Thanks chrisno1, your reviews are always very well considered and illuminating. I think your experience with Trigger Mortis was similar to my own. Flawed, but as entertaining as any of the continuation novels with some sequences that were very enjoyable. Trigger Mortis is certainly my favourite continuation novel of any published after John Gardner's tenure.
I finally got around to reading it. I consider this to be The Force Awakens of the Bond novels: it's highly derivative of earlier Fleming works--primarily Moonraker, Goldfinger (which it references a lot, and not just because it takes place right after that adventure), and Dr. No--and has a climax that borrows both from the Octopussy film and Batman Begins; but it's very well done and entertaining. I especially like that the author tries to remain true to the 1950s, even including patronizing attitudes toward women and those who are ethnically other than whites. . .although it seems that having Pussy Galore go back to her lesbian roots and leave Bond for another woman is an attempt to apologize for Fleming's fantasy of having Bond "convert" Pussy in the first place. Still and all, like I said, it's all well done and worth a read!
I finally got around to reading it. I consider this to be The Force Awakens of the Bond novels: it's highly derivative of earlier Fleming works--primarily Moonraker, Goldfinger (which it references a lot, and not just because it takes place right after that adventure), and Dr. No--and has a climax that borrows both from the Octopussy film and Batman Begins; but it's very well done and entertaining. I especially like that the author tries to remain true to the 1950s, even including patronizing attitudes toward women and those who are ethnically other than whites. . .although it seems that having Pussy Galore go back to her lesbian roots and leave Bond for another woman is an attempt to apologize for Fleming's fantasy of having Bond "convert" Pussy in the first place. Still and all, like I said, it's all well done and worth a read!
Yes! Regarding the 1950s attitudes, I thought it was a bit too much with how Horowitz tried to explain for the PC elements to exonerate (and correct literary) Bond's perspective and make him noble, a giveaway to the novel being written with a 21st century sensibility.
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
Comments
Yes, I too find that to be a real problem with new books of all sorts these days! Just another annoying example of general dumbing down?! X-(
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/36035/bond-continuation-novel-reviews-vol-2/page/5/
http://jamesbondthesecretagent.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/uk-newspaper-daily-express-prints-my.html
This, and the rapid succession of the new Young Bond installments, I won't be able to keep up!
Yes! Regarding the 1950s attitudes, I thought it was a bit too much with how Horowitz tried to explain for the PC elements to exonerate (and correct literary) Bond's perspective and make him noble, a giveaway to the novel being written with a 21st century sensibility.