'Nobody Lives Forever' | James Bond 007 Book Review | Moneypenny is Kidnapped!

[@bensneb360]

Picking her up from a health care center, giving her a ride home, rescuing her from international criminals… Boy, James Bond is the best boss ever lol

[@RighteousBrother]

It sounds more like Alan Partridge.

[@davidjames579]

@@RighteousBrother Alan would never drive Lynn home.

[@DM-kv9kj]

@@RighteousBrother Yeah, seriously. Ian Fleming would cringe in his grave if he knew what these "continuation" novels were like. The only "continuation" involved in these is the continuation of a publisher and copyright holder earning a fortune by merely using Ian Fleming's work as a brand.

[@BenCol]

Remember Sukie Tempesta now, because she inexplicably returns in 11 books time (including the two novelisations) in Gardner's final Bond novel COLD. Not to get too spoiler-y but her character there is radically different from how it is here - bafflingly so.

[@calvindyson]

This has blown my mind

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Agreed. [Spoiler]. The return is so 'in name only' you wonder why Gardner bothered as with the return of the 'Win, Lose or Die' character Beatrice. It just feels like a tacky 'back for the finale' move. Cold spends all it's time setting up the bad guys scheme only for it to amount to very little-a very poor book.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Spolier: I think in Cold Bond mentions he has only loved 4 women-Vesper and Tracey [obviously], Flicka [who he wanted to marry in SeaFire so makes sense] and Beatrice, who is mentioned solely because Gardner decided to bring her back! It stuck in my mind because of the bit in MI Fallout where Luther says Ethan has only loved Julia [his ex-wife] and Ilsa [who loves him back] which makes sense. But the way Gardner used it makes me imagine the 'classic Bond' saying in DAD he's only loved Tracey and Jinx!

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@jamesatkinsonja Spoiler: The relationship with Flicka didn't do it for me. The way he wrote Beatrice made her such a firecracker that there was no way Flicka von Gruse could compare. The relationship in Win, Lose or Die read as being so much stronger that I could understand why he'd bring her back if he knew that this was going to be his final Bond novel.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@aaronleverton4221Spoiler Fair enough. Win Lose or Die is one of the better Gardner books and I do like Beatrice. I can see why Gardner included Flicka on the 'Bond Love's' list as she's in multiple books and he nurses her when she's ill so the time spent on her justifies it if nothing else. Maybe Beatrice's inclusion on the list would have fitted better if she was also in multiple books prior rather than just 'back for the ending' but having her on the list and not some of the more famous Fleming ladies [say Honey Ryder] seemed odd but that's just me. Still, Beatrice was true to her character in her return and it was nice to see more of her [similar to how it might have been nice to have some of the classic Bond ladies in a second film, say like Natalya] and she's a bright spot in a disappointing finale [for me at least]. And she's far better re-used compared to what Gardner does with Suki...

[@portland-182]

Knowing how fussy Bond is about his food and drink, May must be a phenomenal chef.

[@mohammedashian8094]

Probably that’s why he calls her a treasure 😂

[@MarvellousLookingBeggar]

This book would come to define the Gardner era for me, with its plot contrivances, over abundance of characters and trying to guess who the traitor is, these are tropes Gardner kept doubling down on in his subsequent books. The book itself is probably Gardner's best as it barrels along without becoming overly convoluted like some of his later ones.

[@MatthewFolger]

Just found your channel. I love not just your enthusiasm for Bond but also your love for experiencing film on the big screen! Great channel, keep it up!

[@calvindyson]

Thanks so much!! Really happy to hear :D

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Really glad you're continuing to review these novels. This one probably represents the high watermark of Gardner's Bond efforts. I'm sorry to say that the criticisms you have levelled at the previous novels only become more pronounced. But please continue to read them as (like others) I really enjoy your increasingly despairing reviews!

[@stevemeyer4765]

I love how Calvin is talking about Bond’s elderly housekeeper while the intense “Caverns” theme is blasting in the background lol.

[@RetroMuseumTV]

Gardner is very underated. I enjoyed all of the first 6 books. They lack Fleming's beautiful descriptive prose but make up for it with a more down to earth grittiness. Icebreaker's concluding chapters with the russian agent and the final chase at the airport are really gripping and feels like an 80s realist film

[@CodyTheDragonSamurai]

Too bad his novelization of License To Kill was rather lacklustre.

[@SharkWhosFondOfBond]

​@@CodyTheDragonSamurai *in your opinion

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I do love these novel reviews. You've become so confident in doing these v-log style videos and it's a delight to watch. I'm please you had so much fun with this given there are so many Gardner books to cover still. Here's hoping you keep having fun with them.

[@stuartwebb7932]

Definitely my favourite of his books, and I think you hit pretty much bang on why. As it's almost a grande finale for his run to date, think he'd be better remembered if he'd left the series on this one.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

While it's a shame that it's through her being a damsel in distress [and as you say her inclusion is quite forced] it's nice Gardner in 1986 gave Moneypenny a bigger role in the plot. I did wonder if LTK could have had her come along with Q and help Bond out [by doing background checks etc] but no, just send the 75 year old alone into the fray! At least when Naomie Harris came along the character finally got far more to do.

