Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character may have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler. In the United States, the character entered the public domain in 1899 and consequently appears frequently in all manner of popular culture, from films to animated media to breakfast cereals. ~ Wikipedia
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Puzzle by Jay Kaskel, edited by Will Shortz
COUNT DRACULA, along with BITES, BLOOD, NECK, BAT, contained within REALITY BITES (20A. Comment on life by 52-Across?), BLOOD BANK (28A. Deposit and withdrawal site for 52-Across?), PAIN IN THE NECK (35A. Result of an encounter with 52-Across) and BAT MOBILE (43A. Crib plaything for a young 52-Across?) are the interrelated group of this wicked Wednesday crossword. A support group includes ATHROB (1D. Like the heart during a horror movie), GORIER (34A Displaying more violence), HEROINE (49A. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, e.g.) and LEGEND (56A. Vampire story, e.g.).
Other — INNOCENT (37D. Having clean hands), LOITERS (24A. Hangs around), NATIONAL (38D. Like some parks), PET STORE (10D. Spot to pick up spot), POSEIDON (9D. Ill-fated ship of film).
Makes less than a killing, six letters?, DOES O.K. Mid-size entries include ADONAI (61A. Hebrew name for God), DOPEY, ERASED, ESTATE, GELATO, I GUESS, IN KIND, KIDNAP, LOLITA, NO DEAL, NUDIE, NUTRA, OATEN, ODE TO, OPPOSE, ORANGE, PLANT, RIGOR, TOOTLE.
Short stuff — ADAR, ADIN, ANG, AON, BEN, BIC, BLIP, D-DAY, DRAB (7D. Void of any va-va-voom), EDO, EIS, EKE, GERM, GOO, HDL, HUT, ILK, IZOD, KOLA, KPH, LAT, LEO and LOU, NOIR (15A. Film style), OILY, OSA, PILE, RINK, RUR, SAD, SOT, STE, SYR, TAFT, TOE (14A. Little dipper?), TYKE, ZOOT.
I heard dogs howling. And when the dream came, it seemed the whole room was filled with mist. It was so thick, I could just see the lamp by the bed, a tiny spark in the fog. And then I saw two red eyes glaring at me. And a white livid face came down out of the mist. It came closer and closer. I felt its breath on my face and then its lips... oh! ~ Mina Seward, Dracula
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Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Director Lee; 4. Big name in sport shirts; 8. Dispute; 17. Cholesterol abbr.; 18. Nut with caffeine; 19. Grand grounds; 23. Like some straaw; 33. Musical Reed; 40. Seize for ransom; 41. Capek play; 42. Mole, e.g.; 52. See 20-, 28-, 35- and 43-Across; 59. Deuce follower; 60. Frozen water, to Wilhelm; ___-Foy, Que.; 64. Pied Piper’s sound; 65. Nipper; 66. Down. — DOWN: 2. “Sorry, Charlie”; 3. Frozen treat; 4. Way to pay someone back; 5. ___-suiter; 6. Like mechanics’ hands; 8. Poem title start; 11. Spanish she-bear; 12. Bar fixture, maybe; 13. Squeeze (out); 21. Fierce sort, astrologically; 22. Sort; 25. Awesome, in slang; 26. Stink; 27. Neighbor of Turk.; 29. Tiny bump on a graph; 30. ___ Center (Chicago skyscraper); 31. Commercial lead-in to Sweet; 34. “Cootie”; 35. Carpet feature; 36. Month before Nisan; 39. QB’s utterance; 40. Speed meas. in Europe; 43. Big ___; 44. Popsicle choice; 45. Pen with a cap; 46. “Um … O.K.”; 47. 1955 novel that was made into 1962 and 1997 films; 48. Obliterated; 50. Racy film; 53. 1920s chief justice; 54. Subject of the book “Six Armies in Normandy”; 55. N.H.L. venue; 58. No. on a map; 57. Tokyo, once; 58. Melted chocolate, e.g.
