I'm half way through it and I'm so far not impressed,
Normally I can get through a new Bond story in one sitting, but I
find reading this a bit of a chore.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
I'm half way through it and I'm so far not impressed,
Normally I can get through a new Bond story in one sitting, but I
find reading this a bit of a chore.
I'm just a few chapters in...its ok...nothing special so far...doesn't engage me the way I had hoped...reminds me more of a Gardner Bond novel...
Neither really...it was more about how the story 'read' than content...
It feels more like "Gardner's/Benson's - Bond" than "Fleming's Bond"....if that makes sense...?...
Agree.
It's odd, isn't it, how supposed literary big-hitters like Faulks and Boyd can't really write very well (I exclude Deaver because he has no pedigree anyway) and their efforts come across as no better than Gardner and Benson (Ray, maybe I WAS too cruel over the years).
I also suggest that for all their apparent literary skills, they just aren't as good as Fleming and that Fleming was, after all, a quite brilliant writer.
And it's a bit like Cubby/Harry said about the non-acting Lazenby: Laurence Oliver couldn't play James Bond, for all his thespian skills.
Very well put David Schofield. -{
Just finished "Solo".......................
Disapointing, as Others have pointed out it's very much like a J Gardner Novel and not one
of the good ones. For two thirds of it Bond is a Passenger in the story, It picks up for a
brief couple of chapters, then falls flat again.
Thankfully I'm now reading Diamonds are Forever for the "Bond book of the month" to see how
it should be done.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Asp9mmOver the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
According to reports today, the sales are awful for SOLO, being 85% down on Carte Blanche in its opening weekend. Less than 9,000 books sold.
With all the negativity here concerning SOLO, I just bought a copy of Devil May Care. I'll read it and enjoy it. Or not. All Bond continuations can't be Colonel Sun. :007)
I'll read it, then contrast it to SOLO once it's out in used paperback cheaply.
According to reports today, the sales are awful for SOLO, being 85% down on Carte Blanche in its opening weekend. Less than 9,000 books sold.
For book variation fans- I bought a copy of Solo in WHSmith with a Sunday Express discount voucher at 40% of £19
which was £7.59.
Then I went into Waterstones and noticed their version had red edges to the pages instead of white.
Just a small difference -but the price is £14.99 (only reduce by £4).
With all the negativity here concerning SOLO, I just bought a copy of Devil May Care. I'll read it and enjoy it. Or not. All Bond continuations can't be Colonel Sun. :007)
I'll read it, then contrast it to SOLO once it's out in used paperback cheaply.
I'm 168 pages into SOLO and so far it's had a good start but has dipped around page 120 (though I'm enjoying it still.) However, as chrisisall has mention Devil May Care, I have to say that Faulks' effort is much better and I'm planning on re-reading Faulks' novel again soon. That's not taking anything away from Boyd who is a superb author, it's just that thus far I think Faulks had a much better understanding of Bond as a character and also Faulks tried to deliver (and I think he succeeded) a classic Fleming adventure, whereas Boyd has placed Bond in a situation that William Boyd knows a lot about.
As long as an author keeps Bond in his original time from and not throw him into the current year, I believe it will stand firm.
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
Asp9mmOver the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
As long as an author keeps Bond in his original time from and not throw him into the current year, I believe it will stand firm.
That's the problem though. You can keep him in his original time, but you have to change the character for a modern reader. A 60's Bond written in the 60's is very different from a 60's Bond written now. Even if Fleming were alive today and wrote a Bond novel set back then, you would never recognise it as being the same character, or even a Fleming novel. That is why Amis works. He was a man of that time. As such, I think Boyd got the flavour of Bond. Faulks was hit and miss. Deaver had no chance of nailing Fleming's work or character, but bringing Bond into the current time and into a real thriller, he worked very well at it and succeeded. But it was far removed from Fleming's Bond. It's like comparing Sir A.C Doyle's Holmes to Benedict Cumberbatch. Both very successful and set apart in time, but the latter is a shadow of the former. Critics and readers loved Deavers book, and the sales and reviews echoed that. But it didn't go down well with the Bond purists like us.
However, as chrisisall has mention Devil May Care, I have to say that Faulks' effort is much better and I'm planning on re-reading Faulks' novel again soon.
Well that makes me somewhat hopeful, thanks Muston. It was shipped and I'll have it next Monday or so.
Is it possible that business for SOLO isn't so good due in part to the general reading public expecting an updated Bond? As if perhaps non-hard core fans want to see a literary version of their cinematic Bond (in today's world, like Craig)?
I am half way through Solo after picking it up for 20 dollars at a bookstore and I am confused why all the hate?
Before that I had just finished Deaver's Carte Blanche and for me Solo is a hundred times better. I love the African setting, the plot, James Bond himself (something which was lacking in Deaver's Bond who felt like any action hero).
Am I missing something or shall I keep reading?
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
I am half way through Solo after picking it up for 20 dollars at a bookstore and I am confused why all the hate?
Before that I had just finished Deaver's Carte Blanche and for me Solo is a hundred times better.
