diff --git a/ansi-tests/concatenate.lsp b/ansi-tests/concatenate.lsp
index 5ae5436b0514bfa578479fd6ac660a9809302159..6f61ee46e73c034f2a1a15f137902d023d6d4e44 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/concatenate.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/concatenate.lsp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
   #(a b c d e))
 
 (deftest concatenate.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character)))
     (values
      (concatenate 'string x '(#\z))
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
   nil)
 
 (deftest concatenate.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'base-char)))
     (values
      (concatenate 'string x '(#\z))
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
   nil)
 
 (deftest concatenate.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce #*0110010111 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents #*0110010111
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'bit)))
     (values
      (concatenate 'bit-vector x '(0))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/count-if-not.lsp b/ansi-tests/count-if-not.lsp
index a38b4031722e66b31e85981d6e334cceacd9cc5d..22a36b1454138eeb1d5f7622a8e7693915f23639 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/count-if-not.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/count-if-not.lsp
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@
 (deftest count-if-not-string.17
   (flet ((%zerop (c) (eql c #\0))
 	 (%onep (c) (eql c #\1)))
-    (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "0001110100" 'list)
+    (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "0001110100"
 			 :fill-pointer 5
 			 :element-type 'character)))
       (and (stringp a)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/count-if.lsp b/ansi-tests/count-if.lsp
index 07b70b5e7d080e796c12c1d52fed1be6032b63ef..a2e48b8863be796c568a038180d1feb96f0b9018 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/count-if.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/count-if.lsp
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@
 
 (deftest count-if-string.17
   (let ((s (make-array '(10)
-		       :initial-contents (coerce "00a0aa0a0a" 'list)
+		       :initial-contents "00a0aa0a0a"
 		       :element-type 'character
 		       :fill-pointer 6)))
     (values (count-if #'digit-char-p s)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/count.lsp b/ansi-tests/count.lsp
index c7250b14185a19db24d694a511619daee0cdb613..5836ecadb2126eeec85133b4164a3b64a269429b 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/count.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/count.lsp
@@ -460,27 +460,27 @@
   5)
 
 (deftest count-string.17
-  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abaaacaaaa" 'list)
+  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abaaacaaaa"
 			 :fill-pointer 7
 			 :element-type 'character))
   5)
 
 (deftest count-string.18
-  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abaaacaaaa" 'list)
+  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abaaacaaaa"
 			 :fill-pointer 7
 			 :element-type 'character)
 	 :start 1)
   4)
 
 (deftest count-string.19
-  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abaaacaaaa" 'list)
+  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abaaacaaaa"
 			 :fill-pointer 7
 			 :element-type 'character)
 	 :end nil)
   5)
 
 (deftest count-string.20
-  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abaaacaaaa" 'list)
+  (count #\a (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abaaacaaaa"
 			 :fill-pointer 7
 			 :element-type 'character)
 	 :start 2 :end 5)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/find-if.lsp b/ansi-tests/find-if.lsp
index 31dee999a8328389fae8228ebe1fcd40867bd6b9..242111db2742d85e53fae3d53cfc386ea397a197 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/find-if.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/find-if.lsp
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@
    (#\6)))
 
 (deftest find-if-string.19
-  (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "123456789a" 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "123456789a"
 		       :fill-pointer 5
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (values
diff --git a/ansi-tests/find.lsp b/ansi-tests/find.lsp
index 03a919556ffa995e000fe6f8aa03b7076225d503..a21f4056c83dcb5af08aaa2caddce22320c7be63 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/find.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/find.lsp
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@
   #\c)
 
 (deftest find-string.25
-  (let ((s (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let ((s (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 		       :element-type 'character
 		       :fill-pointer 5)))
     (values
diff --git a/ansi-tests/merge.lsp b/ansi-tests/merge.lsp
index c285e07ccf65f36450e474be0c0940a86b42d126..4bc33d2aa0468cbe038751308024d39142aad562 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/merge.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/merge.lsp
@@ -294,27 +294,27 @@
   "123")
 
 (deftest merge-string.15
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "adgkmpruwv" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "adgkmpruwv"
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (y (copy-seq "bci")))
     (merge 'string x y #'char<))
   "abcdgikm")
 
