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Indeed, a really good puzzle that kept me guessing the theme until almost the last entry. Like jack Aubrey I visited a few cul de sacs, obscure rock groups included! Thanks For.

im probably being very slow here - but what's the significance of the title?

I'm also wondering about that andyp.
Also, I have filled in but cannot parse the first half of 11a, doubting even whether the patience of the second half, if I had it, would help!
5d eludes me too.
"Idealism loses its focus over compounds like Captain".
I see Captain is a fungicide but don't know anything like it that fits. I assume focus means the two central letters al are ignored in anagram of idealism, and can complete the entry with a jumble of same, but it leaves a bad taste. Does "over" mean anagram here?

Captan not the ai version!

I took the title as a ref. to the movement of the protagonists but there may well be better explanation.
First half of 11a is synonym of the more usual 2-letter word for a printer's space. And yes to your questions about 5d, eraserman

Before I file this away, can I get parses for these please ...

10a - Stew joint, eating all but the last fragments (6)

12a - Dollar’s for ever easy to switch in agreements of ratings (7, 2 words)

I have the answers but just can't see the wordplay.

12a - I can see that both words are synonyms of "ever" with the second having "dollar" at the end - I can also see the second word is an anagram but I'm sure I'm missing something.

Hi Brendan,
in 10a, 'fragments' in the anagrind. There are two spellings for this word, this one uses an abbreviation of 'joint' plus most of 'eating'
In 12a, Dollar is a place in Scotland. Scots word for 'for ever' + an anagram (to switch) of 'easy'

Ahh! Fragments as a verb. For 12a I thought the "dollar" was the S at the end of the second word, no wonder I couldn't parse it!

That's brilliant, many thanks Mattrom:-)

Is the steer towards the author whose name is in the grid a red herring?
The title and the two authors/works still seem to need an only connect aha (or groan) moment!