It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
Merry 007 Christmas and a Happy New Year! I have to work tomorrow/Christmas Day as the Chinese don't celebrate Christmas. Boo, hoo...
I am currently enjoying a few wines (had a mulled wine at the beginning) in the German bar/restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel I live in. This is my Christmas celebration. Can't decide what to eat though... Everything is so damn delicious.
You needn't worry, as I don't think IFP would let some personal affronts get in the way of their making money.
My sources close to IFP say well.
I just bought my HC. Proudly displayed with the others.
BTW I read a library copy way back. Had just been sitting on the buying.
On a related note. Does anyone know why Young Bond: Shoot To Kill, doesn't seem to have NA release?
All that I've encountered locally is French language PB edition.
* While the car race was explained in wonderful detail it felt just a little too short. Would have been nice if it had have gone on for a bit longer.
* I would have liked a bit more dialogue exchanged between Tanner and Bond as they are friends.
* I feel that Horowitz didn't tell us quite enough what Bond was wearing in parts. Unless I just missed this. Did he tell us what Bond was wearing at the racing after party?
* A bit more dialogue between Bond and Jeopardy during their last dinner together would have been nice. It felt a bit rushed.
* Some description of the scenery during Bond and Jeopardy's drive from the hotel to Sin's blue diamond pad would have been nice. If there was some (don't remember) I definitely know that it could have done with more.
* When Bond had his last dinner with Jeopardy, I feel that it wasn't necessary for Horowitz to mention that Bond had exchanged his trademark martini for a Negroni (I used to drink these sometimes but without the orange, after having read the Fleming books ;) ). We all know, Bond drinks other beverages. I know that he didn't want to remind Jeopardy of the last time he had drunk a martini with her but still, he could have just said that he chose not to drink a martini because... and left out the word "usual" (martini).
These are only minor niggles and overall the novel was wonderful. Very Flemingsque in most aspects and Horowitz did all the characters justice. This really felt like a Bond novel unlike any other Bond novel I've read, which is all of them, since the early Gardner books. I just won't understand IFP if they don't hire Horowitz for another. The other celebrity written books just didn't work. Surely they've learnt from this! Well done Mr Horowitz! A great Bond book. Right, time to start reading Cole's 'Shoot to Kill'. I've got a bit behind in my reading due to some stress and pressure at work. :)
Overall, I'm in harmony with @Bounine's review and would agree that next time - and I truly hope there will be a next time - he pays more attention to descriptive detail. In my opinion it was this and only this that stopped him reading completely like Fleming.
This, of course, may have been deliberate as he obviously made an effort to instil his Bond novel with the élan and pace that you find in a modern thriller.
The other issue I was surprised about were a couple of quite obvious faux pas regarding the novel's time line. At one point he has Bond speeding down a UK motorway before motorways were invented!
That said, like @Bounine I think that TriggerMortis is absolutely the equal Amis and Gardner and way ahead of anything since in the adult franchise. Albeit, I think Higson and Westbrook were as good with their spin offs.
Will IFP hire him for another - they'd be barking not to but ......
I wish they would contract Higson or Horowitz to write about Bond's adventures during the war, leading up to him being recruited into the service. Then , his early assignments, pre Casino Royale, but I've said this enough times already. :)
@ClarkDevlin To give one example, are you referring to when that homosexual contact of Bond's told him in the past that he was old fashioned in his attitude or words to that effect?
You know, another thing I would like to read about is some kind of rigorous exercise regime Bond engages in and what he does to maintain his fighting skills. I can't recall any author doing this. I know that Fleming and maybe Horowitz mentioned Bond doing press ups or something. Damn, how quickly I forget! This isn't enough though. Is it judo that Bond does? Oh, I remember reading about Bond learning Samurai skills or something like this in YOLT. This was good. It just makes the character more believable.
This is a true and interesting point and I think that Horowitz could have been more meticulous in not conflating dialogue appropriate to Fleming's '50s literary era with that of the '60s.
Something he could doubtless fix if he were commissioned for another adventure.
I really do hope IFP stop bed hoping with celebrity authors and give either Horowitz or Higson a chance to finesse their approach.
In TMWTGG Bond walks out to sea for his morning swim, when he sees Scaramange train on the trampoline and he decides to swim further out. In Dr.No he has a week (IIRC) to prepare himself with the help of his personal trainer Quarrel, doing all sorts of exercises. In YOLT most of what we read is about him preparing for the mission, including his fight training. So in Fleming there's plenty. He always paints the full picture and indeed, allthough Horrowitz has done it way better then the other authors I've read (Not Amis nor Gardner), I still feel he can improve there (and make it more Bond).
Oh yes, that's right. I'd forgotten about this. I wish Horowitz had mentioned something like this.
Who do you think would win if the literary James Bond fought the literary Jack Reacher?
I'd say it was the most successful attempt to 'do' Fleming since Colonel Sun.
It's certainly better than the last Bond book I read, 'Devil May Care' which I thought was bloody awful. The villain had a 'Monkey paw' if I remember rightly(!)
While I think Pussy Galore was surplus to requirements and doesn't add anything to the story for the rest it's a good fast paced adventure with a good villain and plot.
Horowitz writes some excellent set pieces. The motor race is gripping and could have been written by Fleming, Bond's escape from being buried alive is cleverly done and the final chase on the train is nailbiting.
I found the epilogue a bit naff and to be honest Jeopardy isn't a particularly interesting heroine. (I kept picturing her as Penny from The Big Bang Theory!)
I also really liked the way Jason Sin's backstory was taken from a real event in Korea.
Horowitz for the most part convinces in his writing of that era even if sometimes it's a little off, but this is fast paced and entertaining with some very nice touches.
Glad I finally got around to reading it.
gets to do another ).
Yeah me too. The guy seems to understand the 'Fleming way'
I could never get on with Gardner's or Benson's Bond novels.
Seconded.
To be corrected asap...
Every little helps as they say .