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Win, Lose Or Die; Reviews & Ratings

Started by Qwerty , Oct 15 2007 07:49 PM

5 replies to this topic

Poll: How do you rate 'Win, Lose Or Die'?

How do you rate 'Win, Lose Or Die'?

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#1 Qwerty

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Posted 15 October 2007 - 07:49 PM



This thread is intended for reviews and ratings of Win, Lose Or Die by members of the The Blades Library Book Club here. Be sure to add your review if you do vote in the poll!

The Blades Library Book Club will be reading Win, Lose Or Die from: 15 October 2007 - 15 December 2007.


#2 Genrewriter

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Posted 17 October 2007 - 04:49 PM

The seventh Gardner entry is probably the best, full of good action and an entertaining plot. The twists are handled better than usual and the pacing is taut and effective.

#3 Jim

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Posted 17 October 2007 - 04:53 PM

Flatulent and when the rot set in.

As an introduction to a new character, Captain Boldman, it's alright, even if the title is meaningless, but if it's really meant to be a James Bond book it's not one of those by a mighty chalk.

#4 Qwerty

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Posted 12 December 2007 - 02:46 PM

Keep the reviews coming!

#5 Harry Fawkes

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Posted 11 January 2008 - 09:31 PM

A powerful plot, an action-packed page-turner and the title is great. I loved it. One of Gardner's best. Damn, I miss Gardner's Bond!

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#6 ACE

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Posted 15 February 2008 - 04:48 AM

Win Lose Or Die really shook things up in the litBond universe. Gardner had taken a leap with the character: promoting Bond to Captain and having him rejoin the Royal Navy was a big step. However, Gardner seemed to have dispensed with the accoutrements he had given his Bond aka Predator aka James Boldman: no Bentley, no ASP 9mm or COB, no Q'ute - just when Gardner had been developing his own Bond, the rug was pulled from under him. In other ways, things were the same: a fun, not-fully joined up plot, huge twists, double and treble crosses with characters given several names and codewords (all only used once). The locations were well drawn and Gardner's love of classical literature is apparent. Beatrice is a great girl although BAST is a bit silly. The topical ending is similar to Scorpius and dates the book. There are some nice moments such as Bond remembering his last Christmas with his parents but somehow it didn't gel for me. A mixed bag - I liked what Gardner was trying to do rather than his actual execution of it. One was forced to accentuate the positive in the reading experience - the only fix of literary Bond. Perhaps the pressure of having to also churn out 1989's novelization of Licence To Kill impacted upon this original continuation Bond novel.
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