALIA; 24. One side of a leaf, RECTO; 26. Opposite of a surplus, DEARTH. Down: 1. Comparatively shady, FISHIER; 2. Spotlit, say, ACCENTED; 3. Shell, CARAPACE; 4. He played a governor in “Primary Colors”, TRAVOLTA; 5. Like the 2 in “x squared”, SUPERIOR; 14. Wagnerian heroine, SENTA.
Puzzle 2 (Upper right) -- Across: 6. Makes less offensive, DISARMS; 15. Spanning frameworks, GANTRIES; 17. Upstate New York town where I.B.M. was founded, ENDICOTT; 19. Cuts off, ISOLATES; 21. Less agitated, SERENER; 23. Brilliantly dressed cavalrymen, HUSSARS; 25. Aid in answering: Abbr., SASE. Down: 6. Frequent Degas subjects, DANSEUSES; 7. Supported: Var., INDORSED; 8. Subway station sights, STILES; 9. Secrets, ARCANA; 10. Tears may be brought to one’s eyes, RIOTER; 11. Curbside lineup, METERS; 12. They had adjustable noses, SSTS; 15. Companion abroad, GEISHA.
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Puzzle 3 (Lower left) -- Across: 33. Things that turn up in gardens?, HOES; 37. They rise and fall periodically, EMPIRES; 42. Like the lion’s share, LARGEST; 44. Imbue with flavor, in a way, MARINATE; 46. Pneumatic power producer, AIR MOTOR; 48. Disdainful bunch, SNEERERS; 50. Earthly, TERRENE. Down: 25. Establishment with many horns, SHOE STORE; 27. Be imminent, THREATEN; 37. Unrequited lover of legend, ELAINE; 38. Graffitist, e.g., MARRER; 39. It may be under enamel, PRIMER; 40. Slight, IGNORE; 44. Yard supporter, MAST.
Puzzle 4 (Lower right) -- Across: 28. Johnny Depp title role, ED WOOD; 35 French following?, APRES; 41. Axial skeleton parts, STERNA; 43. Kind of view, AERIAL; 45. 1974 pop hit with Spanish lyrics, ERES TU; 47. Yet to hit the shelves, NOT OUT; 49. Biting writing, SATIRE; 51. Mustard family members, KALES. Down: 29. Tree of Southeastern swamplands, WATER OAK; 30. Johann Strauss work, OPERETTA; 31. Perfume ingredient, ORRIS OIL; 32. Change the essence of, DENATURE; 36. Pays tribute to, SALUTES; 41. Saint-SAENS (Fauré contemporary).
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