I've just finished Solo and I give it a solid 8/10. I rank it after Colonel Sun, perhaps better than Gardner's best.
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......
I'm now 205 pages in and I agree it's so far a good Bond book. Personally I hated Deaver's effort and this is a return to the Bond I like. Not as good as Amis' or Faulks' but the third best continuation Bond I've read. I've just ordered a couple of Benson books to see how he does.
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
I'm now 205 pages in and I agree it's so far a good Bond book.
Good! If it were in paperback I'd be tempted to get it right now. But I abhor hardcovers. :007)
I've just ordered a couple of Benson books to see how he does.
I was curious as he's clearly a fan. I read what I could of the first chapter of his first novel online and apart from a too-fanish name drop (Mary Goodnight) it seemed pretty good. I'll be interested in your review of one, Muston.
Asp9mmOver the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
Bensons Bond reads like a Brosnan film, with a nod to Connery. It even has the witty Q banter and Moneypenny innuendo scenes, as well as Bond driving a DB5 and over the top gadgets. For a literary Bond fan, Benson was overly influenced by the Brosnan films of that time. Little of his books hark back to Fleming, and those elements he does use are raped, such as making Draco the villain out to kill Bond and killing off Bond's son. It's all a bit tacky.
Wasn't that just a first short, experimental story? Something easily dismissable?
I could deal with Draco going bad.
Bond meeting his son shouldn't be handled as 'easily dismissible' though. As John Gardner said, that story was the big trick. And Draco going bad could have been handled well. The way it was done was like a kick in the nuts to the original character though.
Bensons' books read like un-filmed Brosnan adventures left in the hands of a lacky pulpist (does anyone remember the DIRTY HARRY series from the early-mid 80s, or am I too old with the one?).
Interestingly, however, for all Benson's lack of quality with his prose, his successors - Faulks, Deaver and Boyd - with far more literary gravitas behind them, have shown that they are barely better at stringing a quality sentence together, if at all.
scaramanga1The English RivieraPosts: 845Chief of Staff
Have to say that although Solo for me is quite cinematic and formulaic at times it is in itself a well written thriller. Bond was Bond for me. Boyd's interpretation was the right mix of Fleming Style 007 and that of the cinematic 007 that today's audiences expect. Certainly there were moments that lacked some Fleming style finesse and detail, but on the whole for a new tale within the 007 pantheon it was a relatively easy to read tale full of what we have come to expect in a 007 story. Africa was refreshing in the way it was portrayed with a good mixture of real experience and drama. Having been to The Gambia -another west coast African nation similar to and possibly the inspiration for Zanzarim ,007's arrival at the small African nation was very well written and the whole ambiance was how I would expect it to be. The action when it came was believable and well written. The London scenes were great if a little bit brief -but hey Bond is more about adventures in exotic locations than what's happening at home. Yet these moments at home were excellently done and were handled well. As Bond fans we all feel like we know the character and its these moments at his home that make us feel closer too him as a real person and not a "comic book" type of hero. On the whole the Novel was well written and yes the novel had elements of a Gardner novel too it but not in a bad way. For me the Novel's strength is that it provided a much more believable plot that some past tales have not, which is what I want -but also had all the familiarity of the formula that has made 007 so popular. Sex, violence, taste, exotic locales, fine dining ( love the addition of the recipe for the salad dressing) and inner conflict. -{ for me 9/10.
To be honest, AJB isn't the greatest site for lit. Bond, and, after the recent history, I'd suggest that not too many lit Bond fans would rush out to read it.
I think that's because of the set up- you have to COME to the lit section; other sites have new posts show up on the main screen no matter what section they're from.
I had high hopes. but it seems from all the reviews I've read it's just another okay effort- nothing particularly good.
So far, the best novel I've read recently is still Christopher Wood's TSWLM.
Just started Wood's first Bond book. Have to say I think Boyd fell short of what he's capable of as a writer. SOLO is better than Deaver's, and better written than Gardner, but as far as a plot and the way Boyd handled Bond as a character, I don't rate it. Still it's worth reading if your a lit Bond fan and some will like it while others won't. It isn't the worst Bond novel ever written. Now on to Christopher Wood.
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
Have to say I think Boyd fell short of what he's capable of as a writer. SOLO is better than Deaver's, and better written than Gardner, but as far as a plot and the way Boyd handled Bond as a character, I don't rate it. Still it's worth reading if your a lit Bond fan and some will like it while others won't. It isn't the worst Bond novel ever written.
