What do you think?
Rate this book
John Gardner's Bond #8
Win, Lose or Die: A James Bond thriller
Official, original James Bond from a writer described by Len Deighton as a 'master storyteller'When M receives word that a known terrorist organisation is planning to infiltrate and destroy a top-secret British Royal Navy aircraft carrier-based summit of world leaders, James Bond is returned to active duty in the Royal Navy. Promoted from Commander to Captain, Bond is expected to infiltrate the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and identify potential sleeper agents.As he struggles to complete his mission, a massive war game is being carried out between the American, British, and Soviet Navies. And when Bond gets caught up in a murder investigation the safety of the most powerful leaders on the planet hangs in the balance ...
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1989
44 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
John Gardner
113 books178 followersBefore coming an author of fiction in the early 1960s, John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all, Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker.
Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.
Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
March 25, 2020
There is No Time to Die in cinema on the 2nd of April a certain virus pushed the release back to November, which was a risky movie by EON but it paid off. And now we are left with another seven months to get our 007 fix, so why not read one of John Gardners' continuation stories about James Bond 007. He had the enviable job of updating 007 for the modern days.
The books written by Fleming are mostly a faraway echo from the movie series by EON, one of the biggest differences is that real life politics are usually are kept out of the movies, this book by Gardner does employ real life political figures even if this does immediately date the book/story in its time. perhaps an argument that is moot as the original books were written in the fifties and its morality is also clearly dated. Which does not take away any pleasure from the Fleming books. John Garner is another beastie with his continuance novels.
In this book James Bond 007 is required to re-enlist in the Royal Navy with the rang Captain and his mission is to be a bodyguard to some of the most important Navy people in the Western coalition and their guests from the former Soviet Union. While the military excise takes place where three politicians will have a meeting in an unofficial way, Michail Gorbatsjov, George H.W. Bush and Margaret Hilda Roberts Thatcher.
There is of course a plot to kidnap these three leaders and hold them for ransom by a terrorist organisation with a daft name and there is 007 to stop them.
This feels like less of a spy-novel and more of an action thriller in the style of "Under Siege" where 007 even flies an Harrier to obtain his goal.
Certainly not one of the better 007 books by Gardner but enjoyable enough as throw-away literature. Gardner has written better 007 books this is just one of the lesser ones. But for a 007 literary fan quite enjoyable.
The books written by Fleming are mostly a faraway echo from the movie series by EON, one of the biggest differences is that real life politics are usually are kept out of the movies, this book by Gardner does employ real life political figures even if this does immediately date the book/story in its time. perhaps an argument that is moot as the original books were written in the fifties and its morality is also clearly dated. Which does not take away any pleasure from the Fleming books. John Garner is another beastie with his continuance novels.
In this book James Bond 007 is required to re-enlist in the Royal Navy with the rang Captain and his mission is to be a bodyguard to some of the most important Navy people in the Western coalition and their guests from the former Soviet Union. While the military excise takes place where three politicians will have a meeting in an unofficial way, Michail Gorbatsjov, George H.W. Bush and Margaret Hilda Roberts Thatcher.
There is of course a plot to kidnap these three leaders and hold them for ransom by a terrorist organisation with a daft name and there is 007 to stop them.
This feels like less of a spy-novel and more of an action thriller in the style of "Under Siege" where 007 even flies an Harrier to obtain his goal.
Certainly not one of the better 007 books by Gardner but enjoyable enough as throw-away literature. Gardner has written better 007 books this is just one of the lesser ones. But for a 007 literary fan quite enjoyable.
December 8, 2016
In this volume, I read 'Win, Lose or Die', which this review is for. Book number 20 (Gardner's no.5), 'Nobody Lives forever' I reviewed here. Both books get 3 rounded up stars, so that won't be an issue. For a final note in this intro; why anyone would put these two together (WLOD is book 23/Gardner's 8), and in the wrong order, is beyond me, but there you go.
The aging agent (something which Gardner wisely ignores by now) becomes a Harrier-pilot in this overly long story which involves a terrorist organization with a silly name, a large military exercise, a top meeting and lots of double and triple agents. And young women. Them also double or triple agents. After the surprisingly good Scorpius, Gardner loses it a bit with this one, which is not much more than a decent addition to a series (and probably because we've gotten used to expect worse).
As you probably can tell, it is a reluctant third star up there, but it's there due to passages of really good thriller writing. The passages that are less good are however, quite frequent... Most annoyingly, Gardner's habit of 'hiding' things from us in passages such as: "He talked for over half an hour..." and "He went on for the next hour, and..., which is really silly. Either nothing important was said (and why bring it up) or, so much is left out that we can stop reading now...
He also inspires some questioning on my part such as in the passage "Below there was still darkness, while at the Hercules’ altitude it was freezing cold in the thin air. Every man in the cargo bay had any bare flesh covered against frostbite.". Which made me wonder about when dark became the opposite of cold, and also: when bare flesh is covered, does it not cease to be bare?
A final thing: among his other talents, Bond's a master of insta-love. 23 books in and it's always enough with one kiss for the spy to start hearing birdsong, imagine the girl (always a girl, never a woman) is 'the one' and entertain thoughts of going into retirement...
The aging agent (something which Gardner wisely ignores by now) becomes a Harrier-pilot in this overly long story which involves a terrorist organization with a silly name, a large military exercise, a top meeting and lots of double and triple agents. And young women. Them also double or triple agents. After the surprisingly good Scorpius, Gardner loses it a bit with this one, which is not much more than a decent addition to a series (and probably because we've gotten used to expect worse).
As you probably can tell, it is a reluctant third star up there, but it's there due to passages of really good thriller writing. The passages that are less good are however, quite frequent... Most annoyingly, Gardner's habit of 'hiding' things from us in passages such as: "He talked for over half an hour..." and "He went on for the next hour, and..., which is really silly. Either nothing important was said (and why bring it up) or, so much is left out that we can stop reading now...
He also inspires some questioning on my part such as in the passage "Below there was still darkness, while at the Hercules’ altitude it was freezing cold in the thin air. Every man in the cargo bay had any bare flesh covered against frostbite.". Which made me wonder about when dark became the opposite of cold, and also: when bare flesh is covered, does it not cease to be bare?
A final thing: among his other talents, Bond's a master of insta-love. 23 books in and it's always enough with one kiss for the spy to start hearing birdsong, imagine the girl (always a girl, never a woman) is 'the one' and entertain thoughts of going into retirement...
February 23, 2020
Really good Bond book. He goes back into the Navy promoted to Captain RN. On a special security mission. Some really good twists/surprises both at beginning & ending of book. Not the normal Bond story, well worth reading.
