The Sunday Crossword No 3113, Sunday 16 Aug 2020

ACROSS

1   Dear Dandelion, unusual Victorian novel (6,7) DANIEL DERONDA*

8   'Well ... well ...'; that's indifferent (2-2) SO-SO {SO}{SO}

9   Irascibility shown by US solider eating steak on headland (10) GRUMPINESS {G{RUMP}I}{NESS}

10 Stick commercial in this place (6) ADHERE {AD}{HERE}

11 Unveiling – not very excitedly – some pasta (8) LINGUINE {UNvEILING}*

12 Sucks it up again, uneasily sore with barbs (9) REABSORBS*

14 Heaven's, they say, a Scottish island (4) SKYE (~sky)

15 Fire axe (4) SACK [DD]

16 Fat ... warrior at heart ... criminal; a little celebrated in this country? (5,4) FRIAR TUCK [GK] (Addendum - {FAT+waRRIor}*{Ce...d} in {UK} &lit - See comments)

20 Writer not beginning to describe capture in game (8) CRIBBAGE {sCRIB{BAG}E}

21 Heartless orc in long book, not present-day (2,4) TO COME {T{OrC}OME}

23 Exhibitions, ones that impart finer vision (10) SPECTACLES [DD]

24 Recalled Michelangelo mixing a little spot of pigment (4) MOLE [T<=]

25 Small dog. Brown, perhaps. Conked out in French mountain (6,7) DANDIE DINMONT {DAN}{DIED}{IN}{MONT}

DOWN

1   Risky opening with backgammon piece (2-2-3) DO-OR-DIE {DOOR}{DIE}

2   Not a soul with energy after midday (2,3) NO ONE {NOON}{E}

3   Artist's joy (mostly) rising about cobalt (2,5) EL GRECO {GLEe<=}{RE}{CO}

4   As a product of Smith and Wesson might be? (6-9) DOUBLE-BARRELLED [GK]

5   Regret sports lesson, having torn around (6) REPENT {RE{PE}NT}

6   Granny gets food, eating trout for starters somewhere in Massachusetts (9) NANTUCKET {NAN}{TUCK}{Ea...g}{Tr..t} 

7   Cab seen, unusually: it's a scarcity (7) ABSENCE*

13 Invest in figurative painter that might come from Tamworth (4,5) BACK BACON {BACK}{BACON}

15 Struggled with piano replacing Latin quintet in bands (7) STRIPED STRI(-v+p)PED

17 Scratching head, prejudiced craftsman (7) ARTISAN pARTISAN

18 On location for filming, 'attended' fictional court (7) CAMELOT {LOT}<=>{CAME}

19 Primarily, something African fauna adjudge 'really irritating'? (6) SAFARI Acrostic &lit

22 Oddly claim 'Hero's a small role' (5) CAMEO {ClAiM}{hErO}

Reference List

US Soldier = GI, Commercial = AD, Very = V, Mountain in French = MONT, Energy = E, About = RE, Sports lesson = PE,  Piano = P, Latin quintet = V