THEME: first word of 3 phrases, respectively, spell 007
GOOD ONES: Author suggested by {theme} IAN FLEMING
Took out for awhile BORROWED [as in library not dating]
Star quality EGO [probably so]
Something to wrap around one's neck … or maybe not BOA [scarf/snake]
Hoses are often stored in them COILS [not pails, etc.]
BTW: The newspaper version had circles on the four corners of the grid, the letters reading clockwise spelling
B-O-N-D (that's "Bond, James Bond").
"Don't tell me!" OH BROTHER [The clue suggests "I already know" or "It's obvious." But OH BROTHER suggests disgust with the situation. I see them as quite different.]
I got a kick out of 56- and 57-Down: ERNIE is a character from an inane TV show; REGAN, sister of Goneril, is a character from
King Lear. I knew one answer but not the other.
Actually, there are a wide variety of clues which makes it fun.
RATING:
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun
