License Renewed

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Licensed Renewed by John Gardner is the first novel featuring the famous spy since Colonel Sun (1968). Mr. Gardner was an English novelist, known for his Bond Books, as well as books featuring Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis, Professor Moriarty.

The “00” section has been abolished, but M still keeps James Bond around as a troubleshooter. The agent is sent to investigate Dr. Anton Murik, a nuclear physicist who is thought to have been in contact with a terrorist named Franco.

Murik plans to hijack several nuclear plants around the world, using suicide squads supplied by Franco. Murik, thinking Bond is a mercenary, asks him to assassinate Franco after the nuclear meltdowns show more happen.

I read this book in high school, I believe, nevertheless decided to read it again as part of my efforts to read the James Bond books in order. I’m glad I did since I barely remembered anything at all about the story, and I believe I enjoyed it much more as an adult.

Licensed Renewed by John Gardner updates the Bond stories to the 1980s. The author accomplishes this task seamlessly, finds his own voice, and does not attempt to write it as Ian Fleming would have. Mr. Gardner also stayed away from the machismo 1950s fantasy that Fleming embraced.

Despite all the changes, this is the Bond fans know and love. The first half of the book is very enjoyable, it sets up the villain, MI5 staff, henchmen, female leads, and of course, 80s James Bond. The second half of the book, however, has so many plot holes it feels like an afterthought.

Nevertheless, it’s a solid story and certainly captures the essence of the James Bond universe and the characters. I didn’t realize that several Bond movies borrowed heavily from this book. The World Is Not Enough took the basic plot, A View to a Kill borrowed a whole racing scene, and some of Brad Whitaker (The Living Daylights) personality.

I’m looking forward to reading more of the books, I remember I enjoyed them much more even though, currently, I won’t be able to tell you what they’re about. This first entry is certainly a great way to start off the series. show less

I thought this would be a load of crap, but I was amazed to find out that it's a brilliant novel. Great job of bringing Bond into the '80s from where Ian Flemming left him in the late '60s with The Man with the Golden Gun. 4.6

Were the Ian Fleming novels any good? Not really, and Gardner's revitalization of the franchise continues firmly in that tradition. The villain, a Scottish nuclear physicist who threatens the world with simultaneous reactor meltdowns, is pretty run-of-the-mill. Nothing to see here alas.

This first post-Fleming Bond updates our hero to the early 1980s. He drinks less. He smokes low-tar cigarettes. He jogs.

An entertaining, if long-winded pastiche of material from the earlier Bond books (and even movies). While Gardner lack's Fleming's sheer verve in conveying brutality, violence, and sex, he does display a fine hand with setting and suspense.

The 1970s saw the two excellent James Bond continuation novels by Christopher Wood “James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977 and two years later “James Bond, Moonraker”. Although these two books owed much of their basic plots to the movies that Wood helped write, they were in fact much more than that with fully rounded characters and an entertaining narrative. In short, of all the writers to tackle the difficult task of following in Ian Fleming’s foosteps, Christopher Wood was the most successful, effectively managing to channel Fleming. The same cannot be said for John Gardner.
Although I enjoyed reading “Licence Renewed” I am not entirely convinced that I was reading a James Bond novel. Aside from some brilliant show more sections, the story seems more fitting to a movie. In what is truly an ironic twist it does more so than Wood’s two efforts. The plot involves Bond’s investigation into a Scottish Laird and his plan to cause a nuclear catastrophe to highlight the danger inherent in the use of nuclear power.
I enjoyed that Gardner’s books took us to Scotland. Having grown up on the Scottish border I am always in favor of some Highland fun and we get a particularly well done scene when Bond must spar with the villain’s henchman Caber and thrilling night chase through the Scottish countryside. But without the rich flavor that was so evident in Fleming and Wood’s work we are left feeling that these scenes could have just as easily taken place anywhere else.
Gardner’s first foray into the world of James Bond is a valiant effort and reads perfectly well as a thriller, it just doesn’t read well as a James Bond thriller. show less

Nice to visit an old character but I still like him in the movies better. It lost some of the charms of the man and his sexy ways with women. Story moved along with constant activity and Bond always finding his way out of difficult situations.

The first in the John Gardner era of James Bond continuation novels. With the double oh section in obsolete semi retirement, is once again called upon safe day. It’s an interesting premise and an unusual bond villain. Unfortunately get slightly wasted in this somewhat mediocre offering. It feels more like fanfiction rather than a legitimates character, art for bond and indeed Even an acceptance of a new version of James Bond. I think there might be some mileage in looking at this. If you’re interested in running the James Bond role-playing game just to give yourself some more ideas but otherwise unless you’re a completist this is something that if you miss it, it won’t matter.