Seafire

As a James Bond novel, this did not disappoint. However, there were some elements that were decidedly uncharacteristic of the Bond character and of what fans have come to expect. For instance he's in love and living with a woman who is essentially acting as his partner/sidekick throughout the whole book (no thank you, Bond is a loner, an army unto himself, that's why we love him). He even proposes to this woman (because what Bond fan doesn't want to see James settle down and commit to a monogamous relationship?). At the end of the book he even cries when he's reunited with his love (*barf*, not MY James Bond!). Besides that whole mess, the book was lots of fun.

I expected a lot more from Gardner. His early Bond books were very good. Bond with a love interest was painful to read, Bond's conversations with her were more Roger Moore than Sean Connery. The villain was terrible. Apparently he sees himself as the new Hitler. That's proven with one quick rally in Germany, then it's off to Puerto Rico to take over the world somehow with a new device that's supposed to clean oil spills????? It's never quite clear what he was up to, and Bond quickly dispatches him in an unexciting and brief climax.

The author writes a good James Bond story and this is one of the best. Ian Fleming must be smiling down on him. We know Bond's lifestyle and this book will point out his vanity, letting us see that he is far from perfect.

This book is written as the last of the Bond series and it was a good endeavor. We are told his weak points, his strong points, that he does not have a heart of stone and can shed tears. Although there are other Bond stories, they will not move his life and career further on.