22 replies to this topic

[Double-0 Six]

I've got all the Fleming and Benson novels, and Colonel Sun, but I don't own any of the John Gardner novels.

I'd like to buy some of these, but I've heard that his books are hit and miss when it comes to quality. So I'd like your advice:

Firstly, which books would you recommend I buy?
Secondly, are there any I need to read to understand the plots of the others?
Finally, which is the best one to start with?

I was leaning towards Icebreaker after reading another topic here, but do I need to start with Licence Renewed?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated - Thanks!

[Tarl_Cabot]

I love Icebreaker. Get it.

[zencat]

Work your way through the first 5 books in order: License Renewed, For Special Services, Icebreaker, Role of Honor, Nobody Lives Forever. This would be my recommendation.

[Mister Asterix]

I agree with zen, start with Licence Renewed and start reading them in order.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Icebreaker is the best Gardner; it should have been a '91 Dalton Bond film(with some changes).I liked Scorpious too. I agree with zen, go with the first 5...

[DLibrasnow]

I love the Bond novel "Icebreaker"...I know it has been much maligned over the years but I think it is a cracking good read. I actually was so impressed with it when it came out that I wrote to Gardner and told him I didn't think anyone could write Bond as good as Fleming until I read "icebreaker"...I got a very nice letter back from him.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Cool! Post it D!

[DLibrasnow]

The letter?? It's at home in Scotland...

[MrDraco]

(late in reply at school and flipping threw, happened to have the chance of having a class near a computer and was done with all my work.)

If you've never read Gardner try to stay away from "barbarossa, Win lose or die and Cold Fall unless you've already read two or three of them...

For Special Services,
Ice breaker,
Nobody lives Forever,

those are my Favrites by him....
Personally i like Benson and fleming the best

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Tarl_Cabot

Icebreaker is the best Gardner; it should have been a '91 Dalton Bond film(with some changes).I liked Scorpious too. I agree with zen, go with the first 5...  

Originally posted by DLibrasnow

I love the Bond novel "Icebreaker"...I know it has been much maligned over the years but I think it is a cracking good read. I actually was so impressed with it when it came out that I wrote to Gardner and told him I didn't think anyone could write Bond as good as Fleming until I read "icebreaker"...I got a very nice letter back from him.

I'm reading "Icebreaker" at the moment (only my second Gardner, my first being "Licence Renewed", which I read a few weeks ago; I managed to pick up "Scorpius" at the same time as "Icebreaker" the other day, so I'll be tucking into that one next).

My verdict? Competent and enjoyable, but uninspired (so far anyway - I'm only up to the point where Bond meets the American, Israeli and Russian agents he'll be working with).

My biggest gripe is that Bond could just be any old generic pulp thriller action hero. He seems much more like an SAS officer or British special forces operative than Fleming's creation. Is this the same guy whose adventures we read about in "Casino Royale", "You Only Live Twice" and Amis' "Colonel Sun"? Clearly, the answer is: no. Still, "Icebreaker"'s a fun read.

[Righty007]

I have read Licence Renewed, For Special Services, Nobody Lives Forever, and No Deals, Mr. Bond. I hated NLF and NDMB. I really liked For Special Services and I thought Licence Renewed was okay. I just started reading Scorpius the other day and right now I love it. But I think you should read them in order.

[Hotshot007]

I have read some of Gardner's books(License Renewed,Win Lose or Die, and The Man From Barbarossa). Personally, I thought LR was the best, Barbarossa came pretty close(just finished it today,in fact) but WLOD pretty much sucked.I need some advice on which Gardner to read next,other than Icebreaker.Thanx.

[jwheels]

I'm reading Death Is Forever right now. It is pretty good, good action, plot is a little thin. It is just a rehash of another book, forget wich one though.

[Righty007]

I am currently reading Scorpius. It is great!

[Qwerty]

I love the first 5 by Gardner, then things seem to go up and down. NDMB is okay, Scorpius is great, WLOD is okay, LTK is okay and so on... In my opinion, Scorpius, Licence Renewed, FSS, IB, NLF and SF are some of his best work.

[General Koskov]

Just don't do what I did and take The Man From Barbarossa, Death is Forever, and COLD out from the library!

Lucky for me I gave Gardner a second chance a year later with Licence Renewed. I then read 'em all. Moral? Read Licence Renewed and follow in order.

[IndyJones]

To understand the SPECTRE storyline in three of Gardner's books and must read the three bookls in this order: For Special Services, Role Of Honor, and Nobody Live Forever. I didn't read the books in order but I still enjoy the books. I have read all of Gardner's boon books from Licence Renewed to Brokenclaw. So I've read Gardner Bond's 1-9. I haveyet to read The Man From Barbarossa, Death Is Forever, Never Send Flowers, Seafire, and Cold Fall. THe only disappointing Gardner Bond books I have read are Role Of Honor and Brokenclaw. The rest of the books that I have said I read are good Bond books to read for any James Bond 007 fan.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by IndyJones
 THe only disappointing Gardner Bond books I have read are Role Of Honor and Brokenclaw.

Really? I loved "Role of Honor" and I also thought "No Deals Mr. Bond" was a great read (although a terrible title).

[Qwerty]

Originally posted by IndyJones
I haveyet to read The Man From Barbarossa,  

You're in for a trip with that one IndyJones, in my opinion, the worst of the entire literary series.

[DLibrasnow]

I agree Qwerty, although the worst Gardner is better than the best Benson, I happen to have a real problem with "The Man from Barbarossa".

[Qwerty]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
I agree Qwerty, although the worst Gardner is better than the best Benson, I happen to have a real problem with "The Man from Barbarossa".

Yes. Isn't a James Bond novel supposed to have some action and adventure??? That dud fails miserably, can't understand why Gardner likes it as much as he does.

[DLibrasnow]

Its actually the only Gardner I never managed to complete.

[Qwerty]

It's sooooooooooo boring! The first time I read it, I was just flipping pages because I didn't even care. After that, I actually read it from start to finish, don't plan on reading it in the near future, I prefer any Bond book over that one.