My Impressions (So far) of the Gardner Novels
AlphaOmegaSin
EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
Currently reading through Scorpius, nearing the end of it in fact. Just though that I would Post my Opinions about the ones I've read so far here.
License Renewed - A very good start for Gardner in my Opinion. The Scottish Castle Setting is very well done and the Villain of Anton Murick is a rather interesting one. His Scheme to blow up several Nuclear Power Stations around the World was quite gripping in it's Narrative. I give it 8/10
For Special Services - Again, another good Effort by Gardner. The Character of Ceder Leiter (Felix's Daughter) provided a bit of forbidden Romance throughout the Novel. The whole Premise of SPECTRE coming back under the new Leadership of Nena Blofeld (Blofelds Daughter) was one of Gardner's best Ideas throughout his Tenure as Bond Writer. Even though he Ret- conned an Aspect of Blofeld's Character by giving him a Daughter (Fleming described him as being Asexual in Thunderball) The Ending was a bit rushed, but other then that I give it a 9/10
Icebreaker - Easily one of Gardner's best entry's into the Bond Literary Cannon. Involves Bond joining a Group called 'Icebreaker' who are tasked with shutting down a Neo Nazi Organization based in Russia. The Novel is full of Double Crossing and Back Stabbing that will keep you in Suspense right into the very last few Pages. 10/10
Role Of Honor - The first of Gardner's Novels that were below Par with his previous Works. Bond has to fake leaving the Service so he can infiltrate his old Enemy SPECTRE and find stop a devious Plan to disarm the USA and leave it open for the USSR on a Plate. The current Leader of SPECTRE, Tamil Rahini is nowhere near as diabolical or interesting as Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Nena Blofeld who were given much better Narratives. The first 100 Pages or so basically revolve around Bond learning Programming Language for Computers and Software. Dull and very predictable. 5/10
Nobody Lives Forever - This Entry fairs much better then the previous, and it throws us into the Action within the very first Chapter. Bond learns that Tamil Rahini (Current Leader of SPECTRE) is dying after breaking his Spine whilst escaping out of the Blimp during the Climax of ROH. He has placed a Bounty on Bonds Head and will personally reward whoever manages to bring 007 in for a Decapitation by Guillotine. Gardner brings back the Plot Device (Which he will do quite a lot during the rest of his Novels) of Double Crossing. Much better then ROH and deserves the 8/10 I'm giving it.
No Deals, Mr Bond - This oddly Titled sixth Novel in the Gardner Line involves Bond tracking down the remaining Members of 'Operation Cream Cake' and bringing them to Safety. As someone has been killing them off in rather Gruesome Ways before cutting out the Tongues as a sort of 'Calling Card' Slightly on Par with IB and has Bond traveling from Ireland, to France and then finally to Hong Kong where Bond is pitted against four Spetsnaz Operatives on a small Island. Can be a little dull at Points (The Gallivanting through the Irish Countryside could have been left out) but this also deserves an 8/10
Scorpius - The seventh Gardner Novel has Bond investigating the Death of a Member of a Mysterious Group called 'The Meek Ones' who happens to be carrying Bonds Telephone Number on her Persons. M calls Bond down from Hereford for a Briefing, but before he even reaches London, Bond and his SAS Companion called 'Pearly' are attacked by several unknown Gunmen chasing them down Britain's Motorways and Roads. We learn that a Shadowy Individual 'Father Valentine' or his real Name 'Vladamir Scorpius' is the Leader of the 'Meek Ones' and Plans to cause Chaos throughout the World. A very fresh Story Idea for a Bond Novel, and very well done by Gardner. The Ending shows us how Bond hates the Idea of those Dying in Vein and we see the Vengeful Side of Bond, something that has not been presented to us since Fleming's YOLT. I'm giving this an 8/10.
