Benson's 'The Facts Of Death' (Warning Spoilers)
Muston
Huncote, Leicestershire Posts: 228MI6 Agent
So here I am two Benson books down and I'm not yet sick of him 
)
Okay Benson's second effort has some major plot holes and Benson ups the silliness in this one. Having Bond use what in all honesty is a Batman's utility belt at the beginning of the novel is never the best way to get grounded in reality. Benson's Bond uses Superhuman effort (at one point Bond's love interest refers to him as A GOD
) while Boyd's Bond just got by on scrambled eggs and booze (which I much prefer.)
I did find myself enjoying this novel more than Benson's first novel. It was a nice touch when Bond goes through his medical history at the sperm bank. Doctor, "What's this about a trauma to your testicles?" Bond, "That happened a long time ago."
This Bond is a bit more of a wanderer, a little more troubled than the man we last met in 'Zero Minus Ten.' Though Benson seems to have a habit of writing some decent lines, then digs his own grave with others like this doozy, 'The evening had been an assault on the senses. A terrific meal, a brush with death and then followed by HOURS of sex
'
But where Benson becomes truly annoying is in his constant quoting of dates and years throughout history. He also seems to rather like his villains to give Bond their complete life story in long, dull chunks of dialogue instead of just shooting the bastard.
One thing all the continuation authors have had a problem with is Felix Leiter. None of them know what to do with him. Though I had to grin when Leiter is introduced into this story. The chapter where a well oiled -{ Leiter chases his dog around a coffee table in his electric wheelchair is something else. Benson later turns him into some kind of redneck when he gets Leiter riding into the middle of a Mexican standoff at top wheelchair speed while screaming to save his bit of crumpet.
All in all, a rather silly, sometimes boring, often kiss kiss bang bang adventure that is crap, but good crap.
)Okay Benson's second effort has some major plot holes and Benson ups the silliness in this one. Having Bond use what in all honesty is a Batman's utility belt at the beginning of the novel is never the best way to get grounded in reality. Benson's Bond uses Superhuman effort (at one point Bond's love interest refers to him as A GOD
) while Boyd's Bond just got by on scrambled eggs and booze (which I much prefer.)I did find myself enjoying this novel more than Benson's first novel. It was a nice touch when Bond goes through his medical history at the sperm bank. Doctor, "What's this about a trauma to your testicles?" Bond, "That happened a long time ago."
This Bond is a bit more of a wanderer, a little more troubled than the man we last met in 'Zero Minus Ten.' Though Benson seems to have a habit of writing some decent lines, then digs his own grave with others like this doozy, 'The evening had been an assault on the senses. A terrific meal, a brush with death and then followed by HOURS of sex
'But where Benson becomes truly annoying is in his constant quoting of dates and years throughout history. He also seems to rather like his villains to give Bond their complete life story in long, dull chunks of dialogue instead of just shooting the bastard.
One thing all the continuation authors have had a problem with is Felix Leiter. None of them know what to do with him. Though I had to grin when Leiter is introduced into this story. The chapter where a well oiled -{ Leiter chases his dog around a coffee table in his electric wheelchair is something else. Benson later turns him into some kind of redneck when he gets Leiter riding into the middle of a Mexican standoff at top wheelchair speed while screaming to save his bit of crumpet.
All in all, a rather silly, sometimes boring, often kiss kiss bang bang adventure that is crap, but good crap.
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
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