I keep testing Benson's books out (You can read first chapters on Amazon) and I have to say I personally find his writing style a little dense. He sure does use a lot of words to describe simple things. It's a style I can't handle. I can forgive quite a bit as long as I can flow with the paragraphs- too much work reading and I feel like I'm... working.
Anyone else get that from his Bonds?
After reading the review from www.thebookbond.com about SOLO, I've gone back over the book and also listened to it on Radio 4's book at bedtime and I have to say maybe I didn't get it properly first time around. Will give it another read as it wasn't as bad as I first thought.
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
Although it is funny. I understood Moonraker, Casino Royale and
even Diamonds are Forever, on the first reading.
I think it goes to show how good a writer Ian Fleming was. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I think it goes to show how good a writer Ian Fleming was. -{
He had that rare style of eloquent simplicity. He could achieve in a sentence what most would need a paragraph to convey.
My favourite author, Richard Matheson, had it as well.
After reading the review from www.thebookbond.com about SOLO, I've gone back over the book and also listened to it on Radio 4's book at bedtime and I have to say maybe I didn't get it properly first time around. Will give it another read as it wasn't as bad as I first thought.
I liked this review. I didn't think of it at the time I was reading it, but it would have made sense if Bond had a hidden knife when he visited General Adaka.
scaramanga1The English RivieraPosts: 845Chief of Staff
After reading the review from www.thebookbond.com about SOLO, I've gone back over the book and also listened to it on Radio 4's book at bedtime and I have to say maybe I didn't get it properly first time around. Will give it another read as it wasn't as bad as I first thought.
I liked this review. I didn't think of it at the time I was reading it, but it would have made sense if Bond had a hidden knife when he visited General Adaka.
Great review which I agree with to a large degree. On more reflection from reading this tale. Throughout I was happy with 007's characterization in this novel and the way in which the tale developed. I think Boyd did indeed tap into Fleming's Bond and showed us an older world weary 007 who is indeed beset with a life that is somewhat resigned to be what it is and the mission is something that helps him focus and gives him a purpose in life. The more i think about it the more appreciate this novel's place in the bond cannon and for me is the best since Colonel Sun.
Just received mine last Friday. I just started and only a few chapters into it. I am enjoying it more that the last two books. I have read the comments here yet since I didn't want to spoil it.
Bond: "But who would want to kill me, sir?"
M: "Jealous husbands, outraged chefs, humiliated tailors . . . the list is endless."
I've been tied-up a bit lately (not in a Bond way, alas) and therefore although I got the book on the day it was released, I have only just finished it. Overall, I enjoyed it. Not as much as 'Devil May Care', but light years more than 'Carte Blanche.' I would rank this as my third favourite continuation novel behind Amis and Faulks.
The good: Boyd's characterisation of Bond was solid and consistent. He stayed as true to the character as anyone can 50 years after the fact especially while making Bond a little older (at 45 years), a little wiser and a little more cynical. Even M admonishes Bond for his cynicism...and let's face it, a 45 year old Bond would most definitely be increasingly cynical. He didn't take any great liberties or re-write the back-story. He was respectful to Fleming and to the fans. Full marks to Boyd. Secondly, as others have said here, his London descriptions are great. Some of the best parts of the book. I loved the start with its descriptions of his London life, and I liked it when he returned. Full marks again. I liked Bond's relations with women. Hot, sweaty, physical and carnal...just the way Fleming and Bond liked it. I thought Boyd was good with little things...like Bond's reference to someone being 'coloured': it would have been so easy to have slipped into the more-modern parlance of 'black.' I liked Kobus Breed as a villain...although he's definitely more of a henchman than a mastermind.
The bad: The story seemed to wane after Bond arrives in Africa. I think it needed a long, drawn-out, suspenseful, damn good torture scene...with Bond narrowly escaping with his vulnerable bits in place. There needed to be an evil villain. We had villains - Kobus Breed was a thoroughly nasty bit of goods but was far more money-driven mercenary than maniacal monster...but needed someone really dark and brooding in the background...or foreground. The end was lacklustre. I was expecting a big climax, but there wasn't, just a lengthy explanation of what had happened.
The future: The book just sort of hangs at the end. A crippled Kobus Breed is presumably stalking Bond...could Boyd be signed to write another continuation novel (or at least was, until the sales slumped)? Or perhaps Boyd likes a story to lie hanging at the end. Not sure.
