Crossword Fiend Forum

I happened to like this theme idea, as it's a "member of set" theme, and the set has 4 members, so it's kind of neat. Editor disagreed, so here it is...

Went for the high-scoring letters a lot more than usual, would be interested to hear if you think that affected the grid quality positively or negatively. (Especially middle-left and middle-right...)

Middle-right and middle-left were solid. I can't imagine what you thought might have been a compromise. I don't recall ever seeing Z AXES in a puzzle before, so that was cool.

Never heard of "The Tombs of Atuan", but the crosses cracked it.

Good and fun clues, too. (13-D might be my favorite.) Other than the SORGHUM/ELAH crossing, the whole thing was Wednesday-gettable.

The only issue with the theme that I can think of is that they are four names, but not four Queens since there were two Elizabeths and two Marys. (Well, that and the fact that I can't stop hearing John Stewart say "these are all flowers".)