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Never Dream of Dying (James Bond 007)
 
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Never Dream of Dying (James Bond 007) (Paperback)

by Raymond Benson (Author), Ian Fleming (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Coronet; New Ed edition (1 Nov 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0340792604
  • ISBN-13: 978-0340792605
  • Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 11.3 x 2.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 137,126 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #51 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > F > Fleming, Ian

Product Description

The Times

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


Review

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 )

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

'Benson's faithful manipulation of Fleming's boilerplate formula will have Bond fans cheering.' (Publishers Weekly on DOUBLESHOT )

'If Bond is up your boulevard then this is for you' (Bath Chronicle on DOUBLESHOT )

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Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Tired, very tired, 18 Oct 2002
By N. Brett (Wiltshire, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
Opinions seem to differ on this one, and I suppose I am asking for it by writing a negative review. All those Bond fanatics will be pressing the unhelpful button to show just what they think of me and my review...
But the thing is, I am a Bond fan and that is why I am so disappointed. Benson tries to evolve the character and bring in a few old faces in order to cater for the fan base, but the plot is contrived and lacks pace and logic at times. Benson's worst crime is to make Bond seem nothing like the Bond we know and love, indeed there are times were he hardly appears in the book!
I will also never be able to enjoy OHMSS quite so much again as Benson puts a different slant on one of the characters.
As a fan I want the books to continue, but they are expensive and, at the moment, not worthy of the 007 legend.
Press the unhelpful button now.......
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Benson brings out Bond's Best!, 31 Dec 2001
Never Dream of Dying is Benson's third Bond novel which deals with THE UNION, a SPECTRE for the new millenium. This is by far the best of Benson's Bond adventures, carrying on the Bond vs The Union story.

The usual story of exotic locations, fast cars, gadgets and women are just as good as any other Bond book. Yet this is the first Benson Bond novel to go back and deal with Flemming characters, bringing Bond's former father in law, Marc-Ange Draco, into the story; and it is a welcome addition.

The ongoing insight into Union Leader, Le Gerant, brings about a whole new dimension to the story, and I for one hope that the third Bond book of the Union trilogy is not the last as reading all of them has been an extremely entertaining.

We can only hope for more and wait for THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Stag Routs the Devil's Dream Wolf in Darkness!, 10 May 2004
By Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)      
This review is from: Never Dream of Dying (Hardcover)
Raymond Benson has a great respect for, knowledge of, and facility with the original Ian Fleming books about James Bond. As a result, he is able to recreate the well-known formula in ways similar to Mr. Fleming while reflecting and refracting powerful connections to the earlier stories. A thoughtful tip of the hat comes to every one of Mr. Fleming's books at one point or another in the story. As such, the book at some level of a Fleming tribute as much as an action novel. Unfortunately, Mr. Benson lacks the hard edge fascination with the bizarre, the deviant, and evil-doers that gave readers an eye-opening experience in Mr. Fleming's books. All James Bond fans will love the story, but it's a kinder, gentler version.

Bond is on the trail of a recent nemesis (of the last few books), Le Gerant (manager or managing director in French) who is head of the evil organization, the Union. They are for hire to the highest bidder and specialize in providing arms for terrorist purposes. The story opens before a raid on a rotting film production facility in southern France. The French authorities have intelligence that arms are being hidden inside. They plan to attack while shooting is going on in one of the adjacent sound stages. Commander Bond disagrees, but it's a French operation, and the attack takes place under Commandant Malherbe (creative name for someone whose leading a doomed operation -- Mr. Benson is good with names that way). It's a Union trap for the French, and soon the French attackers are being cut down. In the desperate struggle that follows, Bond's counterattack causes a fire that burns down the occupied sound stage, killing 19 and injuring many more. The fall-out from the attack leads to Bond's friend, Rene Mathis (From Russia with Love) being put on leave for two months. Disgusted, M. Mathis resigns to track Le Gerant on his own. Bond wants to continue the chase as well, and wins reprieves from M as he makes progress.

The book's overriding theme is about seeing and blindness. The theme is explored in terms of visual acuity, identity, foretelling the future, and communication. In this element, Mr. Benson exceeds the master. Although Mr. Fleming also explored complex themes in many dimensions, Mr. Benson is better at it here than Mr. Fleming was at the height of his talents.

One of the book's most interesting parts is the way that characters you haven't read about in decades are woven back into this tale. This connection gives the book a powerful way to continue your impressions from those wonderful stories. You will have one major surprise along the way when someone supposedly dead reappears.

As in all Bond stories, this novel has much more action than character development. Yet, you will find a few new dimensions to 007 that will probably interest you. There is a graphic description of "safe sex" in one encounter here that feels very much like Fleming at his best.

The action all occurs right on schedule, from the obligatory opening scene to the post-battle wind-up with the leading lady. Many of the scenes make good use of the local scenary, and I thought that the Corsican descriptions were especially fine.

After you read the book, I suggest that you also think about how risk and reward should be evaluated in your life. When is it a good idea to plunge ahead, and when is temporary caution more appropriate.

Dream of better days . . . and take action to secure them!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars "Never Dream of Dying, Mr Bond. It Just Might Happen ... "
This is the third novel in "The Union Trilogy" and Bond's assignment is focused on the film industry. Read more
Published 3 months ago by David Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Benson's best...
After experimenting in his last two books, High Time to Kill (with plot) and Doubleshot (with character), Benson returns to the basics and writes what may be his best Bond novel... Read more
Published on 24 May 2002

1.0 out of 5 stars What an awful book
This has got to be one of the worst books I have ever read. After the first two books in this trilogy which were both excellent I was expecting a huge finale but what I found when... Read more
Published on 8 May 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Benson's best - until his next one...?
After years suffering the Gardner abominations, true fans of the literary 007 must share my relish each year as Raymond Benson publishes a new Bond book. Read more
Published on 22 April 2002

1.0 out of 5 stars Benson's worst effort yet
When Raymond Benson first took over the mantle from John Gardiner with "Zero Minus Ten", I had some reservations about his writing style. Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Benson's best!
This is arguably Benson's best Bond novel to date. It is richly detailed, contains a fast-moving and intricate plot, and the expected Bondian action. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars One Of Bensons Best Bonds
This is one of Raymond Bensons best Bond thrillers and seems to try to cater for both sets of Bond fans. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2001

3.0 out of 5 stars The showdown we've been waiting for...
Bond goes after union leader le Gerant in this slightly dissapointing but entertaining yarn. With the aid of past friend Rene Mathis and the disireable Tylyn Mignonne (a character... Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Benson Keeps Getting Better
Bensons' latest, and with no doubt, greatest addition to the James Bond genre. The plot is unique and varied, running from Cannes to Corsica. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Raymond Benson's fifth contribution to the James Bond series is far from disappointing. Fleming created the character, Gardner killed his style, Benson brought him back in the... Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2001

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