[@BenCol]

I also really liked this one - even after reading all the subsequent Gardners, it's my favourite of his tenure. The Bond-manhunt is a great idea, with everyone out to get Bond and their assassination attempts interfering with his mission, and Bond unable to trust anyone. I think the Gardner novels that work better are the one where he's able to come up with an interesting hook - the ones which are just standard Bond adventures are the ones that fall the most flat. It's a shame that EON are so resistant to using stuff from the continuation novels because I think the manhunt aspect from this book would work well in a Bond movie. Not sure I'd want a full-on adaptation of this book though.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

The 'man hunt' idea is kind of what I imagined Scaramanga hunting Bond to be like rather than how they did it in the movie 'Man with the golden gun'. I like the idea of him hunting Bond while Bond has to do his mission while avoiding Scaramanga and other villains.

[@davidjames579]

@@jamesatkinsonja I'd like to see Bond being hunted down by Jealous Husbands, Outraged Tailors, and Humiliated Waiters.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@davidjames579 'I get that reference!'

[@davidjames579]

@@jamesatkinsonja The list is endless.

[@ianfryer8386]

I do wonder whether EON would be stepping into a legal minefield if they went near the continuation novels. Does their deal with Glidrose/Ian Fleming Publications include films rights to these, or just the works that Fleming wrote personally?

[@Holtermatteson]

My compliments to your barber! Your hair cut looks fantastic!

[@sarataylor6164]

The insight into the elusive genuine hilarity of these books is appreciated, having never read a Bond book. Also, happy to see you finding something to review during the lull.

[@Niala8419]

"The personal staff of a co-worker" ha ha ha ha ha ha. Great work Calvin, keep these up.

[@adamcronchey7264]

There's a complete 180. He hates Role of Honour and yet this one is fantastic. From Icebreaker to here, I'd practically call Gardner's ranking almost identical to Fleming's at this point.

[@derekmcintosh6925]

This one and 'Death is Forever ' were my two favorite Gardner books

[@raptorjesus2516]

Now let's hope the next one doesn't take 2 years to come out

[@stevebond9686]

It’s Definitely the Best of the Gardner Books

[@Niala8419]

Your comments about the view of the JG books is spot on. Peoples views vary a lot. I think part of that is the struggle to tell them all apart! I do love to slag off the JG books because they are totally ridiculous, however they have given me a lot to laugh about and in some places admire, so they certainly have their place in the Bond canon!

[@Harey0407]

My only thought is that it would make more sense to use Anne Reilly (aka Q'ute) as the person that gets kidnapped along with May. Since the Gardener books have a lot more chemistry between Bond and Anne, than Bond and Moneypenny.

[@robashlicarrafa4876]

There was a disappointing reveal in the book. In the last few pages, as Bond reflects, he admits that he cares for Moneypenny, but could never love her. Has this ever been mentioned in any previous novels? Any of Fleming's?

[@Harey0407]

@@robashlicarrafa4876 As far as the Bond novels I've read (which does include the Fleming novels) that reveal has never before (or maybe even since) has never been mentioned. I could always be wrong though.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

​@@robashlicarrafa4876 That's very much more like the film's Moneypenny rather than the novels where Bond interacts/flirts more with his own secretary [such as Mary Goodnight when she gets to be the main Bond girl in 'Golden Gun'].

[@jeromewagschal9485]

I just LOVED the John Gardner books and I remember reading them all in the mid 90's...For some reason I always pictured Gardner's James Bond being Timothy Dalton...

[@robashlicarrafa4876]

It's Brosnan, for me. And I just started reading them.

[@LexingtonDeville984]

Same. I always picture Dalton as Bond in the Gardner novels.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Given Gardner was writing Bond books for several years before Dalton was cast I don't really picture him personally but I find it hard to tie in his version of Bond to any film actor in general to be honest.

[@superspy6]

Panicked for a moment and thought you were going to review No One Lives Forever, the PC game xD

[@zerominuseleven]

Disappointed!

[@scruffylooking2184]

Now I've got the theme song to NOLF game running through my head! Please consider reviewing this game and the excellent sequel.

[@abrahamicreligionsbowbefor3585]

I think he should, it's a great game and tribute to Bond. Or maybe Metal Gear Solid 3?

[@superspy6]

@@abrahamicreligionsbowbefor3585 it would bring me great pleasure to see Calvin play the NOLF trilogy, especially with the HD community editions

[@jamesatkinsonja]

NOLF or MI: Operation Surma [that franchises attempt to emulate the success of Night Fire] would be good to look at once Calvin has finished the Bond games though I respect Video Games take a lot of time and effort to finish and review.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

Always great to see more Gardner discussion. It’s so rare. I can understand why you liked NLF. It is definitely the pulpiest of his Bond novels. And as usual EON seems to have taken some inspiration. There’s quite a bit of LTK in this book. It’s only when you read them as an adult or reread the books many times that you start to nitpick and find all the inherent silliness in places. NLF also marks the end of the first five books and is the last of his initial Bond style. The next book starts a different style and section of his tenure. And just wait for someone from this book to reappear in his final Bond novel…..

