No 14103, Wednesday 21 Feb 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 8A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Difference in attitudes breaking up ageing parent and son essentially (10,3) GENERATION GAP {AGEING+PARENT+sOn}* &lit

8   Forces controlled by Maoist in underground revolution (5) U?I?S ()

9   Men reviewed problem with main knob controlling church pipes (5,4) ORGAN STOP {OR}{SNAG<=}{TOP}

11 & 18 Detailed narrative in breezy weather report? (4-2-4,7) BLOW-BY-BLOW ACCOUNT {C&DD]

12 Hotel just needs strong locks (4) HAIR {H}{fAIR}

14 Characters in terrible unrest around America (7) NATURES {N{A}TURES*}

16 Rebellious writer in European country acting out awkwardly (7) INEPTLY {I{PEN<=}TaLY}

17 Worrying about daughter hooking up on the internet (1-6) E-DATING {E{D}ATING}

19 Granitic rock is found in lawn (7) GREISEN {GRE{IS}EN}

21 Every beauty's topless (4) EACH pEACH

22 Swindle by phoney tourism company (10) CONSORTIUM {CON}{TOURISM*}

25 More courageous with money belt (9) DOUGHTIER {DOUGH}{TIER}

26 Dog picking up right scent (5) TRAIL {T{R}AIL}

27 Gain an advantage over some charlatan easily (5,1,5,2) STEAL A MARCH ON*

DOWN

2   Remove part of text from it due to blunders (4,3) EDIT OUT* &lit

3   Order of demolition finally liberates Cold War capital (4,6) EAST BERLIN  {d...oN+LIBERATES}*

4   America, Britain hosting gathering about nuclear weapon (1-4) A-BOMB {A}{MOB<=}{B}

5   Popular girl arguing is getting under one's skin (9) INGROWING {IN}{G}{ROWING}

6   Number series, new for student (4) NINE (-l+n)NINE

7   Seduce a model with finesse, overcoming resistance (7) ATTRACT {A}{T}{T{R}ACT}

8   Myth or otherwise, a blunder to consume dope (5,6) URBAN LEGEND {A+BLUNDER}* over  {GEN}

10 Socialite raised drink, cuddling pretentious maiden in a retreat (5,6) PARTY ANIMAL {LAP<=} over {ARTY}{M+IN+A<=}

13 Erotic item shaped like a heavenly body (10) METEORITIC*

15 Unmarried Italian woman and character cavorting on air (9) SIGNORINA {SIGN}{ON+AIR}*

18 See 11 Across

20 Largely formal event featuring a Greek dish (7) STIFADO {STIFf}{A}{DO}

23 Extremely scary broadcast about Middle Eastern country (5) SYRIA {ScarY}{AIR<=}

24 Hunter heartlessly traps bird (4) RHEA [T]

Reference List

Men = OR, Hotel = H, Strong = F, America = A, Acting = A, Daughter = D, Right = R, Britian = B, Girl = G, New = N, Student = L, Model = T, Resistance = R. Dope = GEN, Maiden = M, Event = DO