License Renewed - A very good start for Gardner in my Opinion. The Scottish Castle Setting is very well done and the Villain of Anton Murick is a rather interesting one. His Scheme to blow up several Nuclear Power Stations around the World was quite gripping in it's Narrative. I give it 8/10
For Special Services - Again, another good Effort by Gardner. The Character of Ceder Leiter (Felix's Daughter) provided a bit of forbidden Romance throughout the Novel. The whole Premise of SPECTRE coming back under the new Leadership of Nena Blofeld (Blofelds Daughter) was one of Gardner's best Ideas throughout his Tenure as Bond Writer. Even though he Ret- conned an Aspect of Blofeld's Character by giving him a Daughter (Fleming described him as being Asexual in Thunderball) The Ending was a bit rushed, but other then that I give it a 9/10
Icebreaker - Easily one of Gardner's best entry's into the Bond Literary Cannon. Involves Bond joining a Group called 'Icebreaker' who are tasked with shutting down a Neo Nazi Organization based in Russia. The Novel is full of Double Crossing and Back Stabbing that will keep you in Suspense right into the very last few Pages. 10/10
Role Of Honor - The first of Gardner's Novels that were below Par with his previous Works. Bond has to fake leaving the Service so he can infiltrate his old Enemy SPECTRE and find stop a devious Plan to disarm the USA and leave it open for the USSR on a Plate. The current Leader of SPECTRE, Tamil Rahini is nowhere near as diabolical or interesting as Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Nena Blofeld who were given much better Narratives. The first 100 Pages or so basically revolve around Bond learning Programming Language for Computers and Software. Dull and very predictable. 5/10
Nobody Lives Forever - This Entry fairs much better then the previous, and it throws us into the Action within the very first Chapter. Bond learns that Tamil Rahini (Current Leader of SPECTRE) is dying after breaking his Spine whilst escaping out of the Blimp during the Climax of ROH. He has placed a Bounty on Bonds Head and will personally reward whoever manages to bring 007 in for a Decapitation by Guillotine. Gardner brings back the Plot Device (Which he will do quite a lot during the rest of his Novels) of Double Crossing. Much better then ROH and deserves the 8/10 I'm giving it.
No Deals, Mr Bond - This oddly Titled sixth Novel in the Gardner Line involves Bond tracking down the remaining Members of 'Operation Cream Cake' and bringing them to Safety. As someone has been killing them off in rather Gruesome Ways before cutting out the Tongues as a sort of 'Calling Card' Slightly on Par with IB and has Bond traveling from Ireland, to France and then finally to Hong Kong where Bond is pitted against four Spetsnaz Operatives on a small Island. Can be a little dull at Points (The Gallivanting through the Irish Countryside could have been left out) but this also deserves an 8/10
Scorpius - The seventh Gardner Novel has Bond investigating the Death of a Member of a Mysterious Group called 'The Meek Ones' who happens to be carrying Bonds Telephone Number on her Persons. M calls Bond down from Hereford for a Briefing, but before he even reaches London, Bond and his SAS Companion called 'Pearly' are attacked by several unknown Gunmen chasing them down Britain's Motorways and Roads. We learn that a Shadowy Individual 'Father Valentine' or his real Name 'Vladamir Scorpius' is the Leader of the 'Meek Ones' and Plans to cause Chaos throughout the World. A very fresh Story Idea for a Bond Novel, and very well done by Gardner. The Ending shows us how Bond hates the Idea of those Dying in Vein and we see the Vengeful Side of Bond, something that has not been presented to us since Fleming's YOLT. I'm giving this an 8/10.
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
Comments
For Special Services. 9/10
Icebreaker. 7/10
Role of Honour. 8/10
Nobody lives Forever. 8/10
No Deals Mr Bond. 8/10
Scorpius. 7/10
Twitter: @FlemingsBond
As I'm a big fan of downloading books. So I can read them anywhere
even on my phone.
Changed from parchments and scrolls.
But you may like it as you seem to prefer the more 'movie-styled' Bond books -{
When reading the Novels, I envision Connery and sometimes Dalton.
4/10 was probably a bit harsh though. I'll give it another read through, might prefer it on my second Visit.
EDIT: Just found it. Thirty or forty seconds. Even an alert civvy should do it in at least FOUR seconds. What was he doing in there
Never had a problem with it myself - at least showed Gardner was trying to advance Bond's character - but I know many people felt it was a detrimental jettisoning of a well established (and comforting) trope.