February 10, 2023
I enjoy the Gardner Bond thrillers. Reading them one by one in the order they were written. A Navy Bond this time. Great characters and I feel Gardner has kept the tone of his thrillers in line with Flemings'. I usually read 2 to 3 Bond novels a year. Once I complete the John Gardner Bond books, I will finished reading the Benson Bond novels!
July 1, 2012
This could be a good book but Gardner was not really a good writer, well for this book. He could have made the story more interesting but he did not.Some of the parts are not really interesting and very strange. Take for example, the part about two of the organisation members having a talk together, how could they not possibily not know that the British Secret service had been bugging the when the have the ability to start their operation "WIN" and "LOSE"?
However, although it gets off to a slow start, I would have to say that (so far) "Win, Lose or Die" is arguably a highlight of the Gardner books. It is also the only one that I feel could actually work as a Bond film. The characters are a bit more respectable than most of Gardner's creations, especially his usual cookie-cutter villains. The book also carries some of the wonderful, sinister, almost supernatural imagery that Fleming was so fond of, portraying Bond and the other characters as players in a strange spiritual plane that seems to stretch beyond Earthly bonds.
Now, if only Gardner could have learned to do away with all those...one-liners he has Bond spout after he does something. This is supposed to be Fleming's Bond, not Roger Moore's. Furthermore, the book continues to slip with the horrid scenes in which Bond interacts with M and Bill Tanner. In Fleming's books, M was a man of few words, and when he said something, it was to the point and deadly serious. Unfortunately, Gardner again sinks to the level of having Bond and M trade barbs, if you will. Fleming's Bond would NEVER smart off to his boss the way Gardner's does.
However, once you get past the tepid first third of the novel, the narrative really picks up. This book actually has enough high points to outweigh the low points. The section where Bond is used as bait at the Italian villa is almost up to Fleming's speed. And the climax aboard the hijacked carrier is absolutely spellbinding.
However, although it gets off to a slow start, I would have to say that (so far) "Win, Lose or Die" is arguably a highlight of the Gardner books. It is also the only one that I feel could actually work as a Bond film. The characters are a bit more respectable than most of Gardner's creations, especially his usual cookie-cutter villains. The book also carries some of the wonderful, sinister, almost supernatural imagery that Fleming was so fond of, portraying Bond and the other characters as players in a strange spiritual plane that seems to stretch beyond Earthly bonds.
Now, if only Gardner could have learned to do away with all those...one-liners he has Bond spout after he does something. This is supposed to be Fleming's Bond, not Roger Moore's. Furthermore, the book continues to slip with the horrid scenes in which Bond interacts with M and Bill Tanner. In Fleming's books, M was a man of few words, and when he said something, it was to the point and deadly serious. Unfortunately, Gardner again sinks to the level of having Bond and M trade barbs, if you will. Fleming's Bond would NEVER smart off to his boss the way Gardner's does.
However, once you get past the tepid first third of the novel, the narrative really picks up. This book actually has enough high points to outweigh the low points. The section where Bond is used as bait at the Italian villa is almost up to Fleming's speed. And the climax aboard the hijacked carrier is absolutely spellbinding.
August 13, 2017
I don't know what to think of Gardner's Bond. It seems when he is good, the books are awesome, but when he falls short they really tend to fall apart.
This is the second modern Terrorist organization he tackles, Scorpius being the first, which is fantastic. This one even brings us into the modern era with Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher, President George H.W. Bush, and Russian Leader Gorbachev, with a reference to President Reagan.
But the story seems far fetched and obscene in places like mentioned in the other reviews on this book. I was really disappointed, and am about to head into another film adaptation that I didn't like in the theater... License to Kill, great concept but really fell short in my opinion.
Here is my over all ranking of the series so far.... You can see each individual review on the titles' page. I'm reading them in publication order if you were wondering, but the ranking below is how I liked the titles against others in the series.
Overall rating of book series:
1 - Casino Royale / On Her Majesty' Secret Service
2 - Goldfinger
3 - For Special Services / Scorpius
4 - From Russia with Love / License Renewed
5 - Live and Let Die
6 - Diamonds are Forever / Dr. No / Icebreaker
7 - Nobody Lives Forever
8 - Moonraker
9 - Colonel Sun
10 - Thunderball / No Deals, Mr. Bond
11 - James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me (Wood)
12 - You Only Live Twice
13 - For Your Eyes Only / Octopussy & The Living Daylights
14 - The Man with the Golden Gun
15 - The Spy Who Loved Me
16 - Win, Lose or Die
17 - James Bond and Moonraker (Wood)
18 - Role of Honor
This is the second modern Terrorist organization he tackles, Scorpius being the first, which is fantastic. This one even brings us into the modern era with Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher, President George H.W. Bush, and Russian Leader Gorbachev, with a reference to President Reagan.
But the story seems far fetched and obscene in places like mentioned in the other reviews on this book. I was really disappointed, and am about to head into another film adaptation that I didn't like in the theater... License to Kill, great concept but really fell short in my opinion.
Here is my over all ranking of the series so far.... You can see each individual review on the titles' page. I'm reading them in publication order if you were wondering, but the ranking below is how I liked the titles against others in the series.
Overall rating of book series:
1 - Casino Royale / On Her Majesty' Secret Service
2 - Goldfinger
3 - For Special Services / Scorpius
4 - From Russia with Love / License Renewed
5 - Live and Let Die
6 - Diamonds are Forever / Dr. No / Icebreaker
7 - Nobody Lives Forever
8 - Moonraker
9 - Colonel Sun
10 - Thunderball / No Deals, Mr. Bond
11 - James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me (Wood)
12 - You Only Live Twice
13 - For Your Eyes Only / Octopussy & The Living Daylights
14 - The Man with the Golden Gun
15 - The Spy Who Loved Me
16 - Win, Lose or Die
17 - James Bond and Moonraker (Wood)
18 - Role of Honor
February 1, 2020
**Updated January 2020**
Leading up to "No Time to Die", I am re-reading Bond classics. "Win, Lose, Or Die" sees James Bond promoted to Captain and return to the Royal Navy to uncover a terrorist plot embedded deep inside a Naval vessel playing host to very prominent players (no spoilers here).
The book very gloriously features numerous surprises, twists and turns and interesting character byplay. Some of the characters are not overly fleshed out, but the reimmersion of Bond into the Navy, the Naval terms and routines and his interaction with the crew is quite interesting.
Gardner at times writes very much like Fleming, yet he tries too hard at times to Americanize these books; this is one of those instances. That said, Bond is recognizable as Fleming's Bond and this story is quite enjoyable. 4 stars.