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I can't really see too much of LTK myself. What parts do you feel inspired LTK out of interest?

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

@@jamesatkinsonja the primary ones would be traveling to Key West, the two love interests with one having a gun in thigh holster.

[@WhiteJarrah]

There is a similarly titled game on PS2 called _No One Lives Forever,_ which plays like it was pulled straight out of one of those 60s spy TV shows. Perhaps something to review next?

[@andysnickers4733]

These retro-reviews are great. Can you do "With a Mind To Kill" next? I'd love to hear your take on the ending.

[@aaronleverton4221]

First Gardner Bond I read, having seen it and said to myself "that's not a real Bond book" and then found out that, in fact, it was. Glad I hadn't read the previous four in order. but I went on to read them all. Win, Lose or Die was my favourite Gardner novel because you couldn't help but see and hear the then-current Bond Dalton as you were reading it. May had a great moment in Thunderball (?) when he eschews the health food he's been on and asks for an egg and bacon breakfast and she heartily approves. Also, there was a Fleming novel where Bond met an Italian aristocrat (by marriage) and "rescued" her.

[@joshcooper7755]

This was the first Gardner Bond I read, well listened to. It's good fun and brilliantly narrated by David Rintoul. Anyway it's always been one I remember quite fondly as it is quite earnest in its silliness. Also I don't know if you've read William Boyd's Solo but if you like May get ready for Donalda, May's niece. I haven't started reading With a mind to kill yet but I'd kill for the days of Gardner and Benson where there's a new Bond novel every year or so. I'd especially love to read novelisations of the Daniel Craig films, we used to get them from LTK thru to Die Another Day but none since, that I can find. Casino Royale I get, it's faithful enough to its source but the other DC films could do with a literary interpretation.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I would be interested to know if novelizations of Craig's movies were considered [as none were produced]. I presume it was due to not having an 'official Bond Author present [unlike during LTK and in Brosnan's era]. Other than Jeffery Deaver's novel [a complete stand alone], every Bond novel appears to have to tie into Fleming's canon which might have been difficult to do with Craig's films which maybe was another factor [I presume Gardner and Benson are non-canon now given the 'Horowitz etc books only tie into Fleming's novels and often directly contradicts them].

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I do know that they released all the Fleming short stories in one volume [probably for the first time] to tie into 'Quantum of Solace' but no novelization appeared.

[@BenCol]

@@jamesatkinsonja They also did a tie-in edition of Fleming’s Casino Royale in 06 with the movie poster on the cover. I suppose with that it made a novelisation of the film rather redundant.

[@garybryant1501]

In Ian Fleming s original series May knows Bond is a Civil Servant who disappears for awhile and returns in a rough state mentally and physically and she looks after him and nothing is said so basically she knows exactly what he his but ignores it And Moneypenny knows May because when she and Bond spent that special weekend together May made their picnic and lent Moneypenny her Brolly 😁

[@davidjames579]

Yeah, as a Naval Commander working for the Government, he's clearly doing some Defense work. Could even be Marine Commando stuff.

[@tcaudiobooks737]

No-bo-dy LIVES For-EVER Makes me feel sad for the rest.

[@davidjames579]

Baby, it's Gardner's Best

[@thebookbond]

Really enjoying these reviews Calvin. I read all the Gardner books as they were released and have re-read them two for three times over the years. I have my favorites and the ones that I just can't warm up to. But a Gardner book every year and a Roger/Dalton movie every two years...it was a great time to be a Bond fan. Along with everyone else, Nobody Lives Forever is a favorite, but it's going to be hard sledding from here on out I'm afraid. But I do like some of the '90s novels.

[@golrush007]

I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed Nobody Lives Forever. It's probably my favourite John Gardner novel. A few years ago I did an interview with James Bond Radio, and when they asked what I would like to see in Bond 25 I said that I would enjoy an adaptation of Nobody Lives Forever, with Blofeld in prison and the world's greatest assassins trying to kill Bond for a reward. Obviously not everything from the book would have worked on screen, but I think as a core premise it could have worked. I look forward to the next Gardner review video. No Deals Mr Bond is another of my top ranking Gardner books.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I suppose John Wick 2+3 sort of did that idea pretty recently.

[@unclescruffy67]

Loved the review. I've not read the Gardner books since they were first published. I came to the books thru the films, and having read all the Fleming books I was hungry for more Bond when Gardner started writing them. I did read them all, more or less as published, and this one was my favorite out of them all. It'd be interesting to reread them now and see if my taste is the same. I look forward to your opinion on the rest of the Gardner series.

[@robashlicarrafa4876]

Of Gardner's first six novels that I've read, Nobody Lives Forever is the best! I love the ending! The climax with Q Branch's little explosives that Bond secretly carries on his person! What's with the scorpion on the cover of that one paperback edition? I would expect a different animal - I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has yet to read it. A winged animal, but not a scorpion...

