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WITH A MIND TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz (May 2022)

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Comments

  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    mtm wrote: »
    JustJames wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    Is anyone else disappointed in the title ? It seems to me to cross the line past "evocative of a Fleming title" into the area of "a Fleming title with a change of a word." What would be next ?
    Silverfinger ?
    From China, With Love ?
    The Man With the Golden Bullet ?
    or, going past Fleming:
    Colonel Moon ?

    Combo titles for sure.
    The Man with the Golden Ball.
    From Octopussy With Love.
    On Russia’s Majesty’s Secret Service.
    Live and Let Her.

    Finger Your Eyes With Love

    Stop. Please.
    :))
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited June 2022 Posts: 18,338
    mtm wrote: »
    JustJames wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    Is anyone else disappointed in the title ? It seems to me to cross the line past "evocative of a Fleming title" into the area of "a Fleming title with a change of a word." What would be next ?
    Silverfinger ?
    From China, With Love ?
    The Man With the Golden Bullet ?
    or, going past Fleming:
    Colonel Moon ?

    Combo titles for sure.
    The Man with the Golden Ball.
    From Octopussy With Love.
    On Russia’s Majesty’s Secret Service.
    Live and Let Her.

    Finger Your Eyes With Love

    I'm glad it was only the eyes. ;)
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,853
    I have with a mind to kill and I am sitting at Barnes and noble debating on whether to buy it now or not lol
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,489
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    JustJames wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    Is anyone else disappointed in the title ? It seems to me to cross the line past "evocative of a Fleming title" into the area of "a Fleming title with a change of a word." What would be next ?
    Silverfinger ?
    From China, With Love ?
    The Man With the Golden Bullet ?
    or, going past Fleming:
    Colonel Moon ?

    Combo titles for sure.
    The Man with the Golden Ball.
    From Octopussy With Love.
    On Russia’s Majesty’s Secret Service.
    Live and Let Her.

    Finger Your Eyes With Love[
    Risico007 wrote: »
    I have with a mind to kill and I am sitting at Barnes and noble debating on whether to buy it now or not lol

    Do it. Buy it. Now.
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,853
    Up to chapter two shrugs it’s not bad just not amazing
  • moneyofpropre2moneyofpropre2 France
    Posts: 859
    So, Finally the Waterstone editin have some extra Fleming screenplay material... : https://www.thebookbond.com/2022/06/bond-goes-to-jail-in-waterstones.html
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    Excellent! Mine is coming!
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 6,014
    Haven't seen the book yet at the local WH Smith (well, Smith and Son now).
  • RevelatorRevelator
    Posts: 2,919
    Mine arrived today, though it'll be another few days before I can start reading it. I will probably take notes and share them on board, either in this thread (but with spoiler tags) or in a new one devoted solely to spoilery discussions of the book.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited June 2022 Posts: 17,814
    Still waiting for my copy. The last update was that the post service couldn't deliver it in my mailbox, which is funny because I was at home when the post arrived Friday, and I could see that the postman didn't have the package containing the book with him, only a small letter. The tracking service also informed that I'd get a message when the package could be picked up at a local pickup point, which (of course) they've failed to send me…

    I had hoped to read With a Mind to Kill this weekend as I got tomorrow off, and now since I won't have that opportunity, I don't know how soon I'll be able to give the book a read. Probably not until my summer vacation.
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,853
    I just keep waiting for it to become exciting I am two chapters in and just meh

    I need to reread colonel sun after this to see
    If the book really does annoyingly take out Colonel Sun which I always felt was Fleming in everything but writing and I still say I wouldn’t be shocked if it turned out Fleming had written a rough draft of colonel sun and Amis just finished it …. Really the only thing missing from Colonel sun is an EON adaptation
  • ColonelAdamskiColonelAdamski UK
    edited June 2022 Posts: 1,085
    I finished it today. There's no real plot spoilers below, but there's some thoughts on the tone and vibe of the book that perhaps might be considered 'spoilerish'.
    I think it's got the most Fleming references of all the Horowitz books, there's loads of mentions of previous adventures, (which is only natural seeing a AH's previous book was set before the adventures took place!). It's a complete tribute to the original series, a proper celebration. It owed virtually nothing to the films, just the books. I honestly can't imagine anyone who likes Fleming, not enjoying this. Even if it's just approached as a well plotted thriller written as a tribute to the original series, (which it is).
    I thought it explained the brainwashing of Bond much better than TMWTGG, which was annoyingly vague on how they got Bond 'back on track' so to speak. I was really pleased I'd read TMWTGG last weekend in readiness, as AMTK is a perfect follow-up, much more than Colonel Sun I think, as a LOT of TMWTGG story is referenced, and some characters even return. It's almost like we had the Blofeld Trilogy, now we have the 'Brainwashing Bond' two-part series. It kind of completes the MWTGG arc.
    It was high on suspense, well plotted, but low on action, and it was very much a spy story. I liked that aspect.
    One thing I didn't like was a plot point at the climax, and I'll talk about it more when everyone's read it. It was something that didn't ring true and took me slightly out the book.
    I'll also enjoy discussing the ending, when everyone else has read it.

    I think we've been very well served by the Horowitz Bond trilogy. If he does a local book signing in the future I'd love to get one of my Trigger Mortis editions signed to me, (I have signed copies of the other two). I don't collect autographs, but a signed 1st edition is a thing of great beauty.


