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lavinia_speaks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nickbollinger's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Simon Vance
Book three in the original James Bond series, starts with a little personal task. A noted British hero, Sir Hugo Drax, has been playing cards at M’s private club, and M suspects the man is cheating. Would Bond (a notable card player) take a look and confirm M’s suspicions?
This novel focuses on cold-war sensibilities and features a villain who is not who he purports to be. Of course, there’s a lovely young woman who’s paired with Bond to ferret out the truth behind Sir Hugo Drax’s magnanimous offer of a dedicated atomic rocket to protect and defend England, paid for out of his own pocket.
The reader gets what’s expected: danger, car chases, explosions, dastardly villains, beautiful women, and ever debonair, intelligent and resourceful Bond.
Simon Vance does a fine job performing the audio. He sets a good pace for this kind of thriller, and I love his voice for both Bond and the villainous Drax.
Book three in the original James Bond series, starts with a little personal task. A noted British hero, Sir Hugo Drax, has been playing cards at M’s private club, and M suspects the man is cheating. Would Bond (a notable card player) take a look and confirm M’s suspicions?
This novel focuses on cold-war sensibilities and features a villain who is not who he purports to be. Of course, there’s a lovely young woman who’s paired with Bond to ferret out the truth behind Sir Hugo Drax’s magnanimous offer of a dedicated atomic rocket to protect and defend England, paid for out of his own pocket.
The reader gets what’s expected: danger, car chases, explosions, dastardly villains, beautiful women, and ever debonair, intelligent and resourceful Bond.
Simon Vance does a fine job performing the audio. He sets a good pace for this kind of thriller, and I love his voice for both Bond and the villainous Drax.
willbefunorelse's review against another edition
3.0
Bond quietly investigates the goings-on at Drax Compound, complete with an ally in Gala Brand, a female officer from Special Branch of MI-5, working undercover as Drax’s secretary. When Bond and Brand investigate the nearby cliffs of Dover for security measures and one of the cliffs happens to almost collapse right on top of them, Bond realizes there is definitely some shade where Drax is concerned.
For the full review (including some human insights into the blunt instrument that is James Bond), follow the link to That's What She Read.
For the full review (including some human insights into the blunt instrument that is James Bond), follow the link to That's What She Read.
leahlibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A fun read that redeems the series after the disappointment of the sequel. Written as cleanly as a crew cut.
lukefoord's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lukerattray's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
andrew_j_r's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this book. Having watched most of the films and read none of the books, I bought a complete set of all of the original Bond books last year and have started slowly to read them.
I was not really looking forward to this book - the film is not one of the best. So it was with increasing joy that I realised that, aside from the name of the book and the name of the villain, the film is not based on this book in the slightest.
So here, Bond is effectively working for Scotland Yard, and he initially gets involved to work out if (and how) Hugo Drax is cheating at cards at a prestigious London club.
You forget, until you read the books, how close to the War this was written, it shadows all of the events and characters. The plot is actually about revenge for the war, and as believable as a Bond novel ever gets, certainly more so than any of the movies.
In fact, this would make a great film, and given the realism and nastiness of some of the situations and characters, it would fit very well into the current movie mould. Okay they'd have to change the title, but it was a cracking book and it would make a cracking movie!!!
Update 26.2.23: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Completely agree with my previous comments!
I was not really looking forward to this book - the film is not one of the best. So it was with increasing joy that I realised that, aside from the name of the book and the name of the villain, the film is not based on this book in the slightest.
So here, Bond is effectively working for Scotland Yard, and he initially gets involved to work out if (and how) Hugo Drax is cheating at cards at a prestigious London club.
You forget, until you read the books, how close to the War this was written, it shadows all of the events and characters. The plot is actually about revenge for the war, and as believable as a Bond novel ever gets, certainly more so than any of the movies.
In fact, this would make a great film, and given the realism and nastiness of some of the situations and characters, it would fit very well into the current movie mould. Okay they'd have to change the title, but it was a cracking book and it would make a cracking movie!!!
Update 26.2.23: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Completely agree with my previous comments!
georgesquires123's review against another edition
5.0
The best Bond in so far in the chronological order