Yes the ending is a bit different, and a bit disgusting having all that
animal grease being smeared on his thighs ( and other places too )
Although I thought Brokenclaw was a good villain and the Idea of
having a native American was inspired. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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
Just reading this myself and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Loving Lavenders character, and the overall plot. So far, I too give it an 8/10... But haven't quite finished it yet....
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
I too really enjoyed this book...the twists and turns were great. I wouldn't credit it with 10/10... As I'm enjoying License Renewed more...so maybe a 7.5/10.
-{
She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
Just out of interest when you read these books, who do you picture playing Bond? I always think of Dalton in Gardners 80's books but Craig in some of the latter novels.
License Renewed - 7/10
For Special Services - 7/10
Icebreaker - 6/10
Role of Honour - 4/10
Nobody Lives Forever - 9/10
No Deals, Mr. Bond - 8/10
Scorpius - 7/10
Licence to Kill - 7/10
Win, Lose or Die - 5/10
Brokenclaw - 7/10
The Man from Barbarossa - 3/10
Listening to the audio book of NLF and only just realised
a character from Fleming. Gardner Kills off ( off story )
Reappeares in a later Benson novel. )
"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: 26,516Chief of Staff
Listening to the audio book of NLF and only just realised
a character from Fleming. Gardner Kills off ( off story )
Reappeares in a later Benson novel. )
He does...I remember Benson saying in an interview that he wrote as though the Gardner novels didn't exist...
Listening to the audio book of NLF and only just realised
a character from Fleming. Gardner Kills off ( off story )
Reappeares in a later Benson novel. )
He does...I remember Benson saying in an interview that he wrote as though the Gardner novels didn't exist...
Not sure either of those points are correct.
The person who dies "off screen" in NLF: Benson explains the "demise" and subsequent resurrection in NEVER DREAM OF DYING. As the book isn't very good for a number of reasons, this contrivance, and contradiction of Gardner, is easy to overlook as an issue.
On Benson not acknowledging the existence of Gardner's novels: Benson lists Bond's relationships with a number of Garnder heroines in ZERO MINUS TEN...
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,516Chief of Staff
On Benson not acknowledging the existence of Gardner's novels: Benson lists Bond's relationships with a number of Garnder heroines in ZERO MINUS TEN...
I read that from an interview done with him - if I had the magazine to hand I'd copy it and print it here...alas I don't...but it's true what you say about Benson and ZMT...I guess he just said what fit at the time....
Although Benson did give Bond back his PPK and dropped
His rank back to commander. Obviously a fan of the films he
Also gave Bond loads of gadgets. ) somehow I don't think
Fleming would have been impressed.
"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: 26,516Chief of Staff
Benson's books are written as though they are 'for the screen' - in the most part anyway...not sure if that was his choice or the way he was told to go...?..
Benson's books had their ups and downs, as with Gardner. As he said, he had very big shoes to fill. His enthusiasm was evident, at least at first, and his knowledge was frequently on display. I did find it interesting that he was quoted as saying that Lee and Brown both played Sir Miles Messervy in his opinion, while Admiral Hargreaves (Brown's character in TSWLM) turned up in one of his books.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,672MI6 Agent
John Gardner sadly died seven years ago today on 3rd August 2007.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Thanks for that, SM. His books brought much pleasure. I was a fan of his Boysie Oakes series, which I read at the time (yes, I am that old) and was quite happy when he got the Bond gig. I read all of his Bond novels as they appeared, and in general enjoyed the first few then got increasingly bored with the latter ones.
I know you're a big fan of NSF and I re-read it a while back then commented on it, at your suggestion. "Cold" was terrible. Of his later Bond novels, I thought LTK and GE were the best but of course those were based on film scripts.
I've never read any of his Kruger or Moriarty novels.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,672MI6 Agent
My pleasure, Barbel. I've read some of the Krugers and Boysie Oakes. I recently read again your review of NSF and greatly enjoyed it. As a treat here is a copy of what Simon Gardner has to say regarding the seventh anniversary of his father's death (copied with permission from Simon):
Benson is obviously a devout and knowledgeable Bond fan, and it's clear that he loves the character, the books, and the films. However, he just isn't a writer. His prose is so lifeless that it's like reading an instruction manual.
