30 replies to this topic

[Athena007]

From CBn's Main Page...

Looking Back: Scorpius John Gardner's seventh James Bond novel

[Genrewriter]

Very nice writeup as usual, Devin.

[Qwerty]

Thanks Genrewriter!

[Kalel577]

This book has a special place in my heart because a) it was the first Bond novel I ever read; and I read it during my first solo transcontinental trip to Bellingham/Seattle, Washington in 1988. I was reared on the movies and did not know of the literary Bond. I'm the type of bloke who will give something a shot and if the first time doesn't hook me, I won't try any subsequent efforts. "Scorpius" hooked me. I loved the book.

[Qwerty]

I was kind of surprised to see how negative the majority of reactions were to Scorpius when I put together this article from the forum members. It's nice to see some now positive reviews as well.

[zencat]

Not one of my favs. Should give it another read.

[manfromjapan]

I am currently reading all the Gardners in order for the first time. I seem to like the ones nobody likes! I am 3 chapters from the end, but I am really enjoying it. Scorpius is a great villain, the story quite prescient and flows well, the tone even...I think it is the second best after NLFE. Everybody tells me it is all downhill from here, but as ever...I will find out for myself!!!

I recommend the book. A very fast read. Think I will finish it tonight!!!

[Qwerty]

It amazed be how disliked this book was on CBn. Looking back now, I think it was the least liked book of all the Gardner novels (judging by the reviews I collected for all of the articles).

[Qwerty]

Bumping this up as its the current book in the .

[OmarB]

Oh yeah, Scorpius, damn great book! John Gardner yet again kicking all over the place.

Bond trapped by a cult leader, I love that. I love when Bond is put in those can't win situations like trying to escape Scorp's lair. Oh, and Scorp was a great bad guy, two identities, awesome!

Yet another great argument for a reissue of Gardner's series. Yes, i know I'm begining to sound like the local Gardner nut.

[ACE]

Vladimir Scorpius sounded like a classic James Bond villain. Linked with religious cult leader Father Valentine (clever name), Gardner was capturing the Zeitgeist in 1988. The corrupted TV evangelist was the villain du jour (Tom Mankiewicz wrote and directed the 1987 film version of Dragnet using Christopher Plummer in a similar role). I had heard that a similar character would appear in the upcoming Bond film, Licence Revoked (Prof. Joe Butcher anyone?) and liked the idea.
The book itself was a change in pace - sort of Moonraker mixed with Dr No. The mainly UK locations and pacing worked well for me. Gardner conjured a sense of atmosphere and mystery. The opening car chase from the SAS base was fantastic and the SAS character, Pearlman was the first successful supporting character in the Gardner books. Harriet Horner was a fun character. Things went downhill when the plot moves to Hilton Head Island - it is too silly. Fun, but silly. The downbeat ending is good. Scorpius is built up but does nothing and has no real presence. However, it was a continuation of the development of Gardner's Bond who by this time had sort of come into his own. A special intelligence operative who trains with Special Forces, drives a Bentley, uses an ASP 9mm, a renewed sense of the characters at SIS. All in all, there was a confidence about the writing that held sway.

[Pete]

I'm just about to read the last chapter of this book. I think it's one of Gardners best and has that lovely nod towards Sean Connery. I think his books, particularly the earlier ones, are a better read now as they fit in with tougher Bond than what was on the screen at the time.

[Qwerty]

I'm just about to read the last chapter of this book. I think it's one of Gardners best and has that lovely nod towards Sean Connery. I think his books, particularly the earlier ones, are a better read now as they fit in with tougher Bond than what was on the screen at the time.

Welcome to the CBn Forums, Pete.

Be sure to post your reviews of the Gardner novels in the if you like.

[[dark]]

Finally read Scorpius for the first time and was pleasantly surprised.

I find it one of the darkest Bond books yet (suicide bombers, religious cults, a truly dastardly villain and a downbeat ending), many of the themes of which hold particular relevance in the '00s. I loved seeing MI6 up against a deadly, but unknowable force, and one that could strike anywhere at any time. (In fact, M's concern in the new Quantum of Solace trailer reminded me of Gardner's M's anxiety in Scorpius.)

Scorpius is easily Gardner's best villain to date (Bond's recurring visions of killing the man are deliciously dark) and I love the slowburn plotting at the beginning leading to Scorpius' ultimate reveal 17(!) chapters in (take note, Mr Faulks, that Bond doesn't need to bump into his villain by pure chance in your book's opening chapters).

Sure, it's got more of Gardner's overplotted twists, but they were less jarring than previous efforts, and, as others have said, there's some nice prose to be found within.

Up there with Gardner's best (For Special Services, Icebreaker and Nobody Lives For Ever), in my view.

[golrush007]

Scorpius was my first John Gardner experience and one of the first Bond books that I read. Previously I think I had only read Benson's novelisation of TND and his novel, Zero Minus Ten. I remember being mightily impressed with Scorpius. For a long time it remained my favourite John Gardner novel, although now that I've started reading some of Gardner's earlier novels, I prefer Licence Renewed and No Deals, Mr Bond. I will be reading For Special Services next, so it will be interesting to see how Scorpius compares to that one.

[Harry Fawkes]

Ah, For Special Services. Great book. One of Gardner's finest. As for Scorpius, hmmm, not my best but I'd give it 8 out of 10.

[golrush007]

Ah, For Special Services. Great book. One of Gardner's finest. As for Scorpius, hmmm, not my best but I'd give it 8 out of 10.

Well I've now finished For Special Services, but I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other Gardner books which I have read, including Scorpius. I can't point to a specific issue I had with it. My overall response was just a little indifferent.