    MrBond1.jpg

    mrBond3.jpg

    MrBond4.jpg
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,853
    I am 25 pages in and
    I am getting serious death is forever flashbacks this honestly feels like a remake of that Gardner book but set in the 60’s I will write more as I read more
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    edited June 2022 Posts: 2,161
    My Waterstones Exclusive just arrived. I am about to read the excerpt from the unused Fleming teleplay, BOND GOES TO JAIL (joining MURDER ON WHEELS and RUSSIAN ROULETTE, each time with, sadly, diminishing content; and all potential future film titles). That alone is worth more than the cost to me. I am not too optimistic about the book itself, but that sometimes works in the reader's favor. I hope to live to see the full release of all of Fleming's unused teleplays.
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    Well, that was really short. But at least I get a sense of what it would have been like. I do get a satisfaction even reading one line of dialogue attributed to Bond, knowing it was written by Fleming, and hearing that voice in my head. Now onto the novel itself.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    BOND GOES TO JAIL-I can see this working as a Bond film and title.
    halfdead.jpg
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,338
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    BOND GOES TO JAIL-I can see this working as a Bond film and title.
    halfdead.jpg

    Bond could've met up with his old pal Blofeld in there.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited June 2022 Posts: 13,999
    I finished it this evening. I enjoyed it for the most part, except...
    The ending. Bond walks through the checkpoints, as he decided to retire. It feels like there should be another chapter afterwards.

    Also...
    We are told on two occasions, that Bond has never left a relationship on a sour note. Um... I think Tiffany would beg to differ on that.
  • ColonelAdamskiColonelAdamski UK
    Posts: 1,085
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I finished it this evening. I enjoyed it for the most part, except...
    The ending. Bond walks through the checkpoints, as he decided to retire. It feels like there should be another chapter afterwards.

    The ending is very interesting I think. It's . . .
    ... an 'open-ender', which isn't unknown in the Fleming originals. The most obvious comparison being FRWL, and to a lesser extent YOLT. I'd have hated if Horowitz had killed him off, (he wouldn't have anyway), but he certainly leaves Bond in the biggest end-of-book jeopardy since he was at the receiving end of Klebb's shoe.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 4,077
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I finished it this evening. I enjoyed it for the most part, except...
    The ending. Bond walks through the checkpoints, as he decided to retire. It feels like there should be another chapter afterwards.

    Also...
    We are told on two occasions, that Bond has never left a relationship on a sour note. Um... I think Tiffany would beg to differ on that.

    I loved the ending. I thought it was perfect.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    edited June 2022 Posts: 4,077
    Absolutely loved it. I think it's his best of the three. A really fast moving cold war thriller with a real sense of jeopardy for 007. Had a strong 'Manchurian Candidate' feel to it in terms of the story.

    I thought Bond's inner monologues were really well written. The final one near the end is especially good. And I thought the ending was a perfect sign off.
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    Just four chapters in and I am enjoying it.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,489
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Absolutely loved it. I think it's his best of the three. A really fast moving cold war thriller with a real sense of jeopardy for 007. Had a strong 'Manchurian Candidate' feel to it in terms of the story.

    I thought Bond's inner monologues were really well written. The final one near the end is especially good. And I thought the ending was a perfect sign off.

    Great you enjoyed it that much. I'm even more curious now. I hope to read it soon.
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Just four chapters in and I am enjoying it.

    Good news. I hope you have a more positive experience with this one.
  • ColonelAdamskiColonelAdamski UK
    Posts: 1,085
    All three of Horowitz's Bond novels I found so comfortable to read. There was none of that juddering feeling you get with Benson or Gardner when you think, 'no, that shouldn't happen in a James Bond novel!'. They're all comfortable reading if you're a Fleming reader.
    I still have one niggle that I'll talk about down the pike a bit further when everyone's read it. But without doubt, AH went out on a high, and his latest Bond was quite his most intense I thought. I really enjoyed it.
  • jetsetwillyjetsetwilly
    Posts: 3,327
    Really looking forward to reading it. I'm nearly finished re-reading TMWTGG so will start this one straight afterwards.
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,650
    jetsetwilly wrote: »
    Really looking forward to reading it. I'm nearly finished re-reading TMWTGG so will start this one straight afterwards.

    And then follow up with Colonel Sun ?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,338
    Since62 wrote: »
    jetsetwilly wrote: »
    Really looking forward to reading it. I'm nearly finished re-reading TMWTGG so will start this one straight afterwards.

    And then follow up with Colonel Sun ?

    If it hasn't been impliedly repealed? ;)
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    edited June 2022 Posts: 2,161
    I believe, my memory tells me anyway, that COLONEL SUN, DEVIL MAY CARE, SOLO and WITH A MIND TO KILL all pick up a few months after TMWTGG, and all mention Bond's recuperation. Unless I missed something, none of them can work in tandem without stretching the information given to great lengths.
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,650
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I believe, my memory tells me anyway, that COLONEL SUN, DEVIL MAY CARE, SOLO and WITH A MIND TO KILL all pick up a few months after TMWTGG, and all mention Bond's recuperation. Unless I missed something, none of them can work in tandem without stretching the information given to great lengths.

    Nooooo!!!!!!! They MUST all FIT together ! They all have the same Bond who mused about the yuck, ick, blech of a casino in the wee hours after gambling all night in the earl y 1950s !!!!!

  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,650
    I've not yet read WAMTK, but...is ANYONE going to pick up on the Fleming indication (statement, more like it ?) that Bond has a Japanese daughter ??? I forget, but it might have been - child on the way...
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