In this second instalment of John Gardner's Bond series, Bond teams up with CIA agent Cedar Leiter, daughter of his old friend Felix Leiter, to investigate Markus Bismaquer, who is suspected of reviving the notorious criminal organisation SPECTRE.
For Special Services
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
James Bond's services are rarely short of special, but SPECTRE is rarely short of grisly surprises. A series of aeroplane hijacks and a note found on a murdered CIA agent's body suggest the unthinkable-- Blofeld and SPECTRE are back and threatening world security.
Teaming up with Cedar Leiter, the jaw- droppingly beautiful daughter of Felix, Bond is placed on Special Services to the US government with the task of infiltrating the organisation of Markus Bismaquer, suspected of collaborating with SPECTRE on "some kind of venture that may set the world ablaze". Bond and Cedar pose as art experts leaving the UK in a shower of publicity with six hitherto unknown, signed Hogarth prints. The cover is designed to win them an audience with Bismaquer whose weakness for art is legendary. When they are set upon shortly after arriving in New York, it seems that everything is going to plan.
Or is it? Gardner's second Bond novel has more twists than the thirty-foot python displaying its SPECTRE credentials in an opening scene. Even before Bond has left for America, Blofeld's announcement that, "I have personal scores to settle with Mr Bond. I have devised a method to deal with him--call it a lure if you like. If it has worked, soon we shall have the pleasure of Mr Bond's company on this side of the Atlantic", has the alarm bells ringing. The hunter may just have become the hunted.
For Special Services packs action and drama onto every page. It is closer to the Bond of the films than Fleming's blueprint, but what it sacrifices in subtlety, it makes up for in thrills and spills. --IainCampbell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
A must for James Bond fans. (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 20120218)
This is a thrilling read. (The Catholic Herald 20120302)
This is a thrilling read. (The Catholic Herald 20120302)
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This effort from Ian Fleming's successor as the `official' James Bond novelist is arguably his best - the novel is a rollercoaster ride that stays true to Fleming's creation whilst having a fresh feel and original flavour that lifts it above many of Gardner's other 007 stories.
The best scene sees our intrepid hero in a nail-biting car race with the hideously disfigured `death's head' Walter Luxor - who may or may not be the successor to Ernst Stavro Blofeld as the head of SPECTRE, who are once again at work, and involved in hijacking aeroplanes. Bond is sent to investigate the sinister Count Bismaquer in Texas, and along with the daughter of his old CIA buddy Felix Leiter, Cedar Leiter, now attached to the agency herself, he poses as an art specialist in order to uncover SPECTRE's evil machinations and continue his personal vendetta against the family of the man who killed his wife.
All the old favourites appear throughout the story - even Felix himself puts in an appearance at the end, and this is ultimately an accomplished and thoroughly entertaining slice of James Bond.
The best scene sees our intrepid hero in a nail-biting car race with the hideously disfigured `death's head' Walter Luxor - who may or may not be the successor to Ernst Stavro Blofeld as the head of SPECTRE, who are once again at work, and involved in hijacking aeroplanes. Bond is sent to investigate the sinister Count Bismaquer in Texas, and along with the daughter of his old CIA buddy Felix Leiter, Cedar Leiter, now attached to the agency herself, he poses as an art specialist in order to uncover SPECTRE's evil machinations and continue his personal vendetta against the family of the man who killed his wife.
All the old favourites appear throughout the story - even Felix himself puts in an appearance at the end, and this is ultimately an accomplished and thoroughly entertaining slice of James Bond.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is filled with action, romance and suspence. I couldn't put it down. The action sequences were very well done and so was the characterization of Bond himself!!!!!! This is a classic James Bond novel it takes you from England to Amirillo, Texas, and to the bayous of Louisianna. Blofeld is back and out for blood... James Bond's blood!!!!!!!!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Amon Avis
Format:Paperback
Gardner's 2nd Bond book was the first of his that I read and I've always been tempted to suggest that others do the same. His 1st Licence Renewed was a solid start but it's here that he really gets going. In fact, he even seems to overtly tackle some criticism of that book whilst raising his game.
Score: 9/10. The strong plot sees Bond on the trail of a reborn SPECTRE, this time intent on destroying 007 and hijacking weapons satelites. The latter gambit would find its way into the films- as would the hotel lift business, where there's admittedly a lull for a while (Bond in disguise never works). Moreover, Gardner introduces narrative devices of his own: taking two Fleming bad guy moulds (rich megalomaniac and disfigured psycho) then making us guess at the new Blofeld's identity. The uncertainty of the Colorado battle is truly tense.
