Jump to content


This is a read only archive of the old forums
The new CBn forums are located at https://quarterdeck.commanderbond.net/

 
Photo

Looking Back: 'Doubleshot'


10 replies to this topic

#1 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 30 July 2007 - 07:51 PM

Now on the CBn main page...



Raymond Benson's fourth James Bond novel


#2 Barry Nelson

Barry Nelson

    Cadet

  • Crew
  • 10 posts

Posted 30 July 2007 - 08:47 PM

Raymond, If you are monitoring these site: I thought you did a fine job and enjoyed your efforts.

#3 Barry Nelson

Barry Nelson

    Cadet

  • Crew
  • 10 posts

Posted 30 July 2007 - 09:00 PM

One other thing... I'd like to see Raymond's Casino Royale' stage play and Jenkins' 'Per Fine Ounce'.
The heirs of Fleming's estate can relax- after fifty-some years, nothing is going to devalue the Bond franchise.

#4 zencat

zencat

    Commander GCMG

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 25814 posts
  • Location:Studio City, CA

Posted 30 July 2007 - 09:53 PM

As I said before, I recently re-read Doubleshot and enjoyed it a great deal more than I remember. It's really shot up there for me and I now consider it one of RB's best Bond novels.

#5 Sbott

Sbott

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1048 posts
  • Location:Melbourne

Posted 31 July 2007 - 10:56 AM

Very nice overview of the book - looking forward to reading it when the Blades Book Club get to it.

Edited by Sbott, 31 July 2007 - 10:56 AM.


#6 Righty007

Righty007

    Discharged.

  • Veterans Reserve
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13051 posts
  • Location:Station CLE - Cleveland

Posted 05 May 2010 - 06:06 AM

Without any spoilers, can somebody give me a brief synopsis of Leiter's involvement in Doubleshot?

#7 coco1997

coco1997

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 2821 posts
  • Location:Chicago

Posted 05 May 2010 - 07:27 AM

Without any spoilers, can somebody give me a brief synopsis of Leiter's involvement in Doubleshot?


His role is very small. Early in the story, Bond decides to call Felix in Texas to get any information he may have on The Union. Felix assures Bond that he’ll fax him any information he can find right away and then wishes his friend well.

#8 Righty007

Righty007

    Discharged.

  • Veterans Reserve
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13051 posts
  • Location:Station CLE - Cleveland

Posted 05 May 2010 - 07:31 AM

Without any spoilers, can somebody give me a brief synopsis of Leiter's involvement in Doubleshot?


His role is very small. Early in the story, Bond decides to call Felix in Texas to get any information he may have on The Union. Felix assures Bond that he’ll fax him any information he can find right away and then wishes his friend well.

Thanks, coco! B)

#9 coco1997

coco1997

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 2821 posts
  • Location:Chicago

Posted 05 May 2010 - 07:33 AM

Without any spoilers, can somebody give me a brief synopsis of Leiter's involvement in Doubleshot?


His role is very small. Early in the story, Bond decides to call Felix in Texas to get any information he may have on The Union. Felix assures Bond that he’ll fax him any information he can find right away and then wishes his friend well.

Thanks, coco! B)


No problem, Righty. Is there a particular reason you wanted to know, by the way?

#10 Righty007

Righty007

    Discharged.

  • Veterans Reserve
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13051 posts
  • Location:Station CLE - Cleveland

Posted 05 May 2010 - 07:39 AM

Without any spoilers, can somebody give me a brief synopsis of Leiter's involvement in Doubleshot?


His role is very small. Early in the story, Bond decides to call Felix in Texas to get any information he may have on The Union. Felix assures Bond that he’ll fax him any information he can find right away and then wishes his friend well.

Thanks, coco! B)


No problem, Righty. Is there a particular reason you wanted to know, by the way?

I've been reading the Gardner novels lately and was thinking about Leiter's role in For Special Services and SeaFire (which I have yet to read). I then thought about Leiter's role in The Facts Of Death, which was the topic of FelixLeiter.com's 2008 Raymond Benson interview. I asked myself why I hadn't asked him any questions about Doubleshot and couldn't remember why.

Now I remember the reason was because Leiter's role in Doubleshot is so minimal that it didn't necessitate any questions.

#11 AMC Hornet

AMC Hornet

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 5857 posts

Posted 05 May 2010 - 06:23 PM

I'm sorry, but I for one was rather disappointed in Doubleshot. Perhaps it's because, being older, I've already read and seen too many stories involving evil doubles (including John Gardner's Liquidator story, Understrike), and they all end the same way. Doubleshot is no exception. I knew how the story would end before I'd finished the first chapter. Before I'd finished the second chapter I knew how that conclusion would come about. And every time Bond popped his meds I knew he was aggravating his condition.

As for the twin girls - well, that's an obvious device, innit? The moment Bond met up his new acquaintance the second time, I knew she wasn't the same girl before she even spoke. And (SPOILER ALERT) bedding them both simultaneously was another foregone conclusion. Every twin/double cliche in the book (pun not intended - for once) is present here, as were the superhuman blind character cliches in reference to Le Garant (would a blind man really feel the need to wad up a photo of his enemy?)

I had always thought - when I was younger - that there should be a story invoving a double of Bond, but it should have come far sooner, before everyone and his dog (including Nick Carter) had already ridden the same bandwagon.

Sorry Raymond - I appreciate the effort, and as I said, younger readers who haven't already waded through volumes of the same plot devices may regard your work as original. For my money, Benson never topped High Time to Kill (which was second only to Zero Minus Ten, IMCO).