8  100 books, 1 in 9 producing poison (8)

 9  Writer in fast ship going to die (6)

10 Requests idiot to guard king (4)

11 Vacant stable impresses nasty Queen's jockey (5-5)

12 Children wife defends having entered ring (6)

14 Craftsmanship, mostly, is protecting paper resort facilities (3,5)

15 Vice holds tool essentially rigid for horse service (7)

17 Understand old character occupying bench? (3,4)

20 Collect suiting a saint (8)

22 Lozenge sounding sort of nuts (6)

23 Posh car stops working without witticisms (10)

24 Happy German boy (4)

25 Language of old islander is dextrosinistral (6)

26 The French go after independent party worshipping cult figure (8)

 2  Hills for local cycling display (4)

 3  Figures English sense moves south (6)

 4  Titled lady to go with topless gown (7)

 5  Need fire put out to alter parameters (8)

 6  Choose one film I see as offering hope (10)

 7  Is inquisitive, finally, about Father (6)

13 Cape woven from poor lace gets top honours (5,5)

16 Certain river drowns Australian academic (6,2)

18 Gave dogs fads from, essentially, a scientist (8)

19 Pitcher leaves when detectives reach Iowa (7)

21 Foreign police, one a bore on reflection (6)

22 Dot's frequent companion keeps American time as a habit (6)

24 Foreign dignitary needing good service (4)