 (deftest merge-string.16
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "adgkmpruwv" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "adgkmpruwv"
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (y (copy-seq "bci")))
     (merge 'string y x #'char<))
   "abcdgikm")
 
 (deftest merge-string.17
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "adgkmpruwv" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "adgkmpruwv"
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character)))
     (merge 'string nil x #'char<))
   "adgkm")
 
 (deftest merge-string.18
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "adgkmpruwv" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "adgkmpruwv"
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character)))
     (merge 'string x nil #'char<))
   "adgkm")
@@ -435,27 +435,27 @@
   #*011)
 
 (deftest merge-bit-vector.16
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce #*0001101010 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents #*0001101010
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'bit))
 	 (y (copy-seq #*001)))
     (merge 'bit-vector x y #'<))
   #*00000111)
 
 (deftest merge-bit-vector.17
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce #*0001101010 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents #*0001101010
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'bit))
 	 (y (copy-seq #*001)))
     (merge 'bit-vector y x #'<))
   #*00000111)
 
 (deftest merge-bit-vector.18
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce #*0001101010 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents #*0001101010
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'bit)))
     (merge 'bit-vector nil x #'<))
   #*00011)
 
 (deftest merge-bit-vector.19
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce #*0001101010 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents #*0001101010
 			:fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'bit)))
     (merge 'bit-vector x nil #'<))
   #*00011)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/mismatch.lsp b/ansi-tests/mismatch.lsp
index 4d61cabd91f1ec18e39ef0c158100cd972c881b0..06b70d1534f0e8cf9160da3cfa365e1eaa7add69 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/mismatch.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/mismatch.lsp
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@
   5)
 
 (deftest mismatch-bit-vector.23
-  (let ((a (make-array '(9) :initial-contents (coerce #*001011000 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array '(9) :initial-contents #*001011000
 		       :fill-pointer 5
 		       :element-type 'bit)))
     (values
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@
   nil nil 4 5 4 4)
 
 (deftest mismatch-bit-vector.24
-  (let ((m (make-array '(6) :initial-contents (coerce #*001011 'list)
+  (let ((m (make-array '(6) :initial-contents #*001011
 		       :fill-pointer 4
 		       :element-type 'bit))
 	(a #*00101))
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@
   5)
 
 (deftest mismatch-string.23
-  (let ((a (make-array '(9) :initial-contents (coerce "123456789" 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array '(9) :initial-contents "123456789"
 		       :fill-pointer 5
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (values
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@
   nil nil 4 5 4 0)
 
 (deftest mismatch-string.24
-  (let ((m (make-array '(6) :initial-contents (coerce "123456" 'list)
+  (let ((m (make-array '(6) :initial-contents "123456"
 		       :fill-pointer 4
 		       :element-type 'character))
 	(a "12345"))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/nreverse.lsp b/ansi-tests/nreverse.lsp
index 4251a49c11b0c507c797ae870b75054248b3b140..b33475f5a46fa083b5f66fc2b132cad5f03f3047 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/nreverse.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/nreverse.lsp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
   "011011011000")
 
 (deftest nreverse-string.3
-  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			:fill-pointer 5
 			:element-type 'character))
 	 (y (nreverse x)))
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
   "edcba")
 
 (deftest nreverse-string.4
-  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			:fill-pointer 5
 			:element-type 'base-char))
 	 (y (nreverse x)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if-not.lsp b/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if-not.lsp
index 2cd632f8a09ac13140a2293a3bc9ec391adafa33..157a1e863837c9de6511fc7fda30be991e6e504f 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if-not.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if-not.lsp
@@ -353,28 +353,28 @@
   t)
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-not-string.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-not-string.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x :from-end t)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-not-string.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x :count 1)))
     result)
   "zbacb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-not-string.31
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x
 				    :from-end t :count 1)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if.lsp b/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if.lsp
index d77798fe72b23ab88c3387dd1b4080098d900259..c56743da4d5ec6d71d1eb3b3f0822ddfd61e18ad 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/nsubstitute-if.lsp
@@ -352,28 +352,28 @@
   t)
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-string.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-string.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x :from-end t)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-string.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x :count 1)))
     result)
   "zbacb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-if-string.31
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x :from-end t :count 1)))
     result)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/nsubstitute.lsp b/ansi-tests/nsubstitute.lsp
index 86bb0a716b9710a3250e6a346f0b6f121878c485..8b9e1ec7a3150982336801cdb6f9a3d80ebdb911 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/nsubstitute.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/nsubstitute.lsp
@@ -495,28 +495,28 @@
   "1234567x9")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-string.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute #\z #\a x)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-string.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute #\z #\a x :from-end t)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-string.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute #\z #\a x :count 1)))
     result)
   "zbacb")
 