Straight away the book begins with an action packed, filmic, "pre-credits" sequence: in comparison to the previous book's low key start, here we find a well drawn 007 on a mission, tense amid the hijacking of a luxury airliner. Plus the excellent Saab 900 remains, but the dull Browning pistol is binned in favour of a Heckler & Koch VP70 and a Sykes-Fairbairn dagger (toys for the boys having always been part of the fictional Bond's world). Bond and Q'ute are now friends with benefits; there's a brief update/revery of past Bond girls; his cigarettes are now made by Simmons and it's great to see 007 enjoying a vodka martini again, too!
Above all, though, it's the energy and Fleming-y touches that shine through: the return of SPECTRE; exotic deaths; the Grand Prix set piece; the hot international settings that always appear to suit 007 better than UK bound adventures; the nods to both Felix Leiter, and (the real life!) Fleming's hand in creating the CIA. The strong female characters of Nena and Cedar have lives of their own, both driving the story along. Though making Cedar Felix's daughter is a little squirm inducing at first, having her pursue Bond rather than vice versa is a fun touch. All in all, one of Gardner's best and a great addition to the Bond canon.
Score: 9/10. The strong plot sees Bond on the trail of a reborn SPECTRE, this time intent on destroying 007 and hijacking weapons satelites. The latter gambit would find its way into the films- as would the hotel lift business, where there's admittedly a lull for a while (Bond in disguise never works). Moreover, Gardner introduces narrative devices of his own: taking two Fleming bad guy moulds (rich megalomaniac and disfigured psycho) then making us guess at the new Blofeld's identity. The uncertainty of the Colorado battle is truly tense.
Straight away the book begins with an action packed, filmic, "pre-credits" sequence: in comparison to the previous book's low key start, here we find a well drawn 007 on a mission, tense amid the hijacking of a luxury airliner. Plus the excellent Saab 900 remains, but the dull Browning pistol is binned in favour of a Heckler & Koch VP70 and a Sykes-Fairbairn dagger (toys for the boys having always been part of the fictional Bond's world). Bond and Q'ute are now friends with benefits; there's a brief update/revery of past Bond girls; his cigarettes are now made by Simmons and it's great to see 007 enjoying a vodka martini again, too!
Above all, though, it's the energy and Fleming-y touches that shine through: the return of SPECTRE; exotic deaths; the Grand Prix set piece; the hot international settings that always appear to suit 007 better than UK bound adventures; the nods to both Felix Leiter, and (the real life!) Fleming's hand in creating the CIA. The strong female characters of Nena and Cedar have lives of their own, both driving the story along. Though making Cedar Felix's daughter is a little squirm inducing at first, having her pursue Bond rather than vice versa is a fun touch. All in all, one of Gardner's best and a great addition to the Bond canon.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews
3.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle
Great read. Sent to kindle with no problem. east transaction, and with a registered account, a simple payment. many thanks.
Published 2 months ago by Bw Empson
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Bond
I did not own a complete set of the John Gardner Bond books. All the titles are not available in the US, so a matched set from the UK was just what I needed.
Published 3 months ago by Paul Niedernhofer
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best John Gardner James Bond novels
John Gardner continues to re-invent James Bond for the 1980's, even having him drive a Saab, which is a little disappointing. Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. Crossman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better but far from brilliant
The second of John Gardner's James Bond continuation novels sees the secret agent dispatched to America to investigate an apparent resurgence in an old enemy. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful.
In my opinion this is a terrible book. The plot is full of holes and the characterisation and dialogue is just awful. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Derek W. Ridgers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Bond
Given a mix of 20 Bond books to review, made up of part Fleming and part Gardner it is quite likely that without author credits you would pick John Gardner as the originator of the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. A. Devitt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ah, Mr Bond... I've been expecting you!
I agree with other reviewers that this is (probably) Gardner's finest Bond novel. I use the qualifier 'probably' because I am currently re-reading the Gardner novels, having... Read more
Published 17 months ago by ihateusernames
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Bond
This has all the classic Bond ingredients, a good overall plot, excellent villian and henchmen, the correct amount of action and escaping death scenes. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Scorpion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Straightforward purchase
I paid my money and the the book arrived, as described, a couple of days later. That might sound rather anodyne but what else can I say?
Published 20 months ago by David Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A terrific new edition of John Gardner's second Bond novel
John Gardner's second James Bond book is a much stronger novel. Whereas Licence Renewed was slow to start but then rocketed towards the climax this book gets right into it from the... Read more
Published 21 months ago by P. N. Hussey
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