_____________________________
Another solid, good entry in the John Gardner 007 literary world. I continue to question some of Bond's thoughts and behaviors from time to time regarding emotion, but seeing him return to active Naval duty to protect three high-ranking world leaders (in interesting cameos) makes for an enjoyable read. It wasn't out-of-this-world but it was a well-put-together story and where Gardner is sometimes criticized for his frequent use of double-crossing and double agents, this one has a few twists and turns that still make for relative surprise.
Leading up to "No Time to Die", I am re-reading Bond classics. "Win, Lose, Or Die" sees James Bond promoted to Captain and return to the Royal Navy to uncover a terrorist plot embedded deep inside a Naval vessel playing host to very prominent players (no spoilers here).
The book very gloriously features numerous surprises, twists and turns and interesting character byplay. Some of the characters are not overly fleshed out, but the reimmersion of Bond into the Navy, the Naval terms and routines and his interaction with the crew is quite interesting.
Gardner at times writes very much like Fleming, yet he tries too hard at times to Americanize these books; this is one of those instances. That said, Bond is recognizable as Fleming's Bond and this story is quite enjoyable. 4 stars.
_____________________________
Another solid, good entry in the John Gardner 007 literary world. I continue to question some of Bond's thoughts and behaviors from time to time regarding emotion, but seeing him return to active Naval duty to protect three high-ranking world leaders (in interesting cameos) makes for an enjoyable read. It wasn't out-of-this-world but it was a well-put-together story and where Gardner is sometimes criticized for his frequent use of double-crossing and double agents, this one has a few twists and turns that still make for relative surprise.
February 12, 2025
The ninth in the Gardner series of Bond books. This has a lot of changes. Bond is back with the military, Christmas, real life leaders. Bond meets Mikhail Gorbachev. There is a new terrorist organization called BAST-Brotherhood of Secret Anarchy and Secret Terror.
Much like I said of past Gardner books, there is a mid-book drag. It happens here, but he tries to get out of it with murder and conflict.
Much like I said of past Gardner books, there is a mid-book drag. It happens here, but he tries to get out of it with murder and conflict.
June 12, 2025
First time I read a continuation novel and... It was a mixed bag of an experience.
Starting from the positive, it was a quick read, and I never felt bored throughout it. I was curious enough to want to know what would happen next. There were also some quite progressive moments considering this is a book from the late 80s (I'm sure if it came out nowadays, people would be screaming WOKE).
And... that's really it.
On the negative, it wasn't a boring book, but overall it was just ok. Even the way it was written. Nothing special really. The characters were almost all two-dimensional to the point that the three women that have important roles were basically the same person.
But what I didn't like the most was that Bond didn't really feel like Bond. I didn't see in the way the author wrote him the same person that Fleming created.
Overall, just a fine read. Enjoyable enough, but only for hard-core fans who love spending time with this series. I think you'd especially love it if you like the movies (I think Brosnan's fans would definitely enjoy this) because the author followed that format more than the one in Fleming's books.
Starting from the positive, it was a quick read, and I never felt bored throughout it. I was curious enough to want to know what would happen next. There were also some quite progressive moments considering this is a book from the late 80s (I'm sure if it came out nowadays, people would be screaming WOKE).
And... that's really it.
On the negative, it wasn't a boring book, but overall it was just ok. Even the way it was written. Nothing special really. The characters were almost all two-dimensional to the point that the three women that have important roles were basically the same person.
But what I didn't like the most was that Bond didn't really feel like Bond. I didn't see in the way the author wrote him the same person that Fleming created.
Overall, just a fine read. Enjoyable enough, but only for hard-core fans who love spending time with this series. I think you'd especially love it if you like the movies (I think Brosnan's fans would definitely enjoy this) because the author followed that format more than the one in Fleming's books.
Read
October 1, 2021Like all the Bond books, I have read this one several times. This rereading I found simultaneously more and less satisfying than previous ones. Between readings I had seen a number of negative reviews of this installment in Gardner's continuation of the 007 series. While I do tend to agree that the presence of Margaret Thatcher, George H.W. Bush, and Mikhail Gorbachev seems to be a little bit forced, I also find that the characters of Pennington and Deeley work quite well. Similarly, Baradj in the guise of an idealistic terrorist who is really just out to make his own fortune is a good touch, and probably honest. The Bond books are never going to be entirely satisfying as works of literature. But I found them fun to read for more than 40 years so ...
June 11, 2018
Γουίν, Λουζ ορ Ντάη από τον κ. Τζον Γκάρντνερ!
Εντάξει, περίμενα τα χειρότερα έπειτα από την ανάγνωση ορισμένων αξιολογήσεων εδώ, στο Γκουντρηντς, αλλά τελικά μου φάνηκε ακριβώς όπως τα περισσότερα βιβλία του κ. Γκάρντνερ με ήρωα το Τζέημς Μποντ! Ευχάριστα στην ανάγνωση, αλλά αρκετά αδιάφορα, τόσο που αν καθυστερούσα λίγο ακόμη την αξιολόγησή μου, θα έπρεπε να διαβάσω ξανά από την αρχή το βιβλίο, ώστε να θυμηθώ περί τίνος πρόκειται...
Το βιβλίο έχει ρυθμό, έχει πλοκή, έχει ανατροπές, απλά η ιστορία ξεφεύγει και εισέρχεται θριαμβευτικά στη σφαίρα του σουρρεάλ! Δε θα σταθώ στο ότι ο Μποντ, Τζέημς Μποντ, ο οποίος είναι κατάσκοπος στις Βρετανικές Μυστικές Υπηρεσίες ξαφνικά γνωρίζει πώς να πιλοτάρει ένα μαχητικό αεροσκάφος Χάρριερ... Ή μάλλον ξέρεις κάτι;; Θα σταθώ! Θα σταθώ και θα παρασταθώ! Όσο γαμάτος και να είναι ο ήρωάς μας, κ. Γκάρντνερ, όόόόόόσο και να είναι, δε γίνεται μέσα σε διάστημα ολίγων εβδομάδων να πιλοτάρει το Χάρριερ καλύτερα από τους ιπτάμενους της Βρετανικής Αεροπορίας και πολύ περισσότερο σπόιλερ-σπόιλερ-σπόιλερ Ρε μεγάλε, ούτε ο ήρωας του Ντέηβιντ Γκίμπμπινς, ο Τζακ Χάουαρντ, δεν τα κάνει αυτά!
Θα έπαιρνε και τέταρτο αστεράκι αν δεν επρόκειτο για βιβλίο με ήρωα το Τζέημς, αλλά αντ' αυτού ο ήρωάς μας ήταν ο Ρίτσαρντ Τσάμπερλαιν, ξέρω γω, Κομμάνντερ οβ δε Ρόγιαλ Νέιβυ οβ Χερ Μάτζεστυ, οπότε θα μπορούσαμε να καταπιούμε το χάπι πιο εύκολα!