 (deftest nsubstitute-string.31
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (nsubstitute #\z #\a x :from-end t :count 1)))
     result)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/position-if-not.lsp b/ansi-tests/position-if-not.lsp
index 3b202216353fc32f83bd843a0d8d8afc485ea951..9fd7e87994131a4334180285aca4f3ee2c6b61e0 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/position-if-not.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/position-if-not.lsp
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@
    (nil)))
 
 (deftest position-if-not-string.13
-  (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "55555aaaaa" 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "55555aaaaa"
 		       :fill-pointer 5
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (and (stringp a)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/position-if.lsp b/ansi-tests/position-if.lsp
index ad31a94b6f60fa67960f14b4a2b0a92f11020edb..302980ee8802c335844a8f37f6a8fd130e87e158 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/position-if.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/position-if.lsp
@@ -432,8 +432,7 @@
 (deftest position-if-string.13
   (flet ((%f (c) (eql c #\0))
 	 (%g (c) (eql c #\1)))
-    (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents
-			 (coerce "1111100000" 'list)
+    (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "1111100000"
 		       :fill-pointer 5
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (values (position-if #'%f a)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/position.lsp b/ansi-tests/position.lsp
index a3bbabd20f8ff0540dbe4a33bd4d5de1b8dfd2cb..ee01feacbcec2e5cc90d726be0bac3837649275a 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/position.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/position.lsp
@@ -613,26 +613,26 @@
   4)
 
 (deftest position-string.25
-  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "bbbbbaaaaa" 'list)
+  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "bbbbbaaaaa"
 			    :element-type 'character
 			    :fill-pointer 5))
   nil)
 
 (deftest position-string.26
-  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "bbbbbaaaaa" 'list)
+  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "bbbbbaaaaa"
 			    :element-type 'character
 			    :fill-pointer 5)
 	    :from-end t)
   nil)
 
 (deftest position-string.27
-  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "bbbbaaaaaa" 'list)
+  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "bbbbaaaaaa"
 			    :element-type 'character
 			    :fill-pointer 5))
   4)
 
 (deftest position-string.28
-  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "babbaaaaaa" 'list)
+  (position #\a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "babbaaaaaa"
 			    :element-type 'character
 			    :fill-pointer 5)
 	    :from-end t)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/reduce.lsp b/ansi-tests/reduce.lsp
index a04a63ff8e125c549000374ef3cc6b721c132a3f..ad30307885e2dd3696cc87bd5d157aba1ed5e6f4 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/reduce.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/reduce.lsp
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
   0)
 
 (deftest reduce-string.14
-  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefgh" 'list)
+  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents "abcdefgh"
 		       :fill-pointer 6
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (coerce (reduce #'(lambda (x y) (cons y x)) s :initial-value nil)
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@
   "fedcba")
 
 (deftest reduce-string.15
-  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefgh" 'list)
+  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents "abcdefgh"
 		       :fill-pointer 6
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (coerce (reduce #'(lambda (x y) (cons y x)) s :initial-value nil
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@
   "fedcb")
 
 (deftest reduce-string.16
-  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefgh" 'list)
+  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents "abcdefgh"
 		       :fill-pointer 6
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (coerce (reduce #'(lambda (x y) (cons y x)) s :end nil 
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
   "fedcba")
 
 (deftest reduce-string.17
-  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefgh" 'list)
+  (let ((s (make-array '(8) :initial-contents "abcdefgh"
 		       :fill-pointer 6
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (coerce (reduce #'(lambda (x y) (cons y x)) s :end 4 
diff --git a/ansi-tests/replace.lsp b/ansi-tests/replace.lsp
index 813d2c5d2eb8c5df09565d5d853531b6f350f878..59a2af7f3c6adc71521d3c5c198a7c79ea54dd7e 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/replace.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/replace.lsp
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@
 