[@roberterinreilly8452]

Just found this channel- really enjoying the literary reviews. Inspired me to re-read after first reading them as a kid. I agree this is one of the best of the Gardner years mainly as Gardner feels much more confident in Bond’s skin and the different plot to the cookie cutter Bond. One thing that has always puzzled me about these early Gardner books (including No Deals Mr Bond) is the generic titles. Nobody lives forever…really? Could he not think of anything else? Did the marketing boffin’s have a say on them? Keep up the great work- really like the reviews!

[@calvindyson]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Very happy to hear you found the channel and have been enjoying the videos. I’m quite in agreement with you on the titles… Particularly as the stories themselves contain an abundance of far more interesting phrases and names to potentially use! How ‘No Deal, Mr Bond’ made it out of the lab I’ll never know 😂 thanks again anyway and hope you keep enjoying the videos 😁

[@adambowman3399]

Calvin your better than Bollinger or '51 sherry the original vintage 1851. Your a true original vintage. Thank you

[@noxida1]

Really enjoying watching these, been watching everyone as I'm working my way through the Bond novels and I just finished NLF tonight. I agree, this book was fantastic and I'm surprised that the films didn't borrow more from this one like some of the previous Gardner novels (although the description of Der Haken reminded me a lot of Dr Kaufman from Tomorrow Never Dies). Icebreaker is still my favourite Gardner novel but this definitely takes a close second place. I did read Trigger Mortis after reading Goldfinger and I think you'll have a blast with it, Horowitz really captures that Fleming magic in my opinion.

[@dvader518]

And then SPECTRE never appeared again in novel/short story form until a Raymond Benson Playboy story.

[@EthanKnight97]

This book is my favourite of the Gardner's. It's a sort of 80s From Russia with Love and the plot could of been a cool movie set up too. Can't wait for you to review No Deals, Mr. Bond. Operation Cream Cake awaits you.

[@Niala8419]

Not forgetting Jacko B.!lol

[@someenglishguy]

Love the book reviews Calvin! Will you be reviewing Devil May Care at some point? One of my favourite non Fleming novels

[@edwardwilson7858]

Its probably the case that Bond, after exerting himself to the limit on his various missions, wants to relax during his breaks. The last thing he wants to do is push a vacumn cleaner or make his beloved scrambled eggs himself. Thus, May.

[@davidjames579]

Yeah there's no way Bond does Dusting.

[@JoaoPereiray]

book review lets goo! cant wait for you to reach benson

[@calvindyson]

Me neither! I'm kind of excited that later down the line it becomes shorter runs and one-shot kind of deals! Benson did 7 or so didn't he?

[@JoaoPereiray]

@@calvindyson 9 novels and 3 short stories, all fun small adventures

[@jammontgomery2320]

The Union Trilogy is Benson's best.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@calvindyson They published 2 omnibuses ['choice of weapons' and 'the union trilogy'] of Benson's work [the 6 original novels but not the novelizations] in the UK where they throw in his 3 short stories as a bonus. I'm not sure how you would get the short stories otherwise [as two were published in Playboy and the other in TV guide in the USA].

[@kallreader7376]

Calvin, glad to see you returning to the novelisations. Brings back old times (I read all of these as they came out back in the day). Will you be reading any of the spin-offs, like the Moneypenny Diaries?

[@al007italia]

I can't remember which Fleming novel, but in 1 of them it is mentioned that she doesn't know what he does, but she has some suspicions.

[@thewickerman4083]

I am rereading all of the Fleming novels and plan to read the continuation novels at some point. Nice review Calvin and I really enjoy your channel.

[@advancedrebel]

It's a fantastic premise with solid action sequences and brutal moments. Eon should mine the continuation novels for plot, character names and even title. Ian Fleming could issue movie tie-in editions. The writers or the writers estate would make some money. Eon could create anticipation and speculation on what would be adapted.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I would love to know more about how the rights work with the non-Fleming novels. My guess is that Eon don't have the rights to them as they had to give a 'thanks' credit to the Kingsley Amis estate for using some dialogue from Colonel Sun in 'Spectre'. Later books seems to disregarded the continuation books and just use Fleming. The book and film series have always been separate entities which have occasionally collaborated with the novelizations of LTK+ Brosnan but they still had to tie into the book's canon rather than the film series. It would be good if they could collaborate more but that would be changing over 60 years of behavior.

[@trettfilms]

this was the only gardner book which i’ve read that i liked. I’m happy bond wasn’t hanging around disney word. I know a few people have said that the concept of different spectre assassins coming for bond is a solid basis for a movie.

[@davidjames579]

I do like here where Bond finds one dead early on, recognizes him, and wonders what's going on. As I recall one of the other players in the competition took out another player. Bond slowly starts to realise what's going on as more weird happenings, and it occurs to him several people are trying to kill him.

[@djtforever1414]

Yeah, when I read the Gardner books it got annoying the way every 2nd character was a double agent.

[@simont1299]

Read this about 25 year ago and seam remember enjoying it. Was a lot younger then though so probably not aware of the flaws.

[@betamaxblocker]

Like all Gardner novels, it is batshit insane but it sure is fun. I think this is one of his best ones. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on "Scorpius," which is two books away. I think that one is my new favorite Gardner Bond novel. You might like "No Deals, Mr. Bond" as well; it has a similar Bond survivalist mentality to it. Is this the one where Marc-Ange Draco and the Union Corse get a shoutout amongst the organizations competing for the bounty on Bond's head? I always thought that was a cool callback (but maybe I have the wrong book.)

