The Man with the Red Tattoo [Mass Market Paperback]

The Man With The Red Tatoo is the latest of Raymond Benson's continuation of Fleming's James Bond series. Bond is back in Japan investigating mysterious deaths and elbowing his way into trouble. Like all of Benson's series, and indeed the recent Bond films, it tones down the high-octane sexism and snobbery of the original a little, in the name of making Bond contemporary; it is not just in terms of the actors playing him that Bond is no longer quite the man he once was.

Benson is a more thoughtful writer than Fleming, which leads, on the one hand, to some over-extended clumps of exposition in which he explains the right-wing politics of Japanese organized crime or the life-cycle of genetically-engineered mosquitos, but on the other hand to real conviction in his villains' motivations. Fleming created florid villains who were memorable because mythic; Benson's are credible because he makes us understand them--it's doubtful a Fleming villain would ever have quoted Mishima. Similarly, where the deaths of Fleming's heroines were a routine gesture, the fate of one of the "Bond Girls" here is genuinely upsetting. Where Benson most effectively follows Fleming's lead is in action sequences--Bond tied in the path of a bullet train and Bond dancing his way to safety in a burning lava-field. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'Spectacular chases, gory killings and a spot of sado-masochism . . addicts of the genre will love it.' (The Times )

"Will have Bond fans cheering." (Publishers Weekly (Doubleshot) )

'Welcome back, Mr Bond. We've been waiting for you . . . Benson has gone back to Bondian basics in a fast-moving world of bedrooms, firm breasts, betting and bruises.' (Independent on Sunday )

'Terroism and biological weapons are at the hub at this new Bond novel...The Man with the Red Tattoo has everything yu would expect, such as high-tech gadgets, beautiful women and gripping action' (Newbury Weekly News )

"This is James Bond as tough and sexy as in his younger days, with Benson's stories reflecting the rejuvenated 007 of the Pierce Brosnan era." (Peterborough Evening Telegraph 20030306)

"There are all the usual thrills and spills you would expect from a Bond adventure. ... Benson recreates the hustle and bustle of Tokyo superbly with just as much detail given to Japanese customs and traditions." (Nadeem Hanif. Doncaster Free Press 20030612) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Raymond Benson has now several James Bond novels, all Coronet paperbacks. He is also the author of The James Bond Bedside Companion, which was shortlisted for an Edgar Allan Poe Award for best biographical/critical work and is considered by 007 fans to be the definitive book on the world of James Bond. He is a director of the Ian Fleming Foundation and served as vice-president of the American James Bond 007 Fan Club for several years. Mr Benson is married, has one son and lives in the Chicago area. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.