 (deftest replace-string.18
   (let* ((x (copy-seq "abcdef"))
-	 (y (make-array '(6) :initial-contents (coerce "123456" 'list)
+	 (y (make-array '(6) :initial-contents "123456"
 			:fill-pointer 3
 			:element-type 'character))
 	 (result (replace x y :start1 1)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/reverse.lsp b/ansi-tests/reverse.lsp
index 8df96695303b6cf8398026d8e5ee6c7cc52d1fba..05429b6985eed02f9e5f8f73a9aed147b025734a 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/reverse.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/reverse.lsp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
   "000110110110")
 
 (deftest reverse-string.3
-  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			:fill-pointer 5
 			:element-type 'character))
 	 (y (reverse x)))
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
   "edcba")
 
 (deftest reverse-string.4
-  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array 10 :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			:fill-pointer 5
 			:element-type 'base-char))
 	 (y (reverse x)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/search-string.lsp b/ansi-tests/search-string.lsp
index c39d5d15d4e1c777ebfe8c95aaa53899d0c01334..7a9af742f7d6ba4c96b0a57bfc12a92d31d94533 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/search-string.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/search-string.lsp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
   nil)
 
 (deftest search-string.15
-  (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abbaaababb" 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abbaaababb"
 		       :fill-pointer 5
 		       :element-type 'character)))
     (values
diff --git a/ansi-tests/sort.lsp b/ansi-tests/sort.lsp
index 62220b2e9668b7590603d615a1207234739d4e06..dd6e922c2454e5e70c88f24148f30cdfd6df8474 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/sort.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/sort.lsp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
   "11111000")
 
 (deftest sort-string.3
-  (let ((a (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "1001111011" 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array 10 :initial-contents "1001111011"
 		       :element-type 'character
 		       :fill-pointer 5)))
     (sort a #'char<))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/stable-sort.lsp b/ansi-tests/stable-sort.lsp
index 720dae30a5f3c654f7fde26ccffa29bc9a08c15b..94057d96d726fbf3ac5b419795def608882a3645 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/stable-sort.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/stable-sort.lsp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
   "11111000")
 
 (deftest stable-sort-string.3
-  (let ((a (make-array 10 :initial-contents (coerce "1001111011" 'list)
+  (let ((a (make-array 10 :initial-contents "1001111011"
 		       :element-type 'character
 		       :fill-pointer 5)))
     (stable-sort a #'char<))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/string-left-trim.lsp b/ansi-tests/string-left-trim.lsp
index 90354aef0e662abdd7dafc1e5d2994f7b1e1fb80..189790ea7d81484ffb479d348828d852f1833d40 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/string-left-trim.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/string-left-trim.lsp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
   "cdaba")
 
 (deftest string-left-trim.9
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'character
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-left-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "cdaba")
 
 (deftest string-left-trim.10
-  (let* ((s (make-array 9 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdabadd" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 9 :initial-contents "abcdabadd"
 			:element-type 'character
 			:fill-pointer 7))
 	 (s2 (string-left-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
   "cdaba")
 
 (deftest string-left-trim.11
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'standard-char
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-left-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
   "cdaba")
 
 (deftest string-left-trim.12
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'base-char
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-left-trim "ab" s)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/string-right-trim.lsp b/ansi-tests/string-right-trim.lsp
index 7d2d6075f71962705f220fca1362f54d85914b82..938823c0523841f300fec28a3b73b5667e4115df 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/string-right-trim.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/string-right-trim.lsp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
   "abcd")
 
 (deftest string-right-trim.9
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'character
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-right-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "abcd")
 
 (deftest string-right-trim.10
-  (let* ((s (make-array 9 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdabadd" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 9 :initial-contents "abcdabadd"
 			:element-type 'character
 			:fill-pointer 7))
 	 (s2 (string-right-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
   "abcd")
 
 (deftest string-right-trim.11
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'standard-char
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-right-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
   "abcd")
 