Αυτά! Και εις άλλα με υγεία!
Εντάξει, περίμενα τα χειρότερα έπειτα από την ανάγνωση ορισμένων αξιολογήσεων εδώ, στο Γκουντρηντς, αλλά τελικά μου φάνηκε ακριβώς όπως τα περισσότερα βιβλία του κ. Γκάρντνερ με ήρωα το Τζέημς Μποντ! Ευχάριστα στην ανάγνωση, αλλά αρκετά αδιάφορα, τόσο που αν καθυστερούσα λίγο ακόμη την αξιολόγησή μου, θα έπρεπε να διαβάσω ξανά από την αρχή το βιβλίο, ώστε να θυμηθώ περί τίνος πρόκειται...
Το βιβλίο έχει ρυθμό, έχει πλοκή, έχει ανατροπές, απλά η ιστορία ξεφεύγει και εισέρχεται θριαμβευτικά στη σφαίρα του σουρρεάλ! Δε θα σταθώ στο ότι ο Μποντ, Τζέημς Μποντ, ο οποίος είναι κατάσκοπος στις Βρετανικές Μυστικές Υπηρεσίες ξαφνικά γνωρίζει πώς να πιλοτάρει ένα μαχητικό αεροσκάφος Χάρριερ... Ή μάλλον ξέρεις κάτι;; Θα σταθώ! Θα σταθώ και θα παρασταθώ! Όσο γαμάτος και να είναι ο ήρωάς μας, κ. Γκάρντνερ, όόόόόόσο και να είναι, δε γίνεται μέσα σε διάστημα ολίγων εβδομάδων να πιλοτάρει το Χάρριερ καλύτερα από τους ιπτάμενους της Βρετανικής Αεροπορίας και πολύ περισσότερο σπόιλερ-σπόιλερ-σπόιλερ Ρε μεγάλε, ούτε ο ήρωας του Ντέηβιντ Γκίμπμπινς, ο Τζακ Χάουαρντ, δεν τα κάνει αυτά!
Θα έπαιρνε και τέταρτο αστεράκι αν δεν επρόκειτο για βιβλίο με ήρωα το Τζέημς, αλλά αντ' αυτού ο ήρωάς μας ήταν ο Ρίτσαρντ Τσάμπερλαιν, ξέρω γω, Κομμάνντερ οβ δε Ρόγιαλ Νέιβυ οβ Χερ Μάτζεστυ, οπότε θα μπορούσαμε να καταπιούμε το χάπι πιο εύκολα!
Αυτά! Και εις άλλα με υγεία!
March 8, 2025
A quick read. I like Gardner's Bond books, but there's something about them I haven't liked. I couldn't quite figure it out until this one. Bond and the Govt activities, missions, etc. seem mostly plausible, but the villains seem a little cartoonish in comparison. I suppose that is because Gardner found it easier to write from the pro-govt. agent side based on his experiences. Of course plenty of beautiful women in this Bond adventure to appeal to my former adolescent self!
May 28, 2025
James Bond protecting 20th century heads of state? No gagdets? No supervillians?
This entry in the series was most definately grounded in reality which made the story all that much better. I really enjoyed this one and hope that there are many more "realistic" Bond stories to come.
This entry in the series was most definately grounded in reality which made the story all that much better. I really enjoyed this one and hope that there are many more "realistic" Bond stories to come.
December 21, 2021
This piece originally appeared on The Reel Bits for my 007 Case Files column. For Your Eyes Only: there’s minor spoilers ahead.
"I thought Christmas only comes once a year," quipped Pierce Brosnan in The World is Not Enough. It’s one of the rare instances we hear 007 talk about the festive season, even if the present he was unwrapping was of a more suggestive variety. Then there’s WIN, LOSE OR DIE (1989), one of the few Bond books set at Christmas. While the focus is still on global terror, it’s the closest thing we get to a Bond holiday special.
In John Gardner’s eighth Bond novel, M gets word that a subtly named terrorist organisation known as the Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism (or BAST) is planning to subvert a summit being held on an aircraft carrier. Given that the participants are US President George H. W. Bush, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Russian Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, Bond is given a promotion from Commander to Captain and sent back to the Navy.
While retraining in preparation for the mission, BAST decides that Bond is a threat and sets out to eliminate him. The first attempt is made while he’s flying a Sea Harrier, but a more overt attempt is made while he is holidaying in Italy. When Bond is put in charge of security for the summit (known as Landsea ’89), he soon becomes embroiled in a murder investigation and a plot to extort the three countries for the lives of their leaders.
There is a certain amount of silliness when it comes to this era of Bond novels, despite the contemporary films starring Timothy Dalton becoming grittier. This is the book, as a critic once put it, where "Bond gets chummy with an unconvincing Maggie Thatcher." The scene in question sees the trio of leaders meeting Bond on a boat, where it’s revealed that 007 has saved Thatcher’s life on more than one occasion. (In a footnote, Gardner adds that it’s likely Bond landed secretly in the Falklands to train civilians "before the real shooting war started.")
It’s all part of of Gardner’s attempt to ground the narrative is something more real and concrete, although decades later it merely dates the material. Ian Fleming was always known for his attention to details, but Gardner almost drowns us in technical ephemera on the way the the action conclusion. The three Bond girls (Clover Pennington, Beatrice Maria da Ricci, and Nikki Ratnikov) are mostly forgettable, but not as much as the villain of the piece, who I genuinely had to look up the name of as I was writing this. There’s some sidebar attempt at injecting demonology into the plot, but even Gardner seems to tire of this.
While not strictly a Christmas novel, only one previous story (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) was overtly set during the festive season. Here we learn that there are long-standing in-universe traditions, such as the annual Quarterdeck ritual of M doing a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol! Of course, when asked what his favourite memory of Christmas might be, Bond gives a rather maudlin response: “I think the last Christmas I spent with my parents.”
We don’t often get a lot of backstory into Bond’s childhood, and he tends to play his emotions pretty close to the chest when it comes to women. (As Gardner charmingly puts it, he "lived by the three Fs – Find, Fornicate and Forget.") Yet here Bond recounts the winter he was recovering from chickenpox, shot tin cans with an air pistol, and ate Christmas dinner from trays with his parents. "A final taste of love. I’ll never forget it…My parents were killed, climbing, a few weeks later." Merry Christmas, Mr. Bond.
While BAST, in Bond’s words, sound like “a poor man’s SPECTRE,” they continue Gardner’s theme of modern terrorism in a complex world. All of these little details add up to this being one of the stranger, but most enjoyable, of Gardner’s Bond books to this point. It’s a rapid read that’s light on character, but strong on moment to moment action.
James Bond will return…in Brokenclaw.
