Devil May Care

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It's a hit!

I grew up reading Ian Fleming's original collection, and continued reading as John Gardner took over writing the Bond series after Fleming's death.... (show more)

I grew up reading Ian Fleming's original collection, and continued reading as John Gardner took over writing the Bond series after Fleming's death. When I read of Faulks' new novel, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The book picks up where Fleming left off, during the Cold War, and forced me to refresh some of my historical knowledge in order to make it through. It took me just a little less than a week to devour it; a quick read, yet the descriptions and prose are excellent, if concise. I think it's necessary that they be concise, however, because of the character. Bond, as originally envisioned by Fleming, is concise and cold. Faulks assumes Fleming's voice with apparent ease here (he's "writing as Ian Fleming"), and also reveals Bond's human side. The book is paced as Fleming would have paced it, as well...the intrigue and "tradecraft" of the Cold War spy world is fascinating and in-depth, punctuated by brief and violent action. Something I appreciate in Faulks' writing is that sexuality and violence are presented as necessary to further the story, but are never gratuitous. This, I think, is one of the dividing lines between pop fiction and literature. He completes the book with an oddly original villain that is a trademark of Bond stories. My only complaint is that, while the book presents a wonderful plot twist in the end (I feel like I should have seen it coming, but I just didn't), the twist itself doesn't seem to completely comply with parts of the storyline. All in all, however, if you are or ever were a Bond fan (Faulks was, which is likely why he has done such an excellent job of this), you owe yourself this read. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

No, it's a flop!

Interesting that Faulks attempted to write this book in the voice of Ian Flemming for what would have been his 100th birthday. In this sense, I th... (show more)

Interesting that Faulks attempted to write this book in the voice of Ian Flemming for what would have been his 100th birthday. In this sense, I think he succeeds to a degree. The problem being that, for me personally, I never really cared for Flemming's writing that much either. I read somewhere that this book was written in like one or two months, and that doesn't really surprise me. In the video game industry, we call that shovel-ware.

Set in the 60's the novel feels sometimes antiquated and even occasionally awkwardly racist. The first half feels almost like some kind of travelogue, with the author showing off how many swanky places and couture, chic stores, restaurants or whatever he can name off. Again, I seem to remember Flemming doing the same thing a bit; still it doesn't really make for interesting setting.

It doesn't even get adventurous until half way, or 150 pages, into it and up till then is just people coming to Bond and doing whatever they are doing while he sits back waiting for his turn to take action. When he finally does, it's not even particularly thrilling. A bit of investigative work, some danger, predictable and clichéd villains (complete with over-used physical deformities), suddenly save the day, and then a nice long relatively uneventful and leisurely trip back home. The villains themselves each get dispatched in a maximum of one and a half pages!

There's just nothing here to really grab the reader and shake him until he oozes adrenaline, which, to me, is what Bond should be all about. Perhaps I'm spoiled on the movies. At least Denise Richards wasn't in this to ruin it further. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

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  “It was a wet evening in Paris. On the slate roofs of the big boulevards and on the small mansards of the Latin quarter, the rain kept up a ceaseless patter. outside the Crillon and the George V, the doormen were whistling taxis out of the darkness, then running with umbrellas to hold over the fur-clad guests as they climbed in. The huge open space of the place de la Concorde was glimmering black and silver in the downpour.”

  This is one of the newest books in the James Bond series – writt... (show more)

  “It was a wet evening in Paris. On the slate roofs of the big boulevards and on the small mansards of the Latin quarter, the rain kept up a ceaseless patter. outside the Crillon and the George V, the doormen were whistling taxis out of the darkness, then running with umbrellas to hold over the fur-clad guests as they climbed in. The huge open space of the place de la Concorde was glimmering black and silver in the downpour.”

  This is one of the newest books in the James Bond series – written by Sebastian Faulks, who is a famous modern novelist. I am not an enormous Bond fan, but I do enjoy reading the books about him every once in a while. Kind of like I enjoy a big cup of cider sometimes. Not all the time, and just because at the time it sounds enjoyable.

  This Bond novel finds 007 on a mandatory sabbatical after a rough assignment. He is lounging around in Paris, trying not to work and very nearly failing. When M calls him back after MI6 is alerted to a frightening new player in the illicit drug market. Julius Gorner is a man with a passion for opium and all of its derivatives, not for personal pleasure but as a business investment. Bond is assigned to learn as much about him as possible. Along the way, 007 picks up a woman (of course) whose sister has been taken captive by Gorner – the lovely Scarlett Papava. Unsurprisingly, what Bond learns about Gorner shows there is much more to be concerned about than simply the increase in opium sales. Gorner has plans to change the face of the planet forever, and will kill anyone who gets in his way. Which is precisely where 007 is standing.

  It’s definitely not to be disputed that the 007 novels are cheesy in the best sense of the word; elaborate plots, cool gadget weaponry, beautiful and willing women, and a main character that oozes cool. They are novels written for men and play to every weakness of the male gender. This book is no different. However, it was a bit rough for me to grasp that this was still taking place in the 1970’s. I’m not sure if it was balancing between the new Bond movies set in the present and the book, or if it was the writing style of Faulks. Something kept making me feel it was set in present day. Other than this, Faulks’s homage to Fleming is flawless. He completely understands Bond and can tell a dramatic suspenseful spy story with the best of them. It’s slightly less tongue-in-cheek, with action every other page and a willingness to harm any and every character. If you enjoy the rest of the novels about 007, you’ll enjoy this one. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Oct 16, 2009 at 02:14AM

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  I give this 4 stars probably because I haven't read the original Ian Flemming 007 stories but this was good enough to make me want to.

  I grew up on the movies and this novel I find stems away from it (and hopefully carries the torch to Flemming's would be standards).

  If you are a fan of James Bond you'll like it. If you aren't I think you can still get a few chuckles and good times from these 'action packed pages'. It was afterall nice to see what was going on behind those pretty eyes... (show more)

  I give this 4 stars probably because I haven't read the original Ian Flemming 007 stories but this was good enough to make me want to.

  I grew up on the movies and this novel I find stems away from it (and hopefully carries the torch to Flemming's would be standards).

  If you are a fan of James Bond you'll like it. If you aren't I think you can still get a few chuckles and good times from these 'action packed pages'. It was afterall nice to see what was going on behind those pretty eyes we see in the films.

  So if anything it has perked my interested and created a hunger for more Bond (Which I think every self respecting woman should have).

  Read it. Be it for your guilty pleasure or to carry on a tradition. Just read it. (show less)

   

   

  by Lisa Wilson on Jun 24, 2009 at 08:17PM

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