Colonel Sun: A James Bond Adventure [Kindle Edition]

Robert Markham was actually Kingsley Amis, of course. A good attempt at Fleming, by someone who knew him well, and more importantly (Sebastian Faulks take note) someone who understood that the whole Bond Phenomenon was as much a wind-up as anything else. It's as good as a decent Fleming book, better than TMWTGG. It does have some weird 1960s sensibilities in it though - a reference to a cigarette having "life-giving smoke", and the suggestion that a dislike for tobacco is a sign of Psychosis! But then, the series is meant to be dryly funny, after all.

The first, classiest and most elusive of all the post-Fleming Bond novels is back thanks to Kindle. Many will know but for those who don't, Kingsley Amis (1922-1995) was a British writer of literary, darkly comic novels (Lucky Jim, The Old Devils), essays on jazz, drinking and literature, and what he called genre fiction (eg science fiction, spy thrillers), both as writer (usually by pseudonym) and critic. A fan of the Bond books when it wasn't fashionable for 'literary types' to be, he met Fleming, liked him and was invited to write a light hearted but thorough literary appraisal of the canon: The James Bond Dossier (1965) and a tongue in cheek companion piece, The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007 by "Lt.Col Bill Tanner"!

When Fleming died, it was natural that Amis was asked to ghost edit the complete but rough manuscript of The Man with the Golden Gun (1965) and then write its follow up, Colonel Sun (1968). [The gap was bridged by the final collection of short stories Octopussy (1966) and an attempted children's spin off, James Bond Junior: 003 ½ by "RD Mascott" (1967)- not for the faint hearted!].

Score: 9/10. It's autumn 1965, six months after 007's duel with Scaramanga, and a recently healed Bond is worried he's in a rut. Then a casual visit to the home of his convalescing chief ends with a drugged Bond running for his life and M kidnapped. With the only clue an obvious trap, 007 has no choice but to head for Athens and an assignation with Ariadne: a beautiful communist agent working for Russia. However as the gunfire and double crosses begin beneath the Acropolis, a sadistic Chinese spymaster waits on an obscure Greek island plotting the downfall of both sides.

I'll admit frankly that it's one of my favourite Bond novels by anyone. With the honourable exception of Raymond Benson (eg James Bond: Choice of Weapons: Three 007 Novels) no continuation writer has so clearly understood what makes a Bond book tick. Whereas Faulks' Devil May Care (2008) was the work of a great writer first and a fan second, Amis has no loftier ambitions than keeping you immersed and enthralled. All the ingredients are here: golf at Sunningdale, roast beef and rose at Scott's, Quarterdeck (last seen in OHMSS), high life in luxury hotels, violent death in alleyways.

We have 360 degree characterisation of a beautiful, fascinating love interest in Ariadne; a tough ally in Litsas, sailor and onetime freedom fighter; and as well studied and vicious a villain in Sun as Fleming ever created (the torture scene is terrifying). Even minor henchman and allies are memorable. Bond's world is unchanged: section chiefs at home, station chiefs abroad, Q branch's gadgets ingenious (but not a get-out-of-jail-free) and above all the sardonic, stalwart staff. The latter are exemplified by Bill Tanner who gets a big part here, while M's kidnap is genuinely disturbing.

It's not a Fleming pastiche and I know some fans miss the `Fleming sweep'- that uncanny narrative drive that held together the most incongruous scenes, and made the most wildly improbable plotting seem plausible. The plot's less outrageous and the writing's less eccentric than some of the originals. However we get the same dry tone plus vivid and compelling prose (it's probably the best written Bond ever) and a noirish story reminiscent of Casino Royale, From Russia with Love & Dr No. As for the 'strong sensations' Fleming insisted on, the set pieces are less bizarre/ quirky, but the sex and violence are grittier than ever. A great shame the continuations were put on hiatus (until John Gardner's Licence Renewed (James Bond 1), 1981) as this is a class act. An essential for Bond fans, by a Bond fan.

A very polished continuation of the James Bond series, which is better than the worst of Fleming's offerings, but does not quite live up to the best. In some ways it is rather too good and lacks the cheesy charm of the real stuff, which is absolutely essential for the full Bond experience. Amis lacks that vague homo-erotic admiration of his hero, that is always apparent when Fleming describes James Bond between action sequences. Amis's aphorisms and humour (there is one very good joke) are rather too good, as well. The girl is rather too psychologically complicated for a Bond girl. But the main villain is very good - the torture scene excellent. Recommended.