Devil May Care (The New James Bond Novel )
by Sebastian Faulks
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Book Reviews of Devil May Care (The New James Bond Novel )
Book Review: Entertaining novel that covers all the basics, nothing new, but still fun
Summary: 4 Stars
I've seen all the Bond movies, and read all the Gardner and Benson novels, but only one Ian Fleming novel. So, I'm a big Bond fan, but a casual fan of the novels. I can't compare Devil May Care to any Fleming novels, but I can compare it to the James Bond universe in general. The new Bond novel by Sebastian Faulks fits right in.
The novel is set in 1968, which really makes no sense unless Faulks is continuing Fleming's series and setting the novel at the time of the earliest movies. But with Bond, you can't get caught up in the timeline. You'll get nowhere with that.
This novel has a plot that covers all the basis. You have a madman with a physical deformity bent on destroying Britain. This madman has a henchmen who feels no pain (like Renard in the World is not enough.) You have Bond and the bad guy Gorner matching wits in a game of tennis (Goldfinger and golf). You have a battle to the death in a plane that is pilotless and about to crash (Living Daylights). You have a beautiful partner named Scarlett Papava and Felix Leiter and Rene Mathis also helping Bond. You also have a few chapters where Gorner gives a play by play detail of what his evil plans are when it would be easier just to kill Bond.
I breezed through this novel. It is nothing new and all of it is very familiar, which can be good and bad. I didn't particularly care for the weakness Bond showed or for his weakness with a woman early in the novel. Still, it is nice to have Bond back in novel form and I recommend this book as something to hold fans over until the new movie comes out this fall.
Book Review: Authenic yet derivative
Summary: 3 Stars
First of all, I realize the irony of using the word "derivative" to describe a work of fiction that boldy states its author is deliberately copying the style of Ian Fleming. But the fact is, Faulks relies too heavily on Bond's recollections of past missions. In fact, I re-read Casino Royale prior to this one, and was a little shocked to see a handful of scenes virtually repeated.
I'd also like to risk enraging hardcore Fleming fans by offering up this long-held observation: Fleming was very creative, but he was NOT some literary genius. His writing style was often very simplistic, blandly laying out the facts of a scene without using descriptive adjectives that are the hallmark of so many well-known and successful authors.
"Devil May Care" does indeed read like a Fleming novel, faults and all. And for those who hold the original Bond adventures dear, this is a fine tribute. And, dare I say it, it would make a pretty good movie. BUT I doubt any filmmaker would have the guts to maintain the period setting. And that's a shame, because one of the surprising charms of the book is how the character is moved forward into the late 60's/early 70's.
And perhaps therein lies the greatest challenge to Faulks or other writers who take the reins of this legendary franchise: Nobody will write James Bond exactly like Fleming, so why try? I think a better approach would be to allow the character to change with the times.
Book Review: Moderately good Bond
Summary: 3 Stars
I've been reading Bond since the 60's. This is among the best of the books written after Fleming's death. Its strongest feature is that the character of Bond comes across as real, very much in the flavor of Fleming's Bond -- unlike the novels of Benson, whose Bond was cardboard, or the novels of Gardner, whose Bond was cartoonish. (I stopped reading Gardner when Bond made love to a one-breasted Amazon who turned out to be Blofeld with a sex change!) The storyline is also good, set in the cold war where we get a sense that Smersh is still an active threat. However, one would've hoped for more suspense. In our present sound-byte culture, novelists today don't take the time to develop a suspenseful thriller, they go right to the meat. In this case, Bond doesn't gradually uncover the villainy. Rather, the villain just makes a long speech telling us all the very bad things he's doing. The climax is disappointing as well: Bond is about to be shot by a professional assassin so he comes up with diversion. But ask yourself: How long would it take to pull of this particular diversion? Try it at home. My guess is that Bond would have had six bullets in him by the time he finished his diversion. Lastly, there is a denouement at the end which, in my opinion, diminishes Bond's status as a double-O agent. Still, despite its flaws, the book has some value and makes for a pleasant read.Book Review: Bland, James Bland [no spoilers]
Summary: 3 Stars
James Bond returns in "Devil May Care", which follows "The Man With The Golden Gun". The poorly edited tale has few moments of cleverness and wit amid ordinary action. It has been many years since I have read a James Bond story but I recall enjoying Ian Fleming and the John Gardner variety. Yet Bond seems less charismatic, possibly because he recently lost his wife.
The plotline is not deep in betrayals and conspiracies. For the most part there aren't any major surprises. At times James has a great cynical sense of humor but passes through the mission quite numb. The unremarkable Bond Girl does not stand out like past ladies. The nemesis has the behavior of a spoiled child and his henchman is a slight copycat of the pain resistant terrorist Renard from the movie "The World Is Not Enough". I expect better material for a James Bond novel. Hopefully a further adventure will contain more Bond-like behavior after he has time to mourn along with better editing.
Typically the Bond titles have an association to the storyline, however I have no idea the meaning behind the title.
Thank you.
Book Review: "Come in, 007. It's good to see you back."
Summary: 4 Stars
Ian Fleming's immortal spy has continued to thrill us since the author's death in 1964, in the famous film series and in "tribute" novels by a succession of writers, notably the late John Gardner. For the 100th anniversary of Fleming's birth, his estate commissioned noted British author Sebastian Faulks to take up where Fleming left off. And that is precisely what he's done--DEVIL MAY CARE is set in the 1960s, right after the events of Fleming's final works.
The plot is just what I hoped it would be: Bond is saving the world from a nefarious villain, with action and girls and martinis, not to mention "M" and Moneypenny. There are even a few nifty hindsight jokes thrown in for the benefit of readers in 2008. More than any previous "tribute" novels, this one is scrupulously faithful to the style and intent of the original artist. And that's as it should be--after all, this is supposed to be a celebration of Fleming himself.
I'm glad they found a writer of this caliber to carry on the Bond tradition. I hope Faulks intends to continue the series, but I suspect that will depend on how DEVIL MAY CARE is received by the critics and the public. But if you're a lifelong 007 fan like me, you'll feel compelled to read this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Recommended.