"I thought Christmas only comes once a year," quipped Pierce Brosnan in The World is Not Enough. It’s one of the rare instances we hear 007 talk about the festive season, even if the present he was unwrapping was of a more suggestive variety. Then there’s WIN, LOSE OR DIE (1989), one of the few Bond books set at Christmas. While the focus is still on global terror, it’s the closest thing we get to a Bond holiday special.
In John Gardner’s eighth Bond novel, M gets word that a subtly named terrorist organisation known as the Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism (or BAST) is planning to subvert a summit being held on an aircraft carrier. Given that the participants are US President George H. W. Bush, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Russian Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, Bond is given a promotion from Commander to Captain and sent back to the Navy.
While retraining in preparation for the mission, BAST decides that Bond is a threat and sets out to eliminate him. The first attempt is made while he’s flying a Sea Harrier, but a more overt attempt is made while he is holidaying in Italy. When Bond is put in charge of security for the summit (known as Landsea ’89), he soon becomes embroiled in a murder investigation and a plot to extort the three countries for the lives of their leaders.
There is a certain amount of silliness when it comes to this era of Bond novels, despite the contemporary films starring Timothy Dalton becoming grittier. This is the book, as a critic once put it, where "Bond gets chummy with an unconvincing Maggie Thatcher." The scene in question sees the trio of leaders meeting Bond on a boat, where it’s revealed that 007 has saved Thatcher’s life on more than one occasion. (In a footnote, Gardner adds that it’s likely Bond landed secretly in the Falklands to train civilians "before the real shooting war started.")
It’s all part of of Gardner’s attempt to ground the narrative is something more real and concrete, although decades later it merely dates the material. Ian Fleming was always known for his attention to details, but Gardner almost drowns us in technical ephemera on the way the the action conclusion. The three Bond girls (Clover Pennington, Beatrice Maria da Ricci, and Nikki Ratnikov) are mostly forgettable, but not as much as the villain of the piece, who I genuinely had to look up the name of as I was writing this. There’s some sidebar attempt at injecting demonology into the plot, but even Gardner seems to tire of this.
While not strictly a Christmas novel, only one previous story (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) was overtly set during the festive season. Here we learn that there are long-standing in-universe traditions, such as the annual Quarterdeck ritual of M doing a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol! Of course, when asked what his favourite memory of Christmas might be, Bond gives a rather maudlin response: “I think the last Christmas I spent with my parents.”
We don’t often get a lot of backstory into Bond’s childhood, and he tends to play his emotions pretty close to the chest when it comes to women. (As Gardner charmingly puts it, he "lived by the three Fs – Find, Fornicate and Forget.") Yet here Bond recounts the winter he was recovering from chickenpox, shot tin cans with an air pistol, and ate Christmas dinner from trays with his parents. "A final taste of love. I’ll never forget it…My parents were killed, climbing, a few weeks later." Merry Christmas, Mr. Bond.
While BAST, in Bond’s words, sound like “a poor man’s SPECTRE,” they continue Gardner’s theme of modern terrorism in a complex world. All of these little details add up to this being one of the stranger, but most enjoyable, of Gardner’s Bond books to this point. It’s a rapid read that’s light on character, but strong on moment to moment action.
James Bond will return…in Brokenclaw.
September 9, 2023
Boy was this a tough one for me.
After two failed attempts at starting it I finally got into it and managed to complete it. There were plenty of double crosses and code names and people being people they were not to the point that, for me, it became laughable. The book started in one direction and then pivoted to another in what I felt like was padding and an excuse to add a character that would be involved in one of the crosses I mentioned earlier, a character that ultimately served very little purpose.
The main villain had a plot that was completely stupid and baffling in his belief that it would ever succeed given the stakes involved. It was so silly that Bond even told one of his henchmen that it was a stupid idea and the henchman even realized that it was a stupid idea.
The climax was rushed but given how much of very little had happened leading into the I guess I shouldn't expect more.
All in all I feel that Gardner phoned this one in.
After two failed attempts at starting it I finally got into it and managed to complete it. There were plenty of double crosses and code names and people being people they were not to the point that, for me, it became laughable. The book started in one direction and then pivoted to another in what I felt like was padding and an excuse to add a character that would be involved in one of the crosses I mentioned earlier, a character that ultimately served very little purpose.
The main villain had a plot that was completely stupid and baffling in his belief that it would ever succeed given the stakes involved. It was so silly that Bond even told one of his henchmen that it was a stupid idea and the henchman even realized that it was a stupid idea.
The climax was rushed but given how much of very little had happened leading into the I guess I shouldn't expect more.
All in all I feel that Gardner phoned this one in.
September 16, 2019
Win, Lose or Die is for the most part an insipid, forgettable pot-boiler. While I appreciated the appearance of real-world political figures and I thought the terrorists were more realistic than Gardner's previous Bond books, I barely remember what happened in this book a month later. Gardner's credibility is shot in the opening pages with an attack on a Japanese boat called the Son of Takashani. Takashani is not a Japanese name. Maybe Gardner meant Takahashi? It seems to be Japanese-sounding mumbo-jumbo. Also, all Japanese boat names end with maru. Gardner might have renamed the boat Takahashi-maru. He seems to relish in technical detail, so the fact he thoroughly botched an easy to verify detail at the beginning turns off the reader from the rest of the narrative as we don't know which details were researched and which were pulled from his ass.
April 15, 2024
This was an enjoyable, if slight entry into the Bond canon. It has been my least favorite of the Gardner 007 novels that I’ve read thus far. Bond stories can be silly - most of the Roger Moore years or serious - the Craig years, but they need to knowingly pick a lane. This one was unintentionally silly - too much time of Bond flying a Harrier and while entertaining, rescuing Thatcher, Bush, and Gorbachev from a group of female terrorists was entertaining, it was silly without the knowing g wink from the author. Still, these are minor criticisms. You don’t read Bond stories for deep insight into the human condition, you read them for the escapism they provide, and this novel delivers on that in spades.
February 10, 2019
What can you say, I mean James Bond. He gets things done with a few beauties along the way. Plenty of action. Tech junkies will like this although it is likely obsolete because the book is 1989 vintage. John Gardner does a fine job taking over from Ian Fleming. I like the fact that they send Bond to flight school for Harrier training. Got this novel in a condo in Mexico. Hey, check out my thrillers.
May 14, 2017
This book borders on the preposterous on quite a number of occasions, but if your ability to suspend disbelief is high, you should still be able to enjoy it. I was not too keen on the "real life" characters being injected into the book though.
June 26, 2023
Finished this one fast because it really is engaging. Typical Bond novel, but the situation is very unique and the characters are all well developed - something that doesn’t always happen! Some tense moments that really make you feel for ol’ 007.
