A fine example of a Quiptic from Pan. Thanks to Pan. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
7 Old knight in control of brotherhood (9)
MONASTERY : [ O(abbrev. for “old”) + N(symbol for “knight” in chess notation) ] contained in(in) MASTERY(control;supremacy over).
8 Doctor taking tea and coffee (5)
MOCHA : MO(abbrev. for “medical officer”;a doctor in charge of health services) plus(taking) CHA(tea).
9 Article missing from two signs leading to book stores (9)
LIBRARIES : “a”(an article in grammar) deleted from(missing from) [Libra, Aries](two astrological signs).
10 Holy person going to biblical vessel’s stern (5)
STARK : ST(abbrev. for “saint”;a holy person) plus(going to) ARK(biblical vessel built by Noah).
Defn: Grim;harsh.
12 Inject drug into animals’ legs (6)
STAGES : E(abbrev. for “Ecstasy”, the drug) contained in(Inject … into) STAGS(male deer).
Defn: The sections of a journey or competition.
13 Nice ears deformed by growth (8)
INCREASE : Anagram of(… deformed) NICE EARS.
14 “Toilet” ode composed by unknown American (4,3)
JOHN DOE : JOHN(American slang for a toilet) + anagram of(… composed) ODE.
Defn: Americanism for an unknown;unidentified man or corpse.
17 Occupational therapist gets time to visit country seat (7)
OTTOMAN : OT(abbrev. for “occupational therapist”) plus(gets) T(abbrev. for “time”) plus(to visit) OMAN(Middle Eastern country).
20 Calculation made by setter with money to invest in property (8)
ESTIMATE : [ I(self-referential pronoun for setter of this crossword) plus(with) M(abbrev. for “money”) ] contained in(to invest in) ESTATE(property of a particular person, especially at death).
22 Moving image featuring society’s prejudice (6)
AGEISM : Anagram of(Moving) IMAGE containing(featuring) S(abbrev. for “society”).
24 Hospital has a 26 to accommodate animals with rash (5)
HASTY : H(abbrev. for “hospital”) plus(has) A + STY(a place;answer to 26 across, to accommodate animals viz. pigs in).
25 Excellent meaty fish … (5-4)
HUNKY-DORY : HUNKY(meaty;with a well-developed physique, said of a sexually attractive male) + DORY(a spiny-finned marine fish, especially the John Dory).
Defn: Term for fine;very well, of US-origin.
26 … location for one reported (5)
PLACE : Homophone of(… reported) “plaice”(one;a fish as denoted by the ellipsis at the end and start of the previous and this clue, respectively).
27 Take turns to brew a Trent ale (9)
ALTERNATE : Anagram of(to brew) A TRENT ALE.
Down
1 In favour of recycled tin currency (6)
FORINT : FOR(in favour of) + anagram of(recycled) TIN.
Defn: … unit of Hungary.
2 Herb grown by arrogant cook (8)
TARRAGON : Anagram of(… cook) ARROGANT.
And a cook, arrogant or not, might grow it to be used in his/her dishes. Nice surface.
3 Organ certain to turn up under urologist’s coat (6)
UTERUS : Reversal of(… to turn up, in a down clue) SURE(certain;doubtless) placed below(under, in a down clue) the 1st and last letters of(…’s coat;covering) “urologist“.
4 Independent continent lacking a flower (7)
FREESIA : FREE(independent;unattached) + “Asia”(the continent) minus(lacking) “a“.
5 Try to meet a supporter of facial hair (6)
GOATEE : GO(a try;an attempt) plus(to meet) A + TEE(supporter of your golf ball).
6 Church airs broadcast by missionary leader with a personal appeal (8)
CHARISMA : CH(abbrev. for “church”) + anagram of(… broadcast) AIRS plus(by) the 1st letter of(… leader) “missionary” plus(with) A.
11 Bed allocated to small European (4)
SCOT : COT(a small bed) placed below(allocated to, in a down clue) S(abbrev. for “small”)
15 Twist cables to make a barrier (8)
OBSTACLE : Anagram of(Twist) CABLES TO.
16 Old friend discovers stone (4)
OPAL : O(abbrev. for “old”) + PAL(a friend).
18 Topless paramour getting close to loved one is immoderate (8)
OVERDONE : “lover”(a paramour) minus its 1st letter(Topless …, in a down clue) plus(getting) the last letter of(close to) “loved” + ONE.
19 Quite agitated by state of drink (7)
TEQUILA : Anagram of(… agitated) QUITE plus(by) LA(abbrev. for the US state of Louisiana).
21 In time to take part in performance that’s whole (6)
INTACT : IN + T(abbrev. for “time”) + ACT(to take part in a performance, say, on stage).
22 Taken to dance holding large ornament (6)
ANKLET : Anagram of(… to dance) TAKEN containing(holding) L(abbrev. for “large”).
23 Supernatural being attending special ceremony (6)
SPRITE : SP(abbrev. for “special”) + RITE(a ceremony).
Thanks both. Good stuff. One eyebrow raised at M for money in 20a
Thank you Pan and scchua.
I was unable to parse 26a – I did not recognise that 25a and 26a were connected by those dots.
Thanks Pan and scchua
Very nice, but a bit hard in places for a Quiptic (particularly the crossing MONASTERY and FORINT). Favourites were TARRAGON, UTERUS and ANKLET.
Very nice quiptic-preferred it to the cryptic.
Both Cryptic and Quiptic spot on for a Monday. Wish every day was a Monday.
Thank you scchua for another one of your exemplary blogs.
I agree with everyone who thought this was a really good Quiptic, so no complaints from this part of the country.
But what I also thought was this: today’s Quiptic was by Pan, last week’s was by Nutmeg. Two weeks in a row setters who were promoted to the Premier League a while ago. It left me with the feeling that there must be room for one or two new faces. Recently, we had Carpathian (aka Vigo of Indy fame) who made a terrific debut but apart from her, nothing new under the sun. Last week I was hoping for Carpathian to make a reappearance but alas. No sign of her today either. Perhaps, she’s not ready for a second one but I doubt it. I have nothing against the Arachnes, Nutmegs, Pasquales and Pans filling the Quiptic spot as such but I also know that there’s a lot of real talent around. Setters who might fancy an occasional Monday spot. Perhaps, it’s all down to contracts, promises, money or pretty faces. I dunno.