Overall, I definitely recommend it to literary Bond fans and my hat's off for Boyd's respect and accuracy.
He stayed as true to the character as anyone can 50 years after the fact especially while making Bond a little older (at 45 years), a little wiser and a little more cynical. Even M admonishes Bond for his cynicism...and let's face it, a 45 year old Bond would most definitely be increasingly cynical.
Are you kidding. You couldn't get a more cynical character than Fleming's Bond ) If anything, Boyd made him less so. A good thing too as the early Fleming's had him so cynical it was a pretty dour character.
I've been tied-up a bit lately (not in a Bond way, alas) and therefore although I got the book on the day it was released, I have only just finished it. Overall, I enjoyed it. Not as much as 'Devil May Care', but light years more than 'Carte Blanche.' I would rank this as my third favourite continuation novel behind Amis and Faulks.
The good: Boyd's characterisation of Bond was solid and consistent. He stayed as true to the character as anyone can 50 years after the fact especially while making Bond a little older (at 45 years), a little wiser and a little more cynical. Even M admonishes Bond for his cynicism...and let's face it, a 45 year old Bond would most definitely be increasingly cynical. He didn't take any great liberties or re-write the back-story. He was respectful to Fleming and to the fans. Full marks to Boyd. Secondly, as others have said here, his London descriptions are great. Some of the best parts of the book. I loved the start with its descriptions of his London life, and I liked it when he returned. Full marks again. I liked Bond's relations with women. Hot, sweaty, physical and carnal...just the way Fleming and Bond liked it. I thought Boyd was good with little things...like Bond's reference to someone being 'coloured': it would have been so easy to have slipped into the more-modern parlance of 'black.' I liked Kobus Breed as a villain...although he's definitely more of a henchman than a mastermind.
The bad: The story seemed to wane after Bond arrives in Africa. I think it needed a long, drawn-out, suspenseful, damn good torture scene...with Bond narrowly escaping with his vulnerable bits in place. There needed to be an evil villain. We had villains - Kobus Breed was a thoroughly nasty bit of goods but was far more money-driven mercenary than maniacal monster...but needed someone really dark and brooding in the background...or foreground. The end was lacklustre. I was expecting a big climax, but there wasn't, just a lengthy explanation of what had happened.
The future: The book just sort of hangs at the end. A crippled Kobus Breed is presumably stalking Bond...could Boyd be signed to write another continuation novel (or at least was, until the sales slumped)? Or perhaps Boyd likes a story to lie hanging at the end. Not sure.
Overall, I definitely recommend it to literary Bond fans and my hat's off for Boyd's respect and accuracy.
Yep you sum it up well there. I'm not sure if I rate it above Faulks novel or not. Maybe because I was looking forward to this novel since finding out Boyd was to write it, it probably just pips DMC for me.
One other thing. At the end we (and Bond) assume it's Kobus Breed outside Bryce's house. But could it have been a crippled Felix Leiter having a crafty hand shandy while watching his best mate on the job? )
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
One other thing. At the end we (and Bond) assume it's Kobus Breed outside Bryce's house. But could it have been a crippled Felix Leiter having a crafty hand shandy while watching his best mate on the job? )
Didn't think of that...but surely if he'd been engaging in that sort of thing in a dark garden with a titanium hook, Bond would have heard him screaming from miles away!
One other thing. At the end we (and Bond) assume it's Kobus Breed outside Bryce's house. But could it have been a crippled Felix Leiter having a crafty hand shandy while watching his best mate on the job? )
Didn't think of that...but surely if he'd been engaging in that sort of thing in a dark garden with a titanium hook, Bond would have heard him screaming from miles away!
I can imagine Bond's reaction to finding Felix in the garden, "Why Felix, you appear to have a maggot at the end of your hook!"
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
Comments
I'm now 205 pages in and I agree it's so far a good Bond book. Personally I hated Deaver's effort and this is a return to the Bond I like. Not as good as Amis' or Faulks' but the third best continuation Bond I've read. I've just ordered a couple of Benson books to see how he does.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I could deal with Draco going bad.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Bond meeting his son shouldn't be handled as 'easily dismissible' though. As John Gardner said, that story was the big trick. And Draco going bad could have been handled well. The way it was done was like a kick in the nuts to the original character though.
Bensons' books read like un-filmed Brosnan adventures left in the hands of a lacky pulpist (does anyone remember the DIRTY HARRY series from the early-mid 80s, or am I too old with the one?).