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I''ll give credit to Gardner for the set up of Scorpius being genuinely scary and very ahead of it's time but it losses it's way during the middle for me unfortunately.

[@jammontgomery2320]

About Marc Ange Draco it's in the Union Trilogy by Raymond Benson (written in 90's) (Never Dream of Dying), yes I also think he's a bit more interesting there than in Fleming's OHMSS. Benson really fleshed out Draco as a character.

[@betamaxblocker]

@@jamesatkinsonja It definitely meanders quite a bit and goes on some weird tangents, but Scorpius himself is a great (and believable) villain. It also has a great surrealist gag involving Sean Connery that I won't spoil here but I found it really funny.

[@betamaxblocker]

@@jammontgomery2320 I'm not too familiar with Benson's work although I did like The Man with the Red Tattoo. I'll have to dig more deeply into his books. Draco does indeed get a brief shoutout in this novel (I looked back), but only that he is deceased and now the Union is willing to kill Bond. Bond briefly thinks about Tracy after he is mentioned and that's about it.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@betamaxblocker I know which gag you mean and it was pretty funny! [Spoiler for others who haven't read the book] I guess I preferred the earlier chapters where there is this constant paranoia, fear and dread about every day life and the idea the entire UK political system could crumble into anarchy was a genuinely scary one. I think if they'd based Scorpius [who I agree is a good villain] in the UK instead of having to involve a lot of travel to find him they could have kept the tone of the earlier chapters up and had him pulling the strings under Bond's nose more. Just my opinion.

[@richardsmegma5081]

The Queen lives forever ...

[@robashlicarrafa4876]

I was actually expecting Rahanii to reveal to Bond at the end of NLF that the "Arab boy" that followed him around at the end of Role of Honour was, in fact, his son. Or some relation. If you recall - I can't remember if he pops up before this scene - but when they are on the blimp, Bond mentions that, along with "Colonel" Rahani, Simon, Holy, and Rolling Joe, there is an Arab boy who is ordered (apparently) to keep a close eye on Bond. And that he does. Bond notes that it will be difficult for him to make a move on the villains because the boy has a gun trained on him and won't take his eyes off of Bond. Bond actually comes to the conclusion that he will have to sacrifice his own life to foil their plot and he resigns himself to that fate. Of course, he never has to because Rahani reveals to Holy that he used him the whole time, and he only intended to disable the United States nuclear arms program and not the Soviet Union's. Betrayed, Holy launches himself at Rahani and then all hell breaks loose. I think Simon inadvertently shoots the Arab boy when he is killed, or vice versa. Anyway, Rahani puts the price on Bond's head in Nobody Lives Forever and wants 007 dead, claiming Bond made it personal, or something, at the end of ROH. You mention, Calvin, that Gardner doesn't expand on Rahani's character, and the Arab boy was the first thing that came to mind. Little else transpired between The Colonel and Bond, and Rahani kind of has himself to blame for Bond thwarting his plot in ROH, bc he was the one that made the call to include Bond in everything lol. I was expecting it to end up that Bond was responsible for the boy's death, and as Rahini's son, he would have been the obvious heir to the Spectre throne. Honestly, that's the only thing that made sense lol. Why else would Spectre have a "boy" following them around?? It made sense to me, at least lol.

[@clsekkhs]

One of the better of the first five Gardner Bond books, but the first 1/3 or so is rough going. Gets off to an extremely slow start in which the reader has no idea what is going on and it feels like nothing is happening. There is stuff going on, but it none of his has a connection till much later. Once they get to Austria it picks up, though it is still confusing, but the second half is fast paced and full of double crosses and good action and is loads of fun. For the first time in a few books it feels like Bond has a decent grasp of what is happening and has agency in resolving the plot. Inspector Hook is a great villain but underused for the introduction he is given and Tahani is quite underdeveloped as Calvin states.

[@johnpotts8308]

Vampire bats are (relatively) common carriers of rabies, so it's probably best to avoid getting bitten by them. Though shepherding them out of a window is probably a better idea (at least if you're not a trained killer).

[@gabrielledebourg2487]

The name of this book is also the title of a set of awesome Bondian spy video games set in the ‘60s that I think you really ought to do videos on!

[@olivergaunt3601]

Are you going to review mission impossible fallout

[@Germaniac77]

While I still prefer "Icebreaker" (and "License renewed") I also liked "Nobody lives Forever". I guess you will like "No Deals, Mr Bond" when you get to it since this one has a set-up as NLF.

[@deacondavis5098]

I agree. Icebreaker has movie potential.

[@RolandHulme]

Not going to lie, this was the book when I kind of fell off with the continuation novels until Benson came about. They start to get a bit bonkers. It reads almost like fanfiction these days.

[@mr.sand7899]

I would like to see Calvin talk about Spy x Family once the season wraps up. I think it would be a show he would enjoy.

