Tls 1296

[highbury57]

Sorry to be asking so early but two clues are based on Tolkien and he is a closed book to me even more than Game of Thrones!
14d Good conservative king fires those that helped create Khazad-dum(8)
23a Account of Nilovna’s awakening is different after bit of manipulation (6)
I am ready to believe anything!

[Lie-in King]

Any letters placed?

14d Pickaxes - 'pi(ous) C(onservative) k(ing) axes (fires)' (?)

[Lie-in King]

23a Mother - 'm(anipulation; bit of) other (different)'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_(Gorky_novel)#Plot

[highbury57]

Thank you. I am sure you are right but I wouldn’t have known these. I wouldn’t know how to verify!

[Lie-in King]

Glad I could help :-)

I know Tolkien's Dwarves are miners, hence my stab at "pickaxes", once I saw it in the wordplay.

[Lie-in King]

Sorry, forgot the link for that -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)

[highbury57]

I have followed the link but am no more likely to read Tolkien than before. I will take nominations for Philistinism 2019.