[dlb007]

For the most part I really enjoyed Scoprius. A secret hideout in Hilton Head, South Carolina was a little disappointing; when reading Bond I want to travel to exotic locations, not South Carolina. I've driven through the state many times and it's just bland southern USA. I did enjoy Scorpius' demise, which of course, couldn't have happened anywhere except the southern United States, so who I am to complain

[Righty007]

I'm reading this for the first time in years and it's really good so far. Way better than No Deals, Mr. Bond!

[dlb007]

I agree! No Deals Mr. Bond outside from a horrible title, was a rather poor novel. It had several interesting ideas, but nothing really gelled. I enjoyed the ending, but even that seemed out of place. Scorpius is yet another "what could have been," Gardner novel. Great idea that never really gets fully fleshed out.

[David Schofield]

Take Pearlman out - and all the contrivances and coincidences that go with him - replace them with more Bond and Scorpius's killers, and you have a very good book.

Trouble with JG - he liked to overcomplicate and over-contrive things.

[OmarB]

I think the book's portrayal of the main villain, his cult and their war on the world was very effective. Bond escaping his lair out there was pretty harrowing and put me in mind of the older novels when Ian would make you cringe.

Other than the few times when Bond seemed to be led by the nose at the author's hand I think it was a good entry. Middling for Gardner, but still worthy.

[zencat]

Re-reading Scorpius at the moment. Like other Gardners that I didn't initially like, I'm now able to appreciate it. In 1988 this was not a very satisfying "James Bond" adventure with Bond pretty much just scooting around London playing detective -- investing murders and whatnot. But I think what constitutes a Bond adventure has become more flexible and now I'm enjoying this largely localized mission. It actually reminds me of some of the original Titan strips in seeing Detective Bond and, or course, murders and cults (big part of the Titan stories). It's fun, well written, and I'm always surprised how much I'e forgotten when I come back to Gardner. Kind of chilling to see how far-out the idea of suicide bombers was in 88. Not far out anymore.

[Righty007]

Re-reading Scorpius at the moment. Like other Gardners that I didn't initially like, I'm now able to appreciate it. In 1988 this was not a very satisfying "James Bond" adventure with Bond pretty much just scooting around London playing detective -- investing murders and whatnot. But I think what constitutes a Bond adventure has become more flexible and now I'm enjoying this largely localized mission. It actually reminds me of some of the original Titan strips in seeing Detective Bond and, or course, murders and cults (big part of the Titan stories). It's fun, well written, and I'm always surprised how much I'e forgotten when I come back to Gardner. Kind of chilling to see how far-out the idea of suicide bombers was in 88. Not far out anymore.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. Phenomenal book.

[zencat]

I think Gardner missed a chance to finally send James Bond to Hawaii in this book. With the idea that Scopius and his cult keep their main headquarters in "paradise", I think Hawaii would have worked even better than Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It would certainly be more isolated. Would have been nice.

[Jump James]

1 star

Are you reading the Gardner's in order and one after the other Gravity? I only ask because I wonder if your having a Gardner overload? Is it better to spread the novels out a bit? I havent read them all but it's all good so far. I am hoping to be proved wrong when I get to the later books.

[Dustin]

Have to agree that Scorpius isn't one of Gardner's stronger books, for most of the reasons already given. But I think Pearlman is actually one of Gardner's strongest characters, to me more interesting than Bond himself and the book could have been terrific if either it hadn't been a Bond book at all or if the villain had been Pearlman. The relationship between Pearlman and his daughter could have provided some great potential.

Edited by Dustin, 23 April 2011 - 05:23 PM.

[AMC Hornet]

For me, Scorpius is the first book in JG's best triple-threat. Nothing after Brokenclaw satisfied me quite as much. I'm one of those who rates Licence Renewed and Win, Lose or Die as the benchmark, with IceBreaker, Nobody Lives Forever and the aforementioned two vying for second place.

That's my opinion, and won't hear a word said against them.

[dlb007]

1 star

Are you reading the Gardner's in order and one after the other Gravity? I only ask because I wonder if your having a Gardner overload? Is it better to spread the novels out a bit? I havent read them all but it's all good so far. I am hoping to be proved wrong when I get to the later books.

I'm reading them in chronological order. Started with Fleming, then did Amis, Faulks, and now have moved on to Gardner. I've already taken a break from Gardner and am reading CONTACT by Carl Sagan. I'll pick up Gardner again soon.

I'll say this for SCORPIUS: There's a certain prescience that the book has that would make it easy to adapt to today; as if Gardner could see the writing on the wall back in 1988. The notion of religious zealots willing to kill themselves, and others, through suicide bombings, to affect an election (or other governmental policy) is very current and timely. Wouldn't take much to update a script using SCORPIUS as the blueprint, but it would probably be the case where the adapted material was better than the source material.

Scorpius just doesn't work on any particular level.

I agree. "Scorpius" definitely could work as source material for a Bond film, especially with the subject matter so closely resembling things we're now seeing.

As for the novel, it was relatively weak. The premise isn't bad, but the buildup is a little disappointing. I wanted Scorpius to be more vicious. While I liked his demise, I couldn't help but be disappointed that South Carolina was chosen as paradise. As someone who has been to Hilton Head, I must say while it is nice, it is far from my idea of paradise.

[Jim]

Certainly one of the most violent of the Bonds, if that's your thing - but oddly also one of the most sedentary; I seem to recall Bond spending vast amounts of time in various indoor locations, discussing things.

Still not entirely convinced by a villain who nicks his towels from Disney.

The basic premise is a good one though, albeit it does remain a bit furry in my brain about why the villain wishes to promulgate it.