13 replies to this topic

[RossMan]

What does everyone think of this one?

The first time I read it I thouhgt it was just terrible but oddly enough I enjoyed it a little more when I recently re-read it. There's only two main action scenes, but the story is still pretty fast paced. I thought it had some excellent supporting characters; Boris Stepakov (reminds me of Zuckovsky in the movies) and Pete Natkowitz, doesn't he come back in Seafire, and of course, the doublecross or two. The villain was weak and hardly appears which I didn't like very much.

I'm still under the impression that this would have worked a lot better had it starred original characters instead of Bond.

[Blofeld's Cat]

I've just seen the cover for Colonel Sun that zencat has posted and, along with this one, I'm surprised that for publications that are only 10 years old or so, they look very later 60's or early 70's in design.

I have to say that being an avid reader of spy/thriller novels, covers showing nazi icons or anything to sugest the Israili/Palistinian conflict bores me, and I tend to sway from reading them.

If I were to come across this version of TMFB in a bookshop, I would pass it by and continue browsing.

That's just me.

[RossMan]

Blofeld's Cat (14 Apr, 2002 08:32 a.m.):
I have to say that being an avid reader of spy/thriller novels, covers showing nazi icons or anything to sugest the Israili/Palistinian conflict bores me, and I tend to sway from reading them.

Ah, but you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, BC.

[Jim]

[b]RossMan (15 Apr, 2002 11:13 p.m.):

Ah, but you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, BC.

This is true. Some books have "Raymond Benson" on their cover, but I'll still buy them and still read them.

(I have to get my mascohistic kicks somehow)

[zencat]

It's pretty low on my list. I just couldn't get into it. I think of it as Gardner's Spy Who Loved Me; a radical experiment in form, some people like it, most don't.

[RossMan]

Jim (12 Mar, 2002 08:16 a.m.):
I think it would work better without the requisite villainous scheme tacked on to the end. it.

I didn't like that either. For first three fourths of the story it deals with the trial, then out of nowhere nuclear weapons comes into it.

I really like the bit where Bond poses as the Russian officer, and even the reader has no clue that's really Bond. Also, M, Tanner, and Moneypenny hearing about "the death of 007". Probably one of the few highlights of the book.

Great title, I think, kinda catchy.

[MicroGlobe One]

It's been some time since I last read it, but I recall this being one of my favorite John Gardner Bond novels. The secret service angle was played out in true Gardner tradition, far more realistic than in many Bond novels. I was not troubled by the lack of outright action sequences for I felt many elements of the established plot were fascinating.

Gardner also recently revealed on his new official website that this is his personal favorite of all the Bond novels he wrote.

[RossMan]

I don't mind there being few action scenes as long as the non-action scenes keep me enthralled, liked Gardner's other books. Most of Gardner's books have little action and that doesn't bother me at all.

That's part of the reason that I favor Gardner's Bonds to those of Benson (but that's another subject ) Gardner's books seem more like real spy thrillers as oppose to action packed adventures.

I think I've read it three times and each time it seems to move up my Gardne scale a bit, it's now above Death Is Forever AND Seafire.

[Jim]

That's probably fair.

To its advantage, I remember buying and reading the opening of the book (in re: Soviet coup) on the very day that Gorbachev was briefly deposed in Summer 1991. I remember thinking at the time (and forgive me, I was only 17) that this was remarkable prescience on JG's part.

[zencat]

Here you go Barbarossa fans. The cover of the large print edition. Kind of cool, isn't it?

[RossMan]

Wow, I really like that one, it has a certain moodiness which perfectly captures the story.

zencat, can you tell me who published it, I may try to find a copy for myself.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Jim (12 Mar, 2002 08:16 a.m.):
I think it would work better without the requisite villainous scheme tacked on to the end. Seems to start off with a Soviet coup and show trials, and ends up something about the Gulf War. The two (three?) elements didn't hang together, in the scales of justice.

And once again, we have Bond seconded to a group of foreign agents, one or more of whom may not be entirely trustworthy.

Yet another one where John didn't know quite how to end it.

Could that be because the Gulf War seemed to overtake current events as Gardner was halfway writing it?

Probably a matter of bad timing and bad luck.

[Jim]

I think it would work better without the requisite villainous scheme tacked on to the end. Seems to start off with a Soviet coup and show trials, and ends up something about the Gulf War. The two (three?) elements didn't hang together, in the scales of justice.

And once again, we have Bond seconded to a group of foreign agents, one or more of whom may not be entirely trustworthy.

Yet another one where John didn't know quite how to end it.

[zencat]

It was published by Eagle Large Print in 1991. There's also a trade paperback with the same cover.