So you are with me? That's good, I think too many people are expecting higher then what is achievable. Do you wish Fleming had written a Bond novel and locked it away to be published in the future like Agatha Christie did.
'Publish this on the 60th anniversay of Casino Royale'
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Do you wish Fleming had written a Bond novel and locked it away to be published in the future like Agatha Christie did.
'Publish this on the 60th anniversay of Casino Royale'
No, like Spock said, change is the essential nature of all existence.
I suspect Fleming was half Vulcan.... )
I'm surpised so few here even read it. Personally I give it 7/10, I guess. it's a well written book and clearly Boyd's best thriller. I think the formula of Bond getting a mission early in the story helped the author. Normally Boyd would have let the hero hear there was a civil war going on in Africa about half-way into the book
Don't you miss that little extra, a bit like the ekronoplane in Devil May Care. Something colourful and slightly fantastilcal, but still realistic?
Did you like the villan(s)?
Comments
Normally I can get through a new Bond story in one sitting, but I
find reading this a bit of a chore.
I'm just a few chapters in...its ok...nothing special so far...doesn't engage me the way I had hoped...reminds me more of a Gardner Bond novel...
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
That's not how I read Sir Miles' post.
Neither really...it was more about how the story 'read' than content...
It feels more like "Gardner's/Benson's - Bond" than "Fleming's Bond"....if that makes sense...?...
Agree.
It's odd, isn't it, how supposed literary big-hitters like Faulks and Boyd can't really write very well (I exclude Deaver because he has no pedigree anyway) and their efforts come across as no better than Gardner and Benson (Ray, maybe I WAS too cruel over the years).
I also suggest that for all their apparent literary skills, they just aren't as good as Fleming and that Fleming was, after all, a quite brilliant writer.
And it's a bit like Cubby/Harry said about the non-acting Lazenby: Laurence Oliver couldn't play James Bond, for all his thespian skills.
Just finished "Solo".......................
Disapointing, as Others have pointed out it's very much like a J Gardner Novel and not one
of the good ones.
brief couple of chapters, then falls flat again.
Thankfully I'm now reading Diamonds are Forever for the "Bond book of the month" to see how
it should be done.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I'll read it, then contrast it to SOLO once it's out in used paperback cheaply.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
For book variation fans- I bought a copy of Solo in WHSmith with a Sunday Express discount voucher at 40% of £19
which was £7.59.
Then I went into Waterstones and noticed their version had red edges to the pages instead of white.
Just a small difference -but the price is £14.99 (only reduce by £4).
Bleuville.
I'm 168 pages into SOLO and so far it's had a good start but has dipped around page 120 (though I'm enjoying it still.) However, as chrisisall has mention Devil May Care, I have to say that Faulks' effort is much better and I'm planning on re-reading Faulks' novel again soon. That's not taking anything away from Boyd who is a superb author, it's just that thus far I think Faulks had a much better understanding of Bond as a character and also Faulks tried to deliver (and I think he succeeded) a classic Fleming adventure, whereas Boyd has placed Bond in a situation that William Boyd knows a lot about.
As long as an author keeps Bond in his original time from and not throw him into the current year, I believe it will stand firm.
That's the problem though. You can keep him in his original time, but you have to change the character for a modern reader. A 60's Bond written in the 60's is very different from a 60's Bond written now. Even if Fleming were alive today and wrote a Bond novel set back then, you would never recognise it as being the same character, or even a Fleming novel. That is why Amis works. He was a man of that time. As such, I think Boyd got the flavour of Bond. Faulks was hit and miss. Deaver had no chance of nailing Fleming's work or character, but bringing Bond into the current time and into a real thriller, he worked very well at it and succeeded. But it was far removed from Fleming's Bond. It's like comparing Sir A.C Doyle's Holmes to Benedict Cumberbatch. Both very successful and set apart in time, but the latter is a shadow of the former. Critics and readers loved Deavers book, and the sales and reviews echoed that. But it didn't go down well with the Bond purists like us.
Is it possible that business for SOLO isn't so good due in part to the general reading public expecting an updated Bond? As if perhaps non-hard core fans want to see a literary version of their cinematic Bond (in today's world, like Craig)?
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Before that I had just finished Deaver's Carte Blanche and for me Solo is a hundred times better. I love the African setting, the plot, James Bond himself (something which was lacking in Deaver's Bond who felt like any action hero).
Am I missing something or shall I keep reading?
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
But I'm a paperback guy. :007)
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
'Publish this on the 60th anniversay of Casino Royale'
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
I suspect Fleming was half Vulcan....
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
(Star Trek 2)
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
I don't know anything about this Dr Who, but that sounds like sexual harassment
It's a huge relief after the garbage of Deaver. I hope Boyd get's a chance to write another Bond, taking him into the 70's.
Boyd really works on the psychology of Bond at 45. I thought the first third of the book was brilliant. I'm surprised so few here liked it......
Don't you miss that little extra, a bit like the ekronoplane in Devil May Care. Something colourful and slightly fantastilcal, but still realistic?
Did you like the villan(s)?