18 replies to this topic

[zencat]

I just re-read a terrific interview with John Gardner in 007 MAGAZINE that was conducted by Raymond Benson in 1994 (back before Benson got the gig). Not only does it give you insight into Gardner's world, but you also learn which books Benson thinks are his best, etc. Since he became the new Bond author, Benson doesn't comment on the other authors, but he did back then.

As far as I can tell, Benson's favorites seem to be:

1. NOBODY LIVES FOREVER (Says Benson, "This is far and away John Gardner's best James Bond novel.")
2. FOR SPECIAL SERVICES ("The most brilliant piece of writing that John Gardner has executed in his entire Bond series...").
3. WIN LOSE OR DIE ("This book ranks as one of the best of the Gardner Bonds for several reasons.")
4. ROLE OF HONOR ("...a wonderful entry...")
5. NEVER SEND FLOWERS ("It's an unusal case for Bond, and that's what makes the book so appealing.")

His "least favorite" book is BROKENCLAW (too bad because I really like this book) and he doesn't seem to like ICEBREAKER as much as most Gardner fans.

[Jim]

Cold (Fall, whatever). For some perverse reason Gardner seems to want to bring quite a lot of loose ends in to try to tie them up. What he creates are more, unfortunately. Unless you've read Nobody Lives Forever and Win, Lose or Die (what does that title actually mean?), the two women in it will probably mystify you. What's really peculiar is a supposedly major character in the last two books is just allowed to die offstage. It all runs out of steam, can't really remember what the villain's up to (although if it's Gardner, it's usually something quasi-Nazi) and M gets kidnapped. Yet again.

The books just became a bit of a trial after Nobody Lives Forever. Death is Forever is fun, but is basically a retread of No Deals Mr Bond. Not to say the first five or so are any better; in Icebreaker, is James Bond the only major character to remain the same all the way through? Everyone else changes sides/names and it ends up a horrible mess.

[zencat]

Even though Benson thought Gardner was "still finding his way" with his first book LICENSE RENEWED, I would say you should start with that one. I think it's his best book, and sets up his new Bond world and characters.

[Mr Trump]

I just got my first Bond book which is by Gardner called 'cold', is this one any good.

[zencat]

Mr Trump (30 Jul, 2001 06:37 p.m.):
I just got my first Bond book which is by Gardner called 'cold', is this one any good.

STOP, MR TRUMP! DON'T OPEN THAT BOOK!

COLD was Gardner's last book and I think one of his worst. I would advise against reading COLD as your first Gardner book. Maybe others will disagree with me.

[RossMan]

http://www.klast.net...d/nov_gard.html

Interesting page I just came across, a complete overview of Gardner's books by Raymond Benson.

I'm surprised he doesn't like Icbreaker or Brokenclaw. Those are two of my favourites.

[Mr Trump]

does cold continue from one of his other books with it been his last.

[zencat]

It doesn't really continue from any other book (the way, say, Benson's Doubleshot continues from HTTK), but there are several characters in COLD who originated in Gardner books, and he ties up some loose ends from Seafire w/ Bond's love Flicka, and the secret service is Gardner's complete revamp... So I guess you could say to completely understand/appreciate COLD you need to know your Gardner.

Just all the more reason not to start with COLD.

[The Admiral]

I've only read GE by Gardner, I must get into reading his others!

I'm going to read the ones Benson liked of his.

[General Koskov]

I think if 't'weren't for all the other traitors in every book, Icebreaker would be seen as more of an exiting book. When everyone switches sides, it's certainly different than all Fleming. This is rather important if one's trying to do new stuff. Personally, I liked it secondly to LR.

PS. Read The Man from Barbarossa, Death is Forever, and COLD as my first three... didn't finish any of them until I just finished TMFB as I am reading all the Gardners in order now (on Never Send Flowers).

[rafterman]

Gardner really loved traitors and twists in his books...

[marktmurphy]

That's a fair list. Although I would add Licence Renewed as it was one of the more enjoyable ones as I remember.

Funny how Benson worships him in this list, yet I have an interview he conducted with Kingsley Amis shortly after LR was released in which he makes many bitchy comments about Gardner's writing style. Perhaps he'd tried it by the time he made this list and found he couldn't do any better?

[zencat]

Benson did this list well before he became the Bond author. I said this in my original post (but I understand your need to take a shot at Benson in just about everything you post in the lit section). And I just posted the good things he said about the books. He had less glowing things to say about some of the other books (including one of my favs; Brokenclaw ) so I would say he's "worshiping" Gardner. Also, I have the same interview you mentioned and I remember the bitchy comments coming from Amis. I remember him really hating Q'ute.

And in regards to LR, Benson felt Gardner was "still finding his way." (But I agree with you marktmurphy, I thought LR was one of Gardner's better books.)

[kevrichardson]

I am not surpised to see the Garnder SPECTRE trilogy as Benson Top Bond novel . Garnder earlier works are very good. It was by the 90's that he ran out of ideas , and just over wrote . I allw ays felt that After "Win ,Lose or Die." Garnder lost it. The promotion to captain to Commander never made any sense .

[marktmurphy]

Originally posted by zencat
I understand your need to take a shot at Benson

Glad you're coming round to my way of thinking, Zen.
And I'm not sure that Amis joining in with the bitch-fest makes Benson innocent, but there we go. Neither is it impossible that Benson had a go at writing before he got the gig, although when you read his stuff..etc etc. I'm sure you can guess where that sentence was going.

Seriously though, I don't completely hate Benson- his Bedside companion was good and was one of the only reference works to include Gardner; and his books have their merits- some good situations and locations. And I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to gadgets. I just feel Gardner's stuff has the edge and the proffesionalism. And nicer titles, but I think thats a discussion for the thread next door..

[marktmurphy]

Originally posted by zencat
I agree with you marktmurphy

Stop, you're making me blush.

[marktmurphy]

Actually, another thing which Benson manages much better are fights- he manages to describe them very clearly and comes up with some nice moves- the fight in Belgium in HTTK was very good. Gardner's fights were always messy and hard to understand in a "where did that arm come from?" kinda way.

[zencat]

I also like the Belgium fight because Bond pretty much gets his **** kicked (I forget how the fight ends) and has to deal with the injuries you would realistically get in a fight with massive henchman.

[General Koskov]

At least after that fight, he doesn't give his **** high-quality medical treatment from his shoe.