December 3, 2020
Read in 1990. The eighth title in the new James Bond series. I must have liked them.
January 2, 2013
Nowhere near as fun to read as anything by Fleming.
February 11, 2021
Nope, not good. Although author John Gardner does make his eighth (or ninth?) James Bond novel occasionally fun and entertaining, both the story and the writing contained in "Win, Lose or Die" lack intrigue, excitement and sense. Perhaps burned out by the 007 franchise, the author's attempts at unpredictability and surprise come off instead as illogical, frustrating and bloody confounding.
Once again, John Gardner uses the (now tired) formula of James Bond as uninformed target to a larger mission beyond his payroll. In other words, M sends Bond out on a dangerous mission as bait, without informing 007 of all of the facts, nor which other agents will be involved. Sure, James Bond agrees to be used as bait for the terrorist organization that wants him dead, for they fear that 007 will ruin their plans to infiltrate and cause havoc to a super-secret operation on a giant British frigate ship involving the top Navy brass and the chief executives of the United States, Great Britain, and Russia. Sure, if Bond survives long enough, he would be tasked to run security on the British frigate ship, and protect the lives of everyone on board. Yet I ask, is THIS the best use of James Bond in a story? What happened to 007 being clued in on things, and not just used as an object to lure a killer or an evil organization in?
This becomes further frustrating when the author goes the route of trying to trick the reader, as well as Bond himself! In training, 007 meets a very willing British Navy Wren named Clover Pennington. Clover makes an obvious play for Bond, yet Bond is soon turned off by Clover's idiotic lack of discretion when it comes to classified information. When an attempt on Bond's life fails, 007 is sent to a secret hideaway, and spoiled rotten by a gorgeous Italian woman named Beatrice, who James Bond soon falls head over heels for. On their way out, Bond watches in horror as Beatrice is blown to bits while opening 007's car door.
Beatrice is dead, Bond is crushed, and idiot Clover Pennington swoops in to say that Beatrice was the evil Cat who worked for the murderous terrorist group BAST. Clover Pennington and her team of good guys saved Bond's life, and rush him off to a recovery and debriefing center in the mountains. Yet all of that is a lie. Later in the novel, Wren Clover Pennington makes another huge security blunder aboard the British frigate ship, and Bond has her guarded "for her own safety." After received an urgent message to go ashore, Bond goes to a military base only to meet up with Beatrice, who is now alive!! Turns out idiot Clover Pennington and ALL of her fellow Wrens work for BAST. It's a double-switch turn...that fails.
In order for the double-switch plot devise to work, the reader has to believe it is both possible, and sensible, and also allows equal eight given to each character involved. First, the author introduces Beatrice as just a nice and pretty house manager. THEN, the author reveals that Beatrice is actually an Italian secret agent working with M and the SIS. THEN the author kills Beatrice in a fiery explosion. The much later in the book, Beatrice is revealed to be very much alive and well, and on top of things in terms of Bond's mission. It's a bit much, to say the least...but I could have embraced the idea if John Gardner has not made the other female lead (outside of the brief appearance of the Russian beauty Nikki) be the idiotic and unintelligent Clover Pennington. The result? The revelation that Clover was a BAST terrorist was not a big surprise, because she sucked at her job. Worse, the revelation that Beatrice was both alive AND absolutely on Bond's side came off as an unbelievable also-ran. A reader's trust can only be stretched so far.
Why else did "Win, Lose or Die"suck? The chief villain "Bassam Baradj" was selectively intelligent and cunning, and selectively weak and stupid. The final showdown with Bassam Baradj was dull, and pedestrian. The conflicts contained within "Win, Lose or Die" were way too easily solved within just a few pages. Also, the author seemed to be much more interested in types of military gear and weapons than he was of say...story, conflict or character. There just is not much of a story in "Win, Lose or Die," and the novel was too easy to put down.
Once again, John Gardner uses the (now tired) formula of James Bond as uninformed target to a larger mission beyond his payroll. In other words, M sends Bond out on a dangerous mission as bait, without informing 007 of all of the facts, nor which other agents will be involved. Sure, James Bond agrees to be used as bait for the terrorist organization that wants him dead, for they fear that 007 will ruin their plans to infiltrate and cause havoc to a super-secret operation on a giant British frigate ship involving the top Navy brass and the chief executives of the United States, Great Britain, and Russia. Sure, if Bond survives long enough, he would be tasked to run security on the British frigate ship, and protect the lives of everyone on board. Yet I ask, is THIS the best use of James Bond in a story? What happened to 007 being clued in on things, and not just used as an object to lure a killer or an evil organization in?
This becomes further frustrating when the author goes the route of trying to trick the reader, as well as Bond himself! In training, 007 meets a very willing British Navy Wren named Clover Pennington. Clover makes an obvious play for Bond, yet Bond is soon turned off by Clover's idiotic lack of discretion when it comes to classified information. When an attempt on Bond's life fails, 007 is sent to a secret hideaway, and spoiled rotten by a gorgeous Italian woman named Beatrice, who James Bond soon falls head over heels for. On their way out, Bond watches in horror as Beatrice is blown to bits while opening 007's car door.
Beatrice is dead, Bond is crushed, and idiot Clover Pennington swoops in to say that Beatrice was the evil Cat who worked for the murderous terrorist group BAST. Clover Pennington and her team of good guys saved Bond's life, and rush him off to a recovery and debriefing center in the mountains. Yet all of that is a lie. Later in the novel, Wren Clover Pennington makes another huge security blunder aboard the British frigate ship, and Bond has her guarded "for her own safety." After received an urgent message to go ashore, Bond goes to a military base only to meet up with Beatrice, who is now alive!! Turns out idiot Clover Pennington and ALL of her fellow Wrens work for BAST. It's a double-switch turn...that fails.
In order for the double-switch plot devise to work, the reader has to believe it is both possible, and sensible, and also allows equal eight given to each character involved. First, the author introduces Beatrice as just a nice and pretty house manager. THEN, the author reveals that Beatrice is actually an Italian secret agent working with M and the SIS. THEN the author kills Beatrice in a fiery explosion. The much later in the book, Beatrice is revealed to be very much alive and well, and on top of things in terms of Bond's mission. It's a bit much, to say the least...but I could have embraced the idea if John Gardner has not made the other female lead (outside of the brief appearance of the Russian beauty Nikki) be the idiotic and unintelligent Clover Pennington. The result? The revelation that Clover was a BAST terrorist was not a big surprise, because she sucked at her job. Worse, the revelation that Beatrice was both alive AND absolutely on Bond's side came off as an unbelievable also-ran. A reader's trust can only be stretched so far.