[@FilmNerdy]

Calvin...at first I thought it said No One Lives Forever which was a PS2 game I played set in the 60s where you play as a female Secret Agent trying to prevent a worlds organisations plans to hold ransom the world....I laughed so much when I realised what a dumb dumb I was... Saying that...I would love love love love if you could review that game. Its a love letter to James Bond and 1960s spy series generally and while the graphics haven't aged well (even for PS2 it was not great) what it made up in plot, character, humour and winks to 1960s spy genre I believe would be deserving of a review in your channel.

[@jamiem8680]

This is the plot of “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” !

[@jamesatkinsonja]

But with less Death Rays...

[@michaelcallaghan4336]

Is this the one where Bond drives a Saab and wears a Members Only jacket? '80s-tastic!

[@jhjhjhjhjhjhify]

I do wonder if there will ever be a future Bond novelist who will be able to channel Gardner's sense of absurdity - what one could call his 'bonkers' ideas - into something that more closely resembles the darker, more grounded but ultimately fantastical ideas of Fleming. While I liked Colonel Sun it didn't have enough of that for me, and I never got this sense from the books of Horrowitz and the other modern Bond writers. The Gardner books can be full of contrivances, weak writing, and are generally hit or miss for me. Hell, I hope we have a film which can a achieve this... Good stuff as always Calvin.

[@alman666]

Have you checked out any of the Anthony Horowitz written James Bond stories? I’ve had fun with them, and With A Mind To Kill is about to release too.

[@deanpurdie4010]

I've just finished reading this tonight in my Gardner series re-read. This is certainly my favourite so far - good plot with black comedy potential - shame we didn't see more direct examples of hunters become the hunted. It has only now occurred to me that Skyfall missed a trick by not referencing May - would she not have worked there when Bond was young? Anyway, I agree that the main villain was underdeveloped but the book is a cracking read - a real "railway station" purchase you can shoot through in a few hours - but I was a bit disappointed with the bull shark sequence, which was not fleshed out or as tense as it should have been. Interesting characters and locations. Well paced and willing to take risks - the vampire bat is a real WTF moment. But Gardner's love of a double cross is already getting a bit tiresome and I'm only 5 out of 14 novels in! Great title though and the Coronet paperback jacket design (UK, 1987) really works with the gold and red text with silhoutte Bond pose to create a striking cover. So my personal rankings for Gardner's first five are: 1. NLF (excellent) 2. ROH 3. FSS 4. IB (all very good) 5.LR (fair to average).

[@Jnensrevenge]

Gardner's books start schlocky, get pretty good and then go back to schlock in the 90's.

[@99037149]

Enjoy listening to your review but i found the background music distracting. It felt like i was playing Goldeneye on the N64.......

[@RighteousBrother]

Can't wait until you get to the more modern era of Bond books with actual writers, Deaver, Boyd, Faulks and Horowitz - much more worthy of your time.

[@ben8447]

I adore you Calvin but you did go a bit snow flakey then with your worries of Bond having a Housekeeper. It is absolutely no big deal, it fits perfectly in the James Bond world where he could A: Well afford one and B probably needs one as he is usually saving the world and not having time to iron any shirts or put the vacuum around. But like I said, love you Calvin!

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

People love on the internet too long. The Take had a moment like that, too.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I think 'snow flake' [do people still use that in 2022?] is harsh. I think he's more saying it feels like something left over from Fleming's canon which is just continued forward for the sake of it [which will be a big issue in the Benson novels later] given May has never appeared in any of the movies so hasn't been considered relevant to Bond even in the 60's films.

[@jbard9892]

You can hire a cleaning service. Although maybe he's employed her since the 50's and doesn't want to fire an old lady with health problems and poor prospects for employment. I don't know how the continuity works in these later Bond novels.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@jbard9892 The Gardner and Benson books use comic book time as the Connery-Brosnan films did so they can tie into Fleming's work though to a greater extent as time went on [so May is still Bond's housekeeper in the early 2000's which lead to the reference book 'the bond files' joking she'd be well over 100 if it was linear time!]. For the post Benson books, Gardener+ Benson continuity seem to be non-canon as the books are usually set in the same period of Fleming's novels and if there later contradicts these continuation books.

[@davidjames579]

@@jbard9892 Bond is pretty rich. From his MI6 wage, private Trust Fund, ownership of an Estate, and that his expenses on a mission are unlimited and all picked up by the Tax Payer. That aside, I don't get the impression May is Alfred Pennyworth. I think she just cleans and makes food for Bond.

[@mr.bondnews4505]

In the comic "Reflections Of Death" Moneypenny is also kidnapped.

