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A review by andrew_j_r
You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
4.0
This is the 12th James Bond novel as written by Ian Fleming. I am reading them in order, and I had read some of them before this one, but this is my first time reading “You Only Live Twice.”
The book bears only a tiny resemblance to the movie, and once again this is a much better story. It follows on directly from the book of “OHMSS” (which is very similar to film). That book ends with a specific event (like the film) but this book addresses the personal consequences of the end of the previous one. We have a Bond in pain, messing up his work and about to be dismissed from the service.
“M” gives him one last chance to redeem himself (not that he is told this) and the ensuing trip to Japan is interesting, but initially serves as a slightly unsatisfying continuation of Bond’s tale. All of that is turned on its head when the identity of a certain protagonist is revealed. Suddenly this is personal for Bond, and the book becomes a direct sequel to “OHMSS” in a way none of the movies seem to be allowed to do.
The end is exciting and climactic but once again Bond is given a chance for happiness which, the final sentence reveals, is just not going to happen. I hope that this leads directly into the next book which is the final full novel of the series, although there was a short story collection published after that.
Genuinely touching and moving; I now medically need to read the next one!
The book bears only a tiny resemblance to the movie, and once again this is a much better story. It follows on directly from the book of “OHMSS” (which is very similar to film). That book ends with a specific event (like the film) but this book addresses the personal consequences of the end of the previous one. We have a Bond in pain, messing up his work and about to be dismissed from the service.
“M” gives him one last chance to redeem himself (not that he is told this) and the ensuing trip to Japan is interesting, but initially serves as a slightly unsatisfying continuation of Bond’s tale. All of that is turned on its head when the identity of a certain protagonist is revealed. Suddenly this is personal for Bond, and the book becomes a direct sequel to “OHMSS” in a way none of the movies seem to be allowed to do.
The end is exciting and climactic but once again Bond is given a chance for happiness which, the final sentence reveals, is just not going to happen. I hope that this leads directly into the next book which is the final full novel of the series, although there was a short story collection published after that.
Genuinely touching and moving; I now medically need to read the next one!