The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 2,589 - May 22 2011

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Clues Answers
17 and I set out first EARLIEST
A variety of exotics share the same habitat COEXIST
Athlete filmed in front of golf club SHOTPUTTER
Business group's short time in New York, missing centre NETWORK
Composer liable to be shy when king enters BRITTEN
Contest truth of study and its conclusion DENY
Count, for example, including number 1000 in British list NOBLEMAN
Creative discussions note origin of heavy fall in German capital BRAINSTORMING
Cuts some slack, so to speak, for powerful people TITANS
Dismissal in place of retirement SACK
Firm connection with monarch in social circle COTERIE
For instance, one area that covers much of the planet ASIA
Get awfully drunk, finally, and streak -- like this STARKNAKED
It introduces alternatives, i.e. number over one EITHER
Clues Answers
It's completely, or only partly, crucial to get here ALTOGETHER
Lo, nation's hero at sea HORATIONELSON
Lose control, in a way, as small child SKID
Loveless marriage, say, with one bloke? That's foolish UNINTELLIGENT
Not so polite about dean, initially, as course director RUDDER
Occupy shortly, without husband INHABIT
Offer too much in old part of speech I had shortened OVERBID
One's put on before one's taken off SEATBELT
Owns something soft below the knee, as this is HASSOCK
Power with which wild cat makes sudden attack POUNCE
Sink warship north of port, perhaps SUBSIDE
Soldier and other ranks embracing cult? It's none of the state's business PRIVATESECTOR
Sounded conspicuous PRONOUNCED
Work of man of letters included in book collection EPISTLES