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because D is the mark just short of failing? What a difficult clue for a non-word! Though the task he set himself seems very difficult. I wondered why there are no anagrams!

Struggling at top right. US words possibly?
Russian port or vino turns awry (7) would assist!
Fun for Mr Maltby.....not so good for us? Missing his usual brio.
(My post conforms to his way of writing, and has your approval?!)

Hi Lumen,
for 17a I have DERBENT, Russian port.
vino turns = RED, reversed, + awry = BENT

Thanks mattrom, that did help.
7, Warrant - to go AWOL (7) seems to be Deserve, but why?
and 23, Noon and midnight, start talk with tiny folk?
I have TWEE?E?.

23 Twelves - noon and midnight, also the first letters of Talk With, add Elves, tiny folk.

7 Warrant = deserve, normally pronounced, but if you think of it as De (pronounced Dee) +Serve, it's going AWOL, stop serving (militarily). Think of Delisted, deregulated etc.

Thanks. I can put that one to bed then.
I was thinking wee for tiny.