[@spencerkindra8822]

Calvin, what do you think about doing an episode covering the various "what ifs" of the Bond franchise? There's the well known ones like what if Sean Connery stuck around for On Her Majesty's Secret Service or what if George Lazenby stuck around for Diamonds Are Forever, what if there never was the 1989-95 gap and Timothy Dalton got to make his third movie, what if Pierce Brosnan was able start his Bond career with The Living Daylights a full eight years before GoldenEye. And had he gotten to be in TLD in 1987 would he have stayed on during the six year gap? Or what if Dalton instead of quitting stayed on? Would the studio have still made GoldenEye the same way? Some others are what if Roger Moore decided to retire after Moonraker? Who do they cast as Bond in For Your Eyes Only? What if all the legal trouble with Kevin McClory never happened and Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were able to properly wrap up the Tracy/Blofeld/SPECTRE storyline? And how long does SPECTRE stay in the franchise if Eon is able to use them after DAF? What if Eon had acquired the rights to Casino Royale in the early 60s and got to make that movie first? What if Die Another Day was better received and the studio didn't fire Brosnan? Could they have put him in CR or is that movie fundamentally an origin story? If not CR, what does Brosnan's fifth movie look like? I'm sure there's a lot more but those are all the ones I can think of. Great video! I finished all the Fleming novels over a year ago and have been contemplating which later Bond author's books to read next and you've been making a good case for John Gardener.

[@jammontgomery2320]

Now, that would be interesting. Also those Actors that once considered for the Bond role (John Gavin, Sam Neill or James Brolin). Or what if David Niven or Cary Grant whom Fleming wanted for the Bond role had accepted the part and became Bond of the 60's instead of Connery? Also what if McClory accomploshed his plan of making his Bond Film 'Warhead' earlier or in the 90's? Imagine the climax being set in the Statue of Liberty with Robot Sharks. Also they considered filming The Man With The Golden Gun in 1969 before OHMSS, they've planned to shot the film in Cambodia but Political issues prevented them from doing it and filmed OHMSS instead, the original plan was to act the film as the sequel to YOLT as how the books in order (sans OHMSS), they even cknsidered filming it again in 1973 but again stucked to Live And Let Die instead. Another one was the Hitchcock Thunderball Bond film with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, how that would turned out? Agreed with all of your what ifs, there's so many what ifs.

[@spencerkindra8822]

@@jammontgomery2320 Wow those are all good what ifs! I don't think I ever knew that Alfred Hitchcock almost directed Thunderball. That would've been a really interesting movie.

[@jammontgomery2320]

@@spencerkindra8822 yes, Fleming wanted Hitchcock to direct a Bond Film and the book chosen was Thunderball, it's before Dr. No, they want Thunderball to be the first Bond film. Fleming made the request via a telegram, but the two (Fleming and Hitchcock) never met in person, and Hitchcock was also unsure if he wanted to do another spy film after North by Northwest, he made Psycho instead. And it's not only Cary Grant whose considered for the role, there's also Jimmy Stewart and Richard Burton.

[@spencerkindra8822]

@@jammontgomery2320 Wait Thunderball the book didn’t come out until 1961. Are you sure it was that book and not an earlier one?

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@jammontgomery2320 He did mention the idea of Hitchcock directing a Bond film and his feeling about it in his North By North West review.

[@pauloloughlin1949]

Hey Calvin, enjoyed the video. You mentioned your Letterboxd page, just wondering why you don't log any Bond movies on that?

[@michaelhall8586]

Haven’t read this series yet but I loved trigger mortis

[@alcabane3125]

im reading through the continuations, its an okay book i enjoyed it.

[@DafyddBrooks]

Out of interest Calvin, do you try and see if you can buy 1st editions of these Novels from John Gardener or at least an early editions? theres a great video by 'PeterHaringtonBooks' on the 1 st edition of Casino Royale in such clean condition. there s a few of them actually, like the 1st edition hard back harry potter book knowing you i'm sure you would have seen that already :) have a great weekend

[@calvindyson]

Thanks for the heads up, Dafydd! I'll check out that video. I've never really looked into the prospect of buying 1st editions myself, mainly because I already test the limits of the amount of stuff I have to pack up every time I move into a new rental flat and I could also imagine my completist nature would lead to it being a very expensive collecting hobby! A whole 1st edition set of Fleming's is an huge dream of mine though...

[@mariakelly90210]

@@calvindyson Would you please consider doing a Top Ten list about the top 10 film composers that Broccoli/Wilson should audition to write the soundtrack for the next Bond movie?

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@calvindyson oh man, same here too, especially now that bills are going up. I didn't want to post a link to the peterharringtonbooks because ive noticed my comments dont seem to post when i do that these days, i think it may be that youtube thinks its spam or something. but its not hard to find on youtube. awwww the dream of having first editions of Bond :). i only have the 1 st editions of the orginal starwars trigogy and hard backs of the thrawn trilogy from the early 90's, please look into the stories of those if you can as its fascinating to see what the sequles to star wars was like in book form for 20 years until 2014. take care man

[@DafyddBrooks]

@@calvindyson i only wish i was my 8 year old self in 1997 and got a hardback copy of harry potter ::)

[@justsomedude5727]

I like the idea of a Spectre thats kind of a shadow of its former self, just trying to use the name for hype.