 (deftest string-right-trim.12
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'base-char
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-right-trim "ab" s)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/string-trim.lsp b/ansi-tests/string-trim.lsp
index ae169c7ab1098c27385495f3523935e36b4a1ee2..71dac0db86cf3eb5de4e1d701ca3631ccaf5ecdd 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/string-trim.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/string-trim.lsp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
   "cd")
 
 (deftest string-trim.9
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'character
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "cd")
 
 (deftest string-trim.10
-  (let* ((s (make-array 9 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdabadd" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 9 :initial-contents "abcdabadd"
 			:element-type 'character
 			:fill-pointer 7))
 	 (s2 (string-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
   "cd")
 
 (deftest string-trim.11
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'standard-char
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-trim "ab" s)))
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
   "cd")
 
 (deftest string-trim.12
-  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents (coerce "abcdaba" 'list)
+  (let* ((s (make-array 7 :initial-contents "abcdaba"
 			:element-type 'base-char
 			))
 	 (s2 (string-trim "ab" s)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/subseq-aux.lsp b/ansi-tests/subseq-aux.lsp
index f943ed830748f16e2d5251ab75e64114a31d1cca..55aa421cf95a8299647de62ea7c2066884a6819f 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/subseq-aux.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/subseq-aux.lsp
@@ -174,8 +174,7 @@
 				 'string))))))
 
 (defun subseq-string-3-body ()
-  (let* ((s1 (make-array '(10) :initial-contents
-			 (coerce "abcdefghij" 'list)
+  (let* ((s1 (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abcdefghij"
 			 :fill-pointer 8
 			 :element-type 'character))
 	 (len (length s1)))
@@ -218,8 +217,7 @@
 				'bit-vector))))))
 
 (defun subseq-bit-vector-3-body ()
-  (let* ((s1 (make-array '(10) :initial-contents
-			 (coerce #*1101100110 'list)
+  (let* ((s1 (make-array '(10) :initial-contents #*1101100110
 			 :fill-pointer 8
 			 :element-type 'bit))
 	 (len (length s1)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/substitute-if-not.lsp b/ansi-tests/substitute-if-not.lsp
index 7d12e399224a591ec49fe53ff795b6c106fe6cb9..c3635b8d9daf65f91bacbc492d4a6b4148405c74 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/substitute-if-not.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/substitute-if-not.lsp
@@ -402,28 +402,28 @@
   t)
 
 (deftest substitute-if-not-string.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest substitute-if-not-string.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x :from-end t)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest substitute-if-not-string.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x :count 1)))
     result)
   "zbacb")
 
 (deftest substitute-if-not-string.31
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if-not #\z (is-not-eql-p #\a) x
 				    :from-end t :count 1)))
diff --git a/ansi-tests/substitute-if.lsp b/ansi-tests/substitute-if.lsp
index 46f2f2a06f8e8c641f60e71ce8cf0728d7c4243e..b8e72b97cfdf1dd4acf08e00c7a41f5d5e092f5a 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/substitute-if.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/substitute-if.lsp
@@ -429,28 +429,28 @@
 
 
 (deftest substitute-if-string.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest substitute-if-string.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x :from-end t)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest substitute-if-string.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x :count 1)))
     result)
   "zbacb")
 
 (deftest substitute-if-string.31
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute-if #\z (is-eql-p #\a) x :from-end t :count 1)))
     result)
diff --git a/ansi-tests/substitute.lsp b/ansi-tests/substitute.lsp
index d344b3878eda04e4609fcf3866118e8398f844af..77923e531e31ddd041faa05e2cd60d49fb06f79a 100644
--- a/ansi-tests/substitute.lsp
+++ b/ansi-tests/substitute.lsp
@@ -655,28 +655,28 @@
    "0a0aaaa0aa")
 
 (deftest substitute-string.28
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute #\z #\a x)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest substitute-string.29
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute #\z #\a x :from-end t)))
     result)
   "zbzcb")
 
 (deftest substitute-string.30
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute #\z #\a x :count 1)))
     result)
   "zbacb")
 
 (deftest substitute-string.31
-  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents (coerce "abacbadeaf" 'list)
+  (let* ((x (make-array '(10) :initial-contents "abacbadeaf"
 		       :fill-pointer 5 :element-type 'character))
 	 (result (substitute #\z #\a x :from-end t :count 1)))
     result)