- Hardcover: 298 pages
- Publisher: Coward Mc Cann; First Edition edition (Feb 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 069811163X
- ISBN-13: 978-0698111639
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14.5 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 73,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
For Special Services
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Amazon.co.uk 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
'Sticking closely to Fleming's blueprint, exotic locations, girls and gadgets are all accounted for, and the story is complemented perfectly by the narration of Jeremy Northam - clearly relishing his chance to play every boy's dream role.' (BIG ISSUE )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format: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
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!!!!!!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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.
Story: 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.
Story: 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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 1 month ago by Mr. A. Devitt
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 5 months ago by ihateusernames
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 8 months ago by Scorpion
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 8 months ago by David Brown
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 9 months ago by P. N. Hussey
2nd chronologically - 1st in rank
When I first picked up this book, I thought it would be a tough read. The book itself is 6 years older then myself and I don't usually read books from that time span. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2003 by Simon Ball
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