[@robashlicarrafa4876]

After having read NLF (NLFE in the UK ha ha) twice now, both the US & UK printings, one thing stands out more than anything else. After Nannie and Sukie spring their attack on Quinn and Herr Doktor Kirtchum and rescue Bond out at sea, why the hell do they put on the ridiculous charade of fishing? Remember, Bond insists they do this, lest they bring suspicion upon themselves if the boat is returned too soon. Why the hell didn't Nannie deliver Bond to the island at that point?? They were already on the way there! Why risk the possibility of running into more complications by returning to Key West?? Also, Bond originally planned to spend a couple days in Rome with Steve Quinn and his wife. At the end of the story, it is implied that Quinn was a close friend. But there was no sense of any of that when you read the book. Bond is annoyed with him almost immediately when he shows up at the hotel to brief him. And Bond expresses his mistrust of Steve right away. There seems to be hostility between the two men, so why was Bond planning on spending part of his holiday with the man?! The betrayal would have been more shocking if Quinn was portrayed as a trusted colleague. Maybe this was established in a Fleming novel? I haven't read many of them yet but was Quinn an entirely new Gardner character, or one Ian created back in the day?

[@mickcorbett2518]

Icebreaker would make a decent movie plot and it’s a good 007 movie Title…

[@markketelaar6549]

Good, clean hooky fun indeed! I didn’t expect it would rank this high!

[@drewbradley9832]

any one else thinking the same if money penny is on holiday in this book whos writeing m reports letters and memos while shes away unlees penople smallbone is covering for her while shes off

[@peterfranks6243]

Here's an idea for the next Bond movie..... adapt one of the pile of Bond books written over the years

[@jcampos002]

You missed a great opportunity by not saying it's "Gardener-ing time!"

[@tripi7906]

When will a bond ranking come out?

[@sgtfrozty]

M got kidnapped, Moneypenny got kidnapped, does Q get kidnapped someday then? ehhh I'd like to think he probably has gadgets to get himself out of that situation

[@PassTheMarmalade1957]

I would LOVE to see an attempted Q kidnapping where he thwarts them with untested gadgets.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

One of the many rejected ideas for 'Spectre' was to have Q kidnapped but that was apparently dropped when they found out it was similar to a plot point in the competing Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation.

[@donovaneddiealanhodges1499]

Bond Vs. Vampire Bat?! Dracula couldn't be spying on 007 in such manner such as this. And also, killing the bat? Seriously? If someone ever had a bat intruding them, I would rather imagine him or her releasing the bat out of the window gracefully instead of doing harm to it, unless it is necessary to do so. But again, not a very confident idea to kill it.

[@charliemersonwrightashby]

Spoiler for the next book, but it’s revealed that Bronchitis is actually the leader of SPECTRE.

[@menkomonty]

So the baddy died in an exploding bed. If only Bond had Q's explosive alarm clock on hand.

[@davidjames579]

Yes, Bond put Rahini to sleep.

[@mariakelly90210]

Calvin, do you happen to know the title of the James Bond novel written by American Crime Novelist Jeffrey Deaver? I bought it in paperback form about 10 years ago and really enjoyed it, but I can't remember the title.

[@calvindyson]

Hi Maria! That's 'Carte Blanche' I believe, looking forward to getting to it myself some time in the future!

[@Jnensrevenge]

I remember it being a fine reboot but it didn't go anywhere. "Well this a pretty good start for a new Bond continuity. Oh, next book goes back to 60's Fleming? Never mind..."

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@Jnensrevenge I guess it was just a 'One off' deal as seemed to be the case for the books until Horowitz was asked to do a second one.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I quite liked it too-partly as it was very much stand alone and not trying to tie into Fleming or the film series but I can't find too many fans of it online which is a pity. There were some good characters present-especially the heavy Niall Dunne.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

​@@calvindyson Really enjoyed reading Carte Blanche myself. I kept seeing Daniel Craig as James Bond while I was reading it, since it came out in between Quantum Of Solace And Skyfall. Another reason why I kept seeing Daniel Craig as Bond while I was reading it was due to the fact that Bond poses as a South African mercenary for part of his mission and Daniel Craig has played South African characters in the movies The Power Of One (1992) and Munich (2005). Also, I quite enjoyed that Deaver had Bond using the Walther PPS pistol. The PPS debuted in 2007 and has become quite popular with the law enforcement and civilian shooting world. Size wise it is around the same size as the PPK, but its features and design harken back to the P99. Also, the gun is chambered for either 9mm or .40 S&W both of were options for the P99 while it was being produced.

[@JaiProdz]

Yay😍

[@Niala8419]

Nanny knows best rofl. This one is wild but I think my favourite Gardner. Although Bonds head on a silver charger! lol May in a clinic with Moneypenny. I did enjoy the romp across Europe and JG was obviously a total Yankeefile so it did have to end in south east USA lol

[@gregmize01]

👍👍👍👍

[@quantumdave1592]

People still have helpers 😑

[@davidjames579]

Yep. If the elderly have them, don't see that people with a bit of money can't. My ex was on the Dole and still employed her Cleaning Lady.

[@TheRealBGregz]

Come on Calvin, you should know that “guillotine” is pronounced gee-uh-teen.

[@stewarti7192]

C A M P

[@Neville60001]

Calvin, you need to review the video game (which is _not_ related to the novel you're reviewing in this video) _Nobody Lives Forever_ (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Operative:_No_One_Lives_Forever); you'll love it to bits.

[@Niala8419]

The bent Austrian cop bit is good. Der Haken etc Same MO as Kobus Breed in Solo 💀 🪝