brian_finch's review
3.0
This is the second Gardner Bond Novel and the second one I have read. So far, I like these books. I don't love them as much as Fleming's, but I enjoy them.
Unlike Fleming, these books seem to operate in a world where the books and movies are in the same universe. Fleming was missing many of the tropes from the films, but the Gardner novels includes them, mainly the inclusion of Q branch playing a large role, and the relationship of Bond and Moneypenny. Both of these are more like the films than the Fleming novels.
Though the books do Fleming-esque; especially the brutality. Fleming is always much for brutal than the films, and the Gardner books seem to take that path. Also the great chapter titles -- for example this book has some great chapter titles that include: "The House of the Bayou," "Pillow Thoughts," "Invitation by Force," " Intimidations of Mortality," and "Shock Tactics" to name a few.
I am curious to see if he begins to forge his own path, or continues to ride the fence of two worlds that have come before.
Unlike Fleming, these books seem to operate in a world where the books and movies are in the same universe. Fleming was missing many of the tropes from the films, but the Gardner novels includes them, mainly the inclusion of Q branch playing a large role, and the relationship of Bond and Moneypenny. Both of these are more like the films than the Fleming novels.
Though the books do Fleming-esque; especially the brutality. Fleming is always much for brutal than the films, and the Gardner books seem to take that path. Also the great chapter titles -- for example this book has some great chapter titles that include: "The House of the Bayou," "Pillow Thoughts," "Invitation by Force," " Intimidations of Mortality," and "Shock Tactics" to name a few.
I am curious to see if he begins to forge his own path, or continues to ride the fence of two worlds that have come before.
sandman_1961's review
3.0
Long time James Bond fan. John Gardner does a good job with his continuation novels. Enjoyed this as features SPECTRE.
whitejamaica's review
I really enjoyed Gardner's first Bond novel, License Renewed. Therefore, I had high expectations for his second installation, For Special Services. It starts off well jumping right into some action but then gets bland and dry through the middle part; to the point where I felt he was trying to rewrite Fleming's You Only Live Twice in his own words. I could not finish and I get just over halfway done (p. 154). I hope Icebreaker is better and if its not, I'm done with Gardner.
2/5 Stars
2/5 Stars
sirchutney's review
3.0
A copy of a copy of Bond
Published in 1982 For Special Services was the second John Gardner novel to feature Bond. The name of the book came from an inscription on a .38 Police Positive Colt revolver Fleming received for his work with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a forerunner to the CIA.
All the key parts of a Bond story are present, albeit updated, for better or worse for the 1980s. For example:
· we get a female Q (Q'ute – a friend with benefits),
· a different car – the Saab 900,
· a handful of gadgets,
· a pre-credits sequence; the hijacking of an airplane, and
· a new gun, a Heckler & Koch VP70.
The story is a typically far-fetched affair:
Bond teams up with CIA agent Cedar Leiter, daughter of his old friend, Felix Leiter. Together they investigate S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent, Markus Bismaquer. Bismaquer is a collector of rare prints; Bond and Cedar pose as art dealers to infiltrate his organisation. They reveal their true identities after a nail-biting car race. Bismaquer’s wife, Nena falls for Bond. She confides in Bond that Bismaquer is the new Blofeld.
Bond discovers that S.P.E.C.T.R.E. plans to take over control of America's military satellite network. Bond is then brainwashed into participating in S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s scheme. He regains his memory in time to see Nena killing Bismaquer. The final twist being that
So in summary, it’s a decent enough thriller and an entertaining enough slice of Bond. But I was left feeling a little ambivalent about For Special Services. The plot seems to be influenced more from the movie version of Bond, than the literary version. It’s a little like a copy of a copy of Bond. Read it with this in mind and you’ll enjoy it all the more.
Published in 1982 For Special Services was the second John Gardner novel to feature Bond. The name of the book came from an inscription on a .38 Police Positive Colt revolver Fleming received for his work with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a forerunner to the CIA.
All the key parts of a Bond story are present, albeit updated, for better or worse for the 1980s. For example:
· we get a female Q (Q'ute – a friend with benefits),
· a different car – the Saab 900,
· a handful of gadgets,
· a pre-credits sequence; the hijacking of an airplane, and
· a new gun, a Heckler & Koch VP70.
The story is a typically far-fetched affair:
Bond teams up with CIA agent Cedar Leiter, daughter of his old friend, Felix Leiter. Together they investigate S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent, Markus Bismaquer. Bismaquer is a collector of rare prints; Bond and Cedar pose as art dealers to infiltrate his organisation. They reveal their true identities after a nail-biting car race. Bismaquer’s wife, Nena falls for Bond. She confides in Bond that Bismaquer is the new Blofeld.
Bond discovers that S.P.E.C.T.R.E. plans to take over control of America's military satellite network. Bond is then brainwashed into participating in S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s scheme. He regains his memory in time to see Nena killing Bismaquer. The final twist being that
Spoiler
its actually Nena, who is the mind behind the operation and the daughter of Blofeld. She makes this confession moments before a python crushes her. Felix Leiter, who arrives on the scene to help rescue his daughter, puts Nena out of her misery.So in summary, it’s a decent enough thriller and an entertaining enough slice of Bond. But I was left feeling a little ambivalent about For Special Services. The plot seems to be influenced more from the movie version of Bond, than the literary version. It’s a little like a copy of a copy of Bond. Read it with this in mind and you’ll enjoy it all the more.
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