As good as the original bond novels are they undoubtedly a
symptom of the time. Were they to be published today they would undoubtedly provoke
more outrage than Jeremy Clarkson holding a cold steak.
So it is an interesting decision for Anthony Horrowitz, to
build a new bond story around pre-existing Ian Fleming writing. As you star the
novel what makes it even more remarkable is that he goes to great lengths to
tie this new novel in to the original series, quoting recent events and
continues to make James Bond a misogynist dinosaur. The theme continues as he
picks up the relationship with Pussy Galore and continues the Myth that bond is so irresistible
to women that he can even convert lesbians to the alter of men. For me the author pursued this angle right
up to, but not beyond my tipping point, then it dropped and the realization dawned
that he was almost apologizing for some of the Fleming Crassness, whilst at the
same time re-writing history to allow a more acceptable Bond.
Once you get over the, not –inconsiderable introduction and
scene setting, the story finally begins. When it does its worth the wait, It
continues at the pace you’d expect from the franchise and the story unwinds in
a plot of catastrophic proportions. Of course we all know bond will save the
day and we’re pretty clear that he’ll do so by charging in, girl in hand, avoiding
death by the skin of his teeth. This leaves the suspense of the story a little
flat, but what there is focused on the villainous characters and the unknown
plot itself.
The book is set in the context of the burgeoning space race and
does provide some interesting insights in to the events of the times, as well
as the global political dynamic. One of the main villains builds a story based
on the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Gun_Ri_Massacre
which was new to me as was a lot of the Korean war. However
, despite being about a British secret agent, there was very little British
interest in the story instead, it was Bond saving America from the Russians
All in all an enjoyable book but no-where near the best in
the franchise. Somehow it loses out on originality and frankness when compared
to the Fleming novels and loses out to more contempory characters when compared
to novels such as Jeffery Deavers, Carte Blanche.