Thanks Neo, for an enjoyable, not too hard (including the long answers) puzzle. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1 Engaged with number due at ground made less (10)
ATTENUATED : AT(engaged with, as in “at work”) + TEN(the number) + anagram of(… ground) DUE AT.
7 Wicked soul emptied safe (4)
BASE : BA(in Egyptian mythology, the soul, represented as a bird with a human head) + “safe” minus its inner letters(emptied …).
9 One composing letter after a bit of work (4)
BERG : B(the letter after “a” in the English alphabet) + ERG(in physics, the unit of measurement of work).
Answer: Alban, Austrian composer.
10 Newly sober actor modified language (5-5)
SERBO-CROAT : Anagram of(Newly) SOBER + anagram of(… modified) ACTOR.
11 Locks process keeps one in violent job-centre (6)
HAIRDO : [ I(Roman numeral for “one”) contained in(in) HARD(violent;forceful, as in “a hard knock”) ] + the central letter of(…-centre) “job “.
Defn: A way of arranging locks of hair.
12 Hostelry in which a bloodsucker gets to drink – what? (8)
ALEHOUSE : A + LOUSE(a bloodsucking insect) containing(gets to drink) EH?(an exclamation used as a question;what?).
13 Stick with date hero revised (6,2)
ADHERE TO : Anagram of(… revised) DATE HERO.
15 Dead good with United (4)
GONE : G(abbrev. for “good”) + ONE(united;as one).
17 Some llamas approach with all haste (4)
ASAP : Hidden in(Some) “llamas approach “.
Answer: Acronym for “as soon as possible”.
19 Fly useful in these rivers to halve odds in Test (8)
TROUSERS : [ R(abbrev. for “river”) + OUSE(another river, this one in Yorkshire, England) + R(abbrev. for “river”) ] contained in(to halve) the 1st and 3rd letters of(odds in) “Test “.
Defn: What a zipped or buttoned fly would be useful in.
22,23 See 2
25 Is dapper in tailored 19 (10)
DRAINPIPES : Anagram of(… tailored) IS DAPPER IN.
Answer: Trousers (answer to 19 across) tailored with very narrow legs, and, once, you would have been considered dapper in them. Does it look as if these are making a comeback?
26 Doctor’s surgery in decline (4)
DROP : DR(abbrev. for “doctor”) + OP(abbrev. for a surgical operation).
27 See 3
28 Wants information about English XI getting runs (10)
DESIDERATA : DATA(information) containing(about) [ E(abbrev. for “English”) + SIDE(XI;a sporting team of eleven players) plus(getting) R(abbrev. for “runs”).
Answer: Plural of “desideratum”, what is considered essential to have.
Down
2,22,23 Ottoman, light-hearted, with FT reproduced one from 3 27 7 down (3,4,4,4,6)
THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT : Anagram of(… reproduced) [ OTTOMAN, LIGHT-HEARTED
plus(with) FT ].
Answer: A novel from the author, answer to 3,27,7 down.
3,27,7 down Author changes rubric agreed by rowdy sons (5,4,9)
EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS : Anagram of(changes) RUBRIC AGREED plus(by) ROUGH(rowdy) + S(abbrev. for “sons”).
4 Posh Rod gripped by news as implied (8)
UNSPOKEN : U(describing the upper class;posh) + [ SPOKE(a rod as part of a wheel) contained in(gripped by) NN(abbrev. for “new”, twice;news) ]
5 Our publication in Nazareth, as Poe recollected, one from 3 27 7 down (6,2,3,4)
TARZAN OF THE APES : FT(the publication for which the setter compiles) contained in(in) anagram of(… recollected) NAZARETH, AS POE.
Answer: Another novel from 3,27,7 down.
6 Cattle worker departs with rambler (6)
DROVER : D(abbrev. for “departs”) plus(with) ROVER(a rambler).
7 See 3
8 Screen star in final appearance finally disappearing (7)
SWANSON : “swan song”(a final appearance) minus its last letter(finally disappearing).
Answer: Gloria, American actress.
14 Relate to male secretary – this to fill essential need? (9)
EMPATHISE : [ M(abbrev. for “male”] + P.A.(abbrev. for “personal assistant”;secretary) + THIS] contained in(to fill) the inner letters of(essential) “need “.
16 Flustered female trapped by Tory’s exploited (8)
CONFUSED : F(abbrev. for “female”) contained in(trapped by) [ CON(abbrev. for a Conservative;a Tory) + USED(exploited) ].
18 Lively parts from singer unknown in South Island (7)
SCHERZI : [ CHER(pop singer) + Z(in mathematics, a symbol for an unknown variable) contained in(in) [ S(abbrev. for “south”) + I(abbrev. for “island”) ].
Defn: … in a musical piece.
20 King loves hawk to eliminate completely (4,3)
ROOT OUT : R(abbrev. for “Rex”;king) + OO(letter representing 0;love in tennis scores, twice;loves) + TOUT(to hawk;to solicit customers).
21 Pages in black and white only just done! (6)
PIPPED : PP(abbrev. for “pages”) contained in(in) PIED(having markings of 2 or more colours, from the magpie’s black and white colouring).
Answer: Having been only just defeated, as in “pipped at the finishing line”.
24 Sweeper in drama school at top of road (5)
RADAR : R.A.D.A.(abbrev. for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art;the UK drama school) plus(at) the 1st letter of(top of, in a down clue) “road“.
Defn: Equipment that sweeps the surrounding space with radio waves.
17ac: is ASAP an acronym or an abbr.? I thought the enu. for this must be given as 1,1,1,1 though that might be a giveaway.
What indeed is the convention?
Fun as usual from Neo. Lots to enjoy but our setter won’t be surprised to learn that 19a is my favourite 😉
Thanks to Neo and Scchua.
Just reading through, I did not do this, I would say 10a is two anagrams side-by-side plus the definition which is just ‘language’. 😀
It is such a rare day, I just have to say that for once I agree with HH, there are two anagram indicators in the clue and the definition is, as he says just ‘language’
You’re right. I hadn’t noticed it’s actually 2 separate anagrams and hence 2 indicators. Blog corrected.
Thanks Neo and schuaa
Pleasant puzzle solved over a plate of char kway teow for lunch – both were tasty !!!
Before looking him up, I hadn’t realised that the author of Tarzan was such a prolific writer. Interesting why he surfaced as the theme, there doesn’t appear to be any significant anniversary of him or his work that I could find.
A good number of clever charades throughout and interesting anagrams of the longer ones.
Hi scchua
Many thanks for bloggery, and thanks to commenters also.
We’ll have to wait to see what Sil thinks of ‘job-centre’!
Cheers
Neo
Actually, dear Neo, I thought of that this morning!
And there was also ‘essential need’ in a similar category.
I had a chat with myself and I am happy with both.
Moreover, I think that ‘job-centre’ is (probably) different from ‘job centre’.
For me – first impression (without deep thinking) 🙂 – the hyphen did the trick.
But I’m not really the expert.
My ideas on crosswords are only based on what I read, what I see and what I feel when solving (and, at times, setting).
The whole thing together I call: using my intuition.
I know you are a setter who likes to be true to his own principles.
I’m not sure what you think of it yourself but IMHO you were in 11ac.
I just put question marks on the end of all the dodgy ones.
That doesn’t help you to make your crosswords hedgehoggy-proof, I fear.
(but it’s enough for me)
ps, 11ac doesn’t have a question mark – but then, it’s not dodgy.
Neo @ 9
Like it! 🙂
De nada Simon.
Sil, job’s centre was just a bit tooooo much for me I’m afraid!
See, there you are.
Rules, rules, rules, intuition.