Say what you will about Gardner, but the man can write. He's an established, honest-to-god WRITER, unlike Benson who is just a fan with a pen. Gardner has a different style than Fleming, but I don't think this diminishes the impact of the books.
Gardner is not Fleming and I don't think he ever tried to be. I can still
Remember the excitement of preordering a new Bond novel from
Gardner. I always enjoyed his Books, sure as he got sick they did drop
In quality but I always found them a good read, and IMHO far superior
To R Benson's stories.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Gardner is not Fleming and I don't think he ever tried to be. I can still
Remember the excitement of preordering a new Bond novel from
Gardner. I always enjoyed his Books, sure as he got sick they did drop
In quality but I always found them a good read, and IMHO far superior
To R Benson's stories.
One of the odd things reading the Gardner novels (as they are set not so long
Ago , to me at least ) is how Bond has to use hotel phones or find a public
Phone to contact HQ etc.
As mobiles are so much part of life these days. It's a reminder of what life was
Like. )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
animal grease being smeared on his thighs ( and other places too )
Although I thought Brokenclaw was a good villain and the Idea of
having a native American was inspired. -{
I wouldn't get too excited !
Go in with that thought and you may get away with it
Just reading this myself and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Loving Lavenders character, and the overall plot. So far, I too give it an 8/10... But haven't quite finished it yet....
I too really enjoyed this book...the twists and turns were great. I wouldn't credit it with 10/10... As I'm enjoying License Renewed more...so maybe a 7.5/10.
-{
For Special Services - 7/10
Icebreaker - 6/10
Role of Honour - 4/10
Nobody Lives Forever - 9/10
No Deals, Mr. Bond - 8/10
Scorpius - 7/10
Licence to Kill - 7/10
Win, Lose or Die - 5/10
Brokenclaw - 7/10
The Man from Barbarossa - 3/10
a character from Fleming. Gardner Kills off ( off story )
Reappeares in a later Benson novel.
He does...I remember Benson saying in an interview that he wrote as though the Gardner novels didn't exist...
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/34562/chivers-audio-books-read-by-david-rintoul/
All the Fleming with NLF & LTK -{
Not sure either of those points are correct.
The person who dies "off screen" in NLF: Benson explains the "demise" and subsequent resurrection in NEVER DREAM OF DYING. As the book isn't very good for a number of reasons, this contrivance, and contradiction of Gardner, is easy to overlook as an issue.
On Benson not acknowledging the existence of Gardner's novels: Benson lists Bond's relationships with a number of Garnder heroines in ZERO MINUS TEN...
I read that from an interview done with him - if I had the magazine to hand I'd copy it and print it here...alas I don't...but it's true what you say about Benson and ZMT...I guess he just said what fit at the time....
His rank back to commander. Obviously a fan of the films he
Also gave Bond loads of gadgets.
Fleming would have been impressed.
I know you're a big fan of NSF and I re-read it a while back then commented on it, at your suggestion. "Cold" was terrible. Of his later Bond novels, I thought LTK and GE were the best but of course those were based on film scripts.
I've never read any of his Kruger or Moriarty novels.
http://www.thebondologistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/simon-gardner-remembers-john-gardner.html
"Like" the page this was originally posted at on Facebook - The Complete Works of John Edmund Gardner here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Complete-Works-of-John-Edmund-Gardner/113137615369659?fref=ts
and on the JG Website here:
http://john-gardner.com/content/3rd-august-2014-seven-years
Say what you will about Gardner, but the man can write. He's an established, honest-to-god WRITER, unlike Benson who is just a fan with a pen. Gardner has a different style than Fleming, but I don't think this diminishes the impact of the books.
Remember the excitement of preordering a new Bond novel from
Gardner. I always enjoyed his Books, sure as he got sick they did drop
In quality but I always found them a good read, and IMHO far superior
To R Benson's stories.
+1 to this! Well said, sir. {[]
Ago , to me at least
Phone to contact HQ etc.
As mobiles are so much part of life these days. It's a reminder of what life was
Like.