43 replies to this topic

[spynovelfan]

Yes, that chapter is pretty gripping. *Very* convincing on weaponry, although I think it was a bit of a cop-out having Q Branch just build extra super-duper special compartments in his briefcase that won't show up at airport security, but no, I can't tell you how it's done. Still, I have to admit it's quite cool. The Bond of that chapter is also pretty much Fleming's Bond - he even has scrambled eggs.

[Qwerty]

I don't forget Charlie Higson says he reads the forums?

So Gardner, Higson, and Benson on CBn?

[Tarl_Cabot]

Nice write up there QWERTY. I love Icebreaker. It's by far the best gardner book and I think it would have been a great Dalton Bond for the '91 film but of course that didn't happen and DIEHARD 2 in 1990 had similiar action set peices with snow bike chases...etc. A real shame. And it took these clowns three years to get Bond 20 off the ground and look what a mess that was...all they had to do was go to Icebreaker and make the neccessary updates and we could have had a great Bond film. sigh.

Anyway, I'd like to get a copy of Icebreaker since I lost mine ages ago.

[JKD68]

Still,The Bond of that chapter is also pretty much Fleming's Bond - he even has scrambled eggs.

Maybe that's a big reason why the chapter seems to be of such high quality. The atmosphere is outstanding & really draws you in to the story.

[Qwerty]

Nice write up there QWERTY. I love Icebreaker. It's by far the best gardner book and I  think it would have been a great Dalton Bond for the '91 film but of course that didn't happen and DIEHARD 2 in 1990 had similiar action set peices with snow bike chases...etc. A real shame. And it took these clowns three years to get Bond 20 off the ground and look what a mess that was...all they had to do was go to Icebreaker and make the neccessary updates and we could have had a great Bond film. sigh.

Anyway, I'd like to get a copy of Icebreaker since I lost mine ages ago.

Thanks Tarl, glad you liked it.

Ebay, half.com, or any used bookstore would be easy places to find a copy IMO.

[Qwerty]

I find this book to be the most difficult of the [easiest to track down first three] Gardner's to obtain in a UK 1st edition.

[Qwerty]

All I see lately for the UK 1st's of that one are the ex-library copies.

[Qwerty]

Yeah, just have to wait for one to show up.

[Qwerty]

I'm a little more than halfway done with UK 1sts of the Gardners, have some of those for the later Flemings, but the others and some Bensons can be so much.

[Qwerty]

The US hardcovers are still rather cheap.

[Qwerty]

Go for the Fleming's then, it's a good idea IMO. Only getting more expensive.

[Qwerty]

When it comes to Bond...

[Lazenby880]

An excellent write-up Qwerty for an excellent novel. Despite some of the criticism directed at Mr Gardner I have to say I've never been disappointed, though I should confess that I have yet to peruse The Man from Barbarossa, SeaFire or the imaginatively titled Cold.

For Special Services and Icebreaker are effectively tied for my favourite Gardners of those I have thus far read, and both would have made for very interesting films. Indeed, the latter could have been updated for the modern era and made instead of Die Another Day since the producers quite patently drew some 'inspiration' from Garnder's novel.

Edited by Lazenby880, 27 May 2005 - 01:24 AM.

[DLibrasnow]

the impression I got was that Higson thinks the "scary fanatics" are ultrahardcore Fleming purists who loathe the notion of anything new.

Is he wrong?

I don't think so.