Why else did "Win, Lose or Die"suck? The chief villain "Bassam Baradj" was selectively intelligent and cunning, and selectively weak and stupid. The final showdown with Bassam Baradj was dull, and pedestrian. The conflicts contained within "Win, Lose or Die" were way too easily solved within just a few pages. Also, the author seemed to be much more interested in types of military gear and weapons than he was of say...story, conflict or character. There just is not much of a story in "Win, Lose or Die," and the novel was too easy to put down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Hold onto your britches, folks, for I’ve just had a peculiar tussle with a tome by the name of Win, Lose or Die by John Gardner, a yarn featuring that fellow, Ian Fleming‘s Agent 007.
A Most Unconventional Assignment for Mr. Bond
Now, this particular escapade is as odd as a three-legged dog. Our man Bond, usually found hobnobbing with dames and driving conveyances faster than a greased weasel, is stuck aboard a British carrier, ferrying around some highfalutin’ VIPs for a secret pow-wow. The premise, mind you, stretches out for a whole year! And what does our dashing spy have to do? Why, master the art of flying a Harrier jet, of all things! One can only surmise the author, Mr. Gardner, simply shrugged and said, “Why not?”
And if that ain’t peculiar enough, Bond, a lone wolf by nature, is suddenly saddled with a veritable army of security chaps from three different nations. No fancy duds, no lightning-fast automobiles, no high living for our hero this time around. Instead, he’s relegated to the humble abode of a mass hall, a noisy jet, and the unglamorous life of a Navy man. It’s enough to make a gentleman sigh into his gin and tonic.
A Curious Brew of Thrills and Tedium
Win, Lose or Die is a strange concoction, a bit of this, a bit of that. Part technothriller, part murder-mystery, and a hefty dose of military action, but bless my soul, there’s hardly a whiff of actual espionage. The kindest word I can muster for this book is “competent.” Mr. Gardner, it’s plain to see, knows his onions. He handles the gizmos and gadgets and the bangs and booms with a masterful hand.
Yet, for a tale that spans a whole year, it moves along at a breathless clip, like a runaway stagecoach. We’re granted glimpses into the minds of sundry characters, but only after they’ve stumbled upon some crucial nugget for the plot. This hopping about makes for a dizzying ride, and frankly, it strains the credulity something fierce. And as for the plot twists, well, they’re as subtle as a bull in a china shop, bordering on the preposterous.
A Villain for the Ages… of Incompetence
Then there’s the villain, a fellow named Bassam Baradj. Now, I’ve seen my share of scoundrels in my day, but this Baradjchap is so spectacularly inept that even James Bond himself points it out! How a blithering idiot like him managed to orchestrate a scheme to snatch three of the world’s most powerful leaders is a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes himself – a mystery to Baradj, to Bond, and certainly to this humble reader. One might charitably think it a bit of Mr. Gardner’s famous tongue-in-cheek humor, but I’m inclined to believe it’s simply a regrettable lapse into parody.
Bond, A Fish Out of Water
And our dear Bond? He seems as out of place as a tuxedo at a hog roast, visibly uncomfortable with this whole “teamwork” notion, and casting a rather disdainful eye upon the young sailors. Truth be told, this book might have fared better had it not been shackled to the Bond franchise, which, let’s face it, comes with certain expectations of derring-do and gentlemanly fantasy. Nevertheless, it’s an honest effort, but it’s about as “Bond-like” as a temperance meeting.
The Gist of It (for Those Who Insist)
So, the long and short of it is this: During a grand military exercise dubbed “Landsea 89,” a clandestine confab is arranged, bringing together the bigwigs of England, the United States, and Russia – none other than Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, President George H. W. Bush, and Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.
Naturally, some obscure band of ne’er-do-wells, styling themselves the Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism (BAST), aim to spoil the party. And so, M, in his infinite wisdom, dispatches James Bond to personally safeguard this secret shindig, all under the rather flimsy guise of him returning to serve in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. A grand premise, indeed, but one that takes a rather winding and peculiar path.
Hold onto your britches, folks, for I’ve just had a peculiar tussle with a tome by the name of Win, Lose or Die by John Gardner, a yarn featuring that fellow, Ian Fleming‘s Agent 007.
A Most Unconventional Assignment for Mr. Bond
Now, this particular escapade is as odd as a three-legged dog. Our man Bond, usually found hobnobbing with dames and driving conveyances faster than a greased weasel, is stuck aboard a British carrier, ferrying around some highfalutin’ VIPs for a secret pow-wow. The premise, mind you, stretches out for a whole year! And what does our dashing spy have to do? Why, master the art of flying a Harrier jet, of all things! One can only surmise the author, Mr. Gardner, simply shrugged and said, “Why not?”
And if that ain’t peculiar enough, Bond, a lone wolf by nature, is suddenly saddled with a veritable army of security chaps from three different nations. No fancy duds, no lightning-fast automobiles, no high living for our hero this time around. Instead, he’s relegated to the humble abode of a mass hall, a noisy jet, and the unglamorous life of a Navy man. It’s enough to make a gentleman sigh into his gin and tonic.
A Curious Brew of Thrills and Tedium
Win, Lose or Die is a strange concoction, a bit of this, a bit of that. Part technothriller, part murder-mystery, and a hefty dose of military action, but bless my soul, there’s hardly a whiff of actual espionage. The kindest word I can muster for this book is “competent.” Mr. Gardner, it’s plain to see, knows his onions. He handles the gizmos and gadgets and the bangs and booms with a masterful hand.
Yet, for a tale that spans a whole year, it moves along at a breathless clip, like a runaway stagecoach. We’re granted glimpses into the minds of sundry characters, but only after they’ve stumbled upon some crucial nugget for the plot. This hopping about makes for a dizzying ride, and frankly, it strains the credulity something fierce. And as for the plot twists, well, they’re as subtle as a bull in a china shop, bordering on the preposterous.
A Villain for the Ages… of Incompetence
Then there’s the villain, a fellow named Bassam Baradj. Now, I’ve seen my share of scoundrels in my day, but this Baradjchap is so spectacularly inept that even James Bond himself points it out! How a blithering idiot like him managed to orchestrate a scheme to snatch three of the world’s most powerful leaders is a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes himself – a mystery to Baradj, to Bond, and certainly to this humble reader. One might charitably think it a bit of Mr. Gardner’s famous tongue-in-cheek humor, but I’m inclined to believe it’s simply a regrettable lapse into parody.
Bond, A Fish Out of Water
And our dear Bond? He seems as out of place as a tuxedo at a hog roast, visibly uncomfortable with this whole “teamwork” notion, and casting a rather disdainful eye upon the young sailors. Truth be told, this book might have fared better had it not been shackled to the Bond franchise, which, let’s face it, comes with certain expectations of derring-do and gentlemanly fantasy. Nevertheless, it’s an honest effort, but it’s about as “Bond-like” as a temperance meeting.
