Probably a puzzle that favours the experienced solver, which I guess is stating the obvious, but there are quite a few devices you'll have seen before if you've been doing these things for a while.
On the other hand you might not know the mock serenade at 16ac. I didn't, and I also didn't know the Kentish town, but I assume that one wasn't a problem for UK-based solvers.
Thanks Izetti, nice way to finish the week, stumbling over the line in 4:28. Here's how I parsed it.
Clues are reproduced in blue, with the definition underlined. Anagram indicators are bolded and italicised. Then there's the answer IN BOLD, followed by the parsing of the wordplay. (ABC)* means 'anagram of ABC'.
On the other hand you might not know the mock serenade at 16ac. I didn't, and I also didn't know the Kentish town, but I assume that one wasn't a problem for UK-based solvers.
Thanks Izetti, nice way to finish the week, stumbling over the line in 4:28. Here's how I parsed it.
Clues are reproduced in blue, with the definition underlined. Anagram indicators are bolded and italicised. Then there's the answer IN BOLD, followed by the parsing of the wordplay. (ABC)* means 'anagram of ABC'.
| Across | |
| 1 | Others embracing US soldier, helping signing on process (12) |
| REGISTRATION - REST (others) "embracing" GI (US soldier) + RATION (helping) "Helping" for ration is pretty common around here. | |
| 8 | Good person goes by air for a bit of a flight (5) |
| STAIR - ST (Saint, good person) + AIR When the word "flight" appears in Crosswordland, think staircase. | |
| 9 | Sailor in discussion failing to finish moral story (7) |
| PARABLE - AB (sailor) in PARLEy (discussion, failing to finish) | |
| 10 | Observeecclesiastical division (3) |
| SEE - Double definition | |
| 11 | His garden must be transformed and decorated (9) |
| GARNISHED - (HIS GARDEN)* | |
| 13 | Celebrity needs time to get going (5) |
| START - STAR (celebrity) + T (time) | |
| 14 | Medical pioneer’s information, enthralling a learner (5) |
| GALEN - GEN (information) "enthralling" A + L (learner) A surgeon back in the days of the Roman empire apparently. Doesn't really bear thinking about does it? | |
| 16 | Vicar with hair looking ridiculous in mock serenade (9) |
| CHARIVARI - (VICAR + HAIR)* Wasn't familiar with this term, but it sounds like rugby club behaviour. | |
| 17 | Temptress in short uniform (3) |
| EVE - EVEn (uniform, short) | |
| 19 | Modern Kent town’s economic policy (3,4) |
| NEW DEAL - NEW (modern) + DEAL (Kent town) Didn't know the town but I imagine everyone's familiar with Roosevelt's economic program. | |
| 21 | Country a bit on the cold side, we hear (5) |
| CHILE - Homophone (we hear) for chilly (a bit on the cold side) | |
| 22 | Without giving upcould give sister plenty (12) |
| PERSISTENTLY - (SISTER PLENTY)* | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Schemes king or queen employs (5) |
| RUSES - R (king or queen) + USES (employs) | |
| 2 | Strangely mute, a gala in the country (9) |
| GUATEMALA - (MUTE A GALA)* | |
| 3 | Vivacity of Penny, on right lines boarding steam ship (13) |
| SPRIGHTLINESS - P (penny) + RIGHT LINES "boarding" SS (steam ship) Unusual to see ten letters of a thirteen-letter answer presented in the clue, undisguised. Of course that can cause you to look elsewhere and overlook the obvious. Devilish these setters. | |
| 4 | Exposition concerning what may be drunk at dinner (6) |
| REPORT - RE (concerning) + PORT (what may be drunk at dinner) I tried RE MY IN-LAWS, but it didn't fit. | |
| 5 | A driver may go round in this (7,6) |
| TURNING CIRCLE - Cryptic definition | |
| 6 | Ball that's gold and black (3) |
| ORB - OR (gold) + B (black) | |
| 7 | Dull study beginning with articles in French and English (6) |
| LEADEN - DEN (study) beginning with LE (article in French) + A (article in English) | |
| 12 | Girl is into history, an expert on Greece (9) |
| HELLENIST - ELLEN (girl) is "into" HIST (history) | |
| 13 | Nearest the leaderfor a short time (6) |
| SECOND - Double definition | |
| 15 | Sarah meeting boy, turning up in American city (6) |
| DALLAS - SAL (Sarah) + LAD (boy) reversed (turning up) I don't think we use "Sal" for "Sarah" round these parts. Not that I've heard anyway. | |
| 18 | In revolution you must capture soldiers who will want to kill you? (5) |
| ENEMY - YE (you) "must capture" MEN (soldiers) reversed (in revolution) | |
| 20 | One of the last characters to be heard in river (3) |
| WYE - Homophone for Y (one of the last characters) | |