No 14024, Monday 20 Nov 2023, Dr. X

Solution to 17A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Very strange reason for wanting to move to another planet (4,7,2,5) LIKE NOTHING ON EARTH [C&DD]

8   Republican involved in manipulation of vote? That's obvious (5) OVERT {OVE{R}T*}

9   X-ray image with most bones of forearm, head, back and arm broken (9) RADIOGRAM {RADIi}{GO<=}{ARM*}

11 Very obvious twist in a sad play (5,2,3) PLAIN AS DAY*

12 Record broken by son on national sports channel (4) ESPN {E{S}P}{N}

14 Writes a musical score, enthralled by revolutionary sunset at Ontario (7) NOTATES [T<=]

16 Moans as girl stimulates (7) GROUSES {G}{ROUSES}

17 Consider mushroom recipe for diner's inauguration (7) E?P?O?E (Addendum - EXPLORE EXPLO(-d+r)RE - See comments)

19 Wine with Latin bloke on vacation resulting in bloomer (7) ASTILBE {ASTI}{L}{BlokE}

21 Depression from twist of fate (4) MOOD <=

22 Love is strong, inspired husband to change (10) FRIENDSHIP {F}{INSPIRED+H}*

25 More suggestive of hurricane perhaps (9) RAUNCHIER*

26 Paramour and lady on screen, going topless (5) LOVER {L}{cOVER}

27 Be quiet about incident with associate in flat getting ecstasy (7,6) SEVENTH HEAVEN {S{EVENT}HH}{E{A}VEN}

DOWN

2   Erroneous account checked by officer at centre later (7) INEXACT {AC} in {offIcer}{NEXT}

3   Death resulting from abuse of nicotine, essentially toxic over time (10) EXTINCTION {NICOTINE+toXic}* over {T}

4   Organiser goes to control revolting brutes (5) OGRES [T<=]

5   Plant in Dutch field, surrounded by loose hay (9) HYDRANGEA {HY{D}{RANGE}A*}

6   New labourer passing primarily pungent gas (4) NEON {N}{pEON}

7   Fragrant roots from old hills across river (7) ORRISES {O}{R{R}ISES}

8   Pioneer, he worked with initiators of Manhattan Project (11) OPPENHEIMER {PIONEER+HE+Ma...n+Pr...t}* &lit

10 Building new empires to conquer earth in computer game (11) MINESWEEPER {NEW+EMPIRES} over {E}

13 Sausage is fresh, having small amount with everyone in retreat (10) MORTADELLA {MOR{TAD}E}{ALL<=}

15 Herb in special fruit punch (9) SPEARMINT {S}{PEAR}{MINT}

18 Find rope perhaps to restrain scoundrel (7) PROCURE {PRO{CUR}E*}

20 Reveal criminal smuggling heroin in French city (2,5) LE HAVRE {LE{H}AVRE*}

23 See 1 Across

24 Overwhelmed by nausea, chest pain (4) ACHE [T]

Reference List

Republican = R, Son = S, National = N, Girl = G, Recipe = R, Latin = L, Strong = F, Husband = H, Lady = L, Associate = A, Account = AC, Time = T, Dutch = D, New = N, Old = O, River = R, Earth = E, Heroin = H