The Gist of It (for Those Who Insist)
So, the long and short of it is this: During a grand military exercise dubbed “Landsea 89,” a clandestine confab is arranged, bringing together the bigwigs of England, the United States, and Russia – none other than Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, President George H. W. Bush, and Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.
Naturally, some obscure band of ne’er-do-wells, styling themselves the Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism (BAST), aim to spoil the party. And so, M, in his infinite wisdom, dispatches James Bond to personally safeguard this secret shindig, all under the rather flimsy guise of him returning to serve in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. A grand premise, indeed, but one that takes a rather winding and peculiar path.
August 9, 2023
A new organization comes to the attention of MI6 which calls itself BAST, the Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism. This is concerning because there is a big operation coming up, a joint naval exercise with the British and Americans, plus, thanks to Perestroika, the Soviet Union. As a prime target for any terrorist group it is a security nightmare, so James Bond gets called in. He resigns his commission with MI6 and returns to active duty with the Royal Navy as a Captain. Bond spends a year retraining, especially on the Harrier jump jet. While training he meets up with a group of WRENs, the British naval version of the WACs. The leader of this group is beautiful and woefully incompetent, so much so that Bond doesn't even have sex with her.
After an attempt on Bond's life which shows a security leak, he is sent to an Italian island to hide out until it is time for him to go into service aboard the HMS Invincible. He meets his handler, another beautiful operative, and they have much sexy time. Things go wrong, people get dead, and Bond is whisked away for debriefing, then it's on to the ship. He meets the people he's supposed to protect, and things do not go well with more people getting dead. Clearly BAST has deep claws into the British security apparatus. Then there are splosions and frogmen and much snapping of necks.
This is an OK book, much action and some awakening of emotions with James Bond. BAST is a complex group, and the leader is not what he seems. It is never clearly explained how BAST is able to do all that they do, how they are getting so much information, and their plan is picked apart by Bond himself in obvious fashion. They are also strangely considerate of their victims, often just drugging them for several days instead of simply killing them off. There is the normal plot of Bond not knowing who to trust and M keeping a good deal of need-to-know information from him. It's OK, but not the best ever.
After an attempt on Bond's life which shows a security leak, he is sent to an Italian island to hide out until it is time for him to go into service aboard the HMS Invincible. He meets his handler, another beautiful operative, and they have much sexy time. Things go wrong, people get dead, and Bond is whisked away for debriefing, then it's on to the ship. He meets the people he's supposed to protect, and things do not go well with more people getting dead. Clearly BAST has deep claws into the British security apparatus. Then there are splosions and frogmen and much snapping of necks.
This is an OK book, much action and some awakening of emotions with James Bond. BAST is a complex group, and the leader is not what he seems. It is never clearly explained how BAST is able to do all that they do, how they are getting so much information, and their plan is picked apart by Bond himself in obvious fashion. They are also strangely considerate of their victims, often just drugging them for several days instead of simply killing them off. There is the normal plot of Bond not knowing who to trust and M keeping a good deal of need-to-know information from him. It's OK, but not the best ever.
June 23, 2021
I'm sorry, but when a book is only about 1/3 good, it only gets 2 stars; barely that.
Gardner did a good job in following Ian Fleming, but this entry was not his high point. The tale starts off in the traditional manner, but pretty soon, the author is jerking us around with the 'Is he/she the bad guy/gal or not?' nonsense.
At one point, Bond is held by the bad guys and completely fails to see through an obvious ruse. Yes, M did nothing to help, but this is not a newly installed agent, this is 007 as we love him. The ending, however, is vintage Bond and worth the wait for hardcore fans.
Find it. Read it.
Gardner did a good job in following Ian Fleming, but this entry was not his high point. The tale starts off in the traditional manner, but pretty soon, the author is jerking us around with the 'Is he/she the bad guy/gal or not?' nonsense.
At one point, Bond is held by the bad guys and completely fails to see through an obvious ruse. Yes, M did nothing to help, but this is not a newly installed agent, this is 007 as we love him. The ending, however, is vintage Bond and worth the wait for hardcore fans.
Find it. Read it.
August 8, 2025
Book number eight in the Gardner 007 series which I am going through in order, the last one set in the eighties (not including License to Kill which is based on a script)and you don’t get much more eighties than 007 protecting Thatcher, Gorbachev and Bush.
Gardner tries a few different things with this one to his credit: Bond back in the Navy, Bond celebrating Christmas, Bond (possibly) in love, Bond in a fighter jet dog fight - some of these I liked and some certainly work better than others but overall it was entertaining enough with lots of spy double crossing to keep me interested 3.5/5 is a fairer score but you can’t do halves and 4 felt too high!
Gardner tries a few different things with this one to his credit: Bond back in the Navy, Bond celebrating Christmas, Bond (possibly) in love, Bond in a fighter jet dog fight - some of these I liked and some certainly work better than others but overall it was entertaining enough with lots of spy double crossing to keep me interested 3.5/5 is a fairer score but you can’t do halves and 4 felt too high!
May 27, 2021
This had the potential to be really interesting and different Bond novel. Bond goes back to the Navy as effectively a bodyguard and action is limited to a few locations.
The problem is that this is poorly delivered. We have a number of plot holes with people making decisions that don't really make sense. Gardener's Bond continues to be terrible at spotting double agents and is saved by others multiple times.
The book appears to be deliberately dated in the late '80s and it definitely feels 30 years old.
The problem is that this is poorly delivered. We have a number of plot holes with people making decisions that don't really make sense. Gardener's Bond continues to be terrible at spotting double agents and is saved by others multiple times.
The book appears to be deliberately dated in the late '80s and it definitely feels 30 years old.
May 31, 2019
Another solid, streamlined, and no-nonsense thriller heavy on the action and intigue and devoid of the kitschy gadgets featured in the films of the time. I did figure out "The Cat" early on, but that was part of the fun (i.e. having my guess be right) and the finale was a bit rushed (could easily have fleshed it out a bit more dramatically), but this is definitely one of Gardner's best to date in his run on the Bond literary dranchise.
January 8, 2019
One of Gardner’s Misfires
Starts off relatively strong, but fizzles our the minute Bond’s feet strike naval life aboard Invincible. Plot meanders all over the place, very little action, poor pacing. It boggles my mind how the writer of For Special Services, No Deals Mr Bond, and Goldeneye wrote such a humdrum thriller like this.
Starts off relatively strong, but fizzles our the minute Bond’s feet strike naval life aboard Invincible. Plot meanders all over the place, very little action, poor pacing. It boggles my mind how the writer of For Special Services, No Deals Mr Bond, and Goldeneye wrote such a humdrum thriller like this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews