Critical Computerspeak - Role of Honour by John Gardner

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
edited April 2013 in James Bond Literature
What are our combined thopughts here on John Gardner's Role of Honour (1984)? It really felt rushed and underwritten to me as well as being like a unfinished film screenplay. I think that imn all fairness John Gardner was ill at the time he wrote this fourth Bond novel and it shows as it's a notably much shorter entry than his previous three. For me, it's the weakest Gardner Bond novel of the 1980s, and probably the weakest overall of Gardner's run. The computerised micro plot has become rather dated (and the plot here had to be changed due to legal issues with 1983's Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again). Some commentators have said that the plot of Role of Honour is reminiscent of that of Gardner's friend, the author Len Deighton's Billion Dollar Briain novel.

I'd l;ove to hear fellow members' views on Role of Honour, as always.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).

Comments

  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,541MI6 Agent
    It introduced the coolest gun to the coolest British agent. It had that at least.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    It introduced the coolest gun to the coolest British agent. It had that at least.

    True. I had forgotten about that, Aspy. I assume that you'd like the ASP 9 mm to appear in the James Bond film series too, yes?
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Funny, I just found this novel in a second hand store last weekend. Haven't got far yet, just a couple of chapters.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,923Chief of Staff
    As I've said before...I have a soft spot for ROH...and I don't think I've ever really understood why :))

    True, it feels a bit rushed and could have done with another month to tighten it up...but I felt it had real potential - in a way that the latter Gardner books didn't have...
    YNWA 97
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    As I've said before...I have a soft spot for ROH...and I don't think I've ever really understood why :))

    True, it feels a bit rushed and could have done with another month to tighten it up...but I felt it had real potential - in a way that the latter Gardner books didn't have...

    Yes, I remember your saying so. I think I may review this one soon - last read the blinking thing in 2002! 8-)

    But, yes, it did have a good plot that had real potential at least, but it's still a very weak novel for personal reasons affecting Gardner qat the time as I shall make clear in my review in due course! :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • MustonMuston Huncote, Leicestershire Posts: 228MI6 Agent
    Look forward to reading your review Silhouette, keep up the good work. I'm just about ready to start 'For Special Services'.
    "Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Muston wrote:
    Look forward to reading your review Silhouette, keep up the good work. I'm just about ready to start 'For Special Services'.

    Thank you, Muston. As I've said before, that's one of Gardner's best Bonds.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
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