Interestingly, however, for all Benson's lack of quality with his prose, his successors - Faulks, Deaver and Boyd - with far more literary gravitas behind them, have shown that they are barely better at stringing a quality sentence together, if at all.
Just started Wood's first Bond book. Have to say I think Boyd fell short of what he's capable of as a writer. SOLO is better than Deaver's, and better written than Gardner, but as far as a plot and the way Boyd handled Bond as a character, I don't rate it. Still it's worth reading if your a lit Bond fan and some will like it while others won't. It isn't the worst Bond novel ever written. Now on to Christopher Wood.
Anyone else get that from his Bonds?
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Overall I liked it. Certainly a huge step forward from Deaver. I really hope Boyd get's a chance to write a follow-up set in 1970.
All considered, pretty good........
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-2433773/James-Bond-Think-know-Bond-Think-William-Boyd-reveals-secret-life-spy-panics-planes-pop-pills-brace--blubs-like-girl.html
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/books/review/william-boyds-solo-a-james-bond-novel.html?ref=books&_r=0
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
even Diamonds are Forever, on the first reading.
I think it goes to show how good a writer Ian Fleming was. -{
My favourite author, Richard Matheson, had it as well.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I liked this review. I didn't think of it at the time I was reading it, but it would have made sense if Bond had a hidden knife when he visited General Adaka.
Great review which I agree with to a large degree. On more reflection from reading this tale. Throughout I was happy with 007's characterization in this novel and the way in which the tale developed. I think Boyd did indeed tap into Fleming's Bond and showed us an older world weary 007 who is indeed beset with a life that is somewhat resigned to be what it is and the mission is something that helps him focus and gives him a purpose in life. The more i think about it the more appreciate this novel's place in the bond cannon and for me is the best since Colonel Sun.
M: "Jealous husbands, outraged chefs, humiliated tailors . . . the list is endless."
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/books/solo-a-new-james-bond-novel-by-william-boyd.html?ref=arts&_r=0
The good: Boyd's characterisation of Bond was solid and consistent. He stayed as true to the character as anyone can 50 years after the fact especially while making Bond a little older (at 45 years), a little wiser and a little more cynical. Even M admonishes Bond for his cynicism...and let's face it, a 45 year old Bond would most definitely be increasingly cynical. He didn't take any great liberties or re-write the back-story. He was respectful to Fleming and to the fans. Full marks to Boyd. Secondly, as others have said here, his London descriptions are great. Some of the best parts of the book. I loved the start with its descriptions of his London life, and I liked it when he returned. Full marks again. I liked Bond's relations with women. Hot, sweaty, physical and carnal...just the way Fleming and Bond liked it. I thought Boyd was good with little things...like Bond's reference to someone being 'coloured': it would have been so easy to have slipped into the more-modern parlance of 'black.' I liked Kobus Breed as a villain...although he's definitely more of a henchman than a mastermind.
The bad: The story seemed to wane after Bond arrives in Africa. I think it needed a long, drawn-out, suspenseful, damn good torture scene...with Bond narrowly escaping with his vulnerable bits in place. There needed to be an evil villain. We had villains - Kobus Breed was a thoroughly nasty bit of goods but was far more money-driven mercenary than maniacal monster...but needed someone really dark and brooding in the background...or foreground. The end was lacklustre. I was expecting a big climax, but there wasn't, just a lengthy explanation of what had happened.
The future: The book just sort of hangs at the end. A crippled Kobus Breed is presumably stalking Bond...could Boyd be signed to write another continuation novel (or at least was, until the sales slumped)? Or perhaps Boyd likes a story to lie hanging at the end. Not sure.
Overall, I definitely recommend it to literary Bond fans and my hat's off for Boyd's respect and accuracy.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Are you kidding. You couldn't get a more cynical character than Fleming's Bond
Yep you sum it up well there. I'm not sure if I rate it above Faulks novel or not. Maybe because I was looking forward to this novel since finding out Boyd was to write it, it probably just pips DMC for me.
One other thing. At the end we (and Bond) assume it's Kobus Breed outside Bryce's house. But could it have been a crippled Felix Leiter having a crafty hand shandy while watching his best mate on the job?
Didn't think of that...but surely if he'd been engaging in that sort of thing in a dark garden with a titanium hook, Bond would have heard him screaming from miles away!
I can imagine Bond's reaction to finding Felix in the garden, "Why Felix, you appear to have a maggot at the end of your hook!"
James Bond wants a relationship , not casual sex, says 007 author William Boyd.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS