Master Spy James Bond in Seafire

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Summary: Did John Gardner write Bond novels on autopilot?
Review: I don't get it. For a while, the only books by John Gardner I had ever read were his James Bond novels. I knew he was a spy novelist for years so I finally picked up a different book of his (Confessor) and I loved it. I also realized how DIFFERENTLY he wrote when he wrote non-Bond novels. I don't think he put one half of the effort into some Bond novels that he did into other, non-Bond books. His style and writing is exactly the same in all of the Bond novels with the exception of COLD FALL, which reads like Gardner loosening up and writing more freely (probably since he knew it was his last Bond.) SEAFIRE could have been great, but once again Gardner does a shoddy job of bringing together potentially interesting story elements. The villain is the next Hitler (um, didn't Bond fight the next Hitler in ICEBREAKER?) who has something to do with destroying the Caribbean with an oil spill while inventing a new way to control oil spills (I still don't know what the Fourth Reich and oil spills have to do with each other.) Bond proposes to Flicka von Grusse (and we all KNOW she will die for that.) However, I give Gardner credit for changing the Bond world with his OWN series, and not keeping everything static like all of the movies. He has M on the verge of replacement, Bond being promoted, a new committee watching the other committees. John Gardner wrote some good Bond books (Death is Forever, No Deals, Mr. Bond, Icebreaker) but there are times when he seems to rush them or just not care about Bond or the books themselves. Seafire, quite often, feels like one of those times.

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Summary: GARDNER ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO IAN FLEMING
Review: I havent read any of gardner's books. but from what i hear leming rules all bond novels. I say stick with fleming forget gardner. Benson's allright.

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Summary: Don't give up during the first few chapters. Keep reading!
Review: I liked this book overall. I almost quit reading it after the first few chapters. I thought that if it is not going to be a better read than this why should I bother. But it definetly gets better. The chapters regarding the spy within the ranks at MicroGlobe One was really good. An edge of your seat mystery wondering the identity of the spy. Read it!!!

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Summary: This is a very Good Book!
Review: I thought this was one of the best Bond books I have read in a while! It is a little boring at the beginning for about two chapters, but it gets a lot better after that. I could not stop reading it at the end, because it is so EXCITING! Other people say John Gardner doesn't write very good books, but a disagree. This book is very good, and I recommend it to people that like action packed James Bond novels!

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Summary: The sort of Bond book Enid Blyton might have written.
Review: It's difficult to know where to begin, but let's just say that if the object is to follow in Ian Fleming's footsteps, this fails, miserably. The main problem is that the character of James Bond has lost all his old certainty, strength and invulnerability; his character now better befits that of the policeman I see wandering up and down my road from time to time, and while I'm sure he's a great bloke, he's not the sort of escapist character I want to seek refuge in. The other big problem is that the emotions expressed are all incredibly naive, and, well, teen-like, particularly with regard to the relationship between Bond and Flicka; these are supposed to be mature secret agents who have lived a little, not high school students on a first date! Some of the writing is also way too obvious; Gardner will say something like 'Bond drank his vodka Martini. He liked vodka Martinis you see.' He doesn't actually write that, but you get my drift. I hope against all hope that John Gardner reads this; if he does, I would ask him to re-read any of the Ian Fleming Bond books, carefully; all the cues he needs, those that made the books such incredibly good reads, are there on the pages before him.

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Summary: ANOTHER GREAT TITLE FROM GARDNER
Review: John Gardner comes through with another great title and another poorly written novel. He is very consistent however! His novel still reads like a movie script and his ability to enthrall the reader still remains lacking. One highlight: this paperback has a great cover! I think it is time that these entries get put to Sea.

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Summary: Elaborate plotting...seductions,killings,double crosses
Review: Seafire by john gardner is a very intense and good book beacuase it is exciting, suspenseful, and realistic.It is exciting because it is full of high speed chases, gun fights, and fist fights. The action and mystery of uncovering a conspiracy is what makes it so suspenseful. it is realistic because everything, all the cities and countries are real.The plot involves one Maxwell Tarn, a billionaire, and his wife, who are missing. Sir Maxwell, who disappeared while under surveillance, is known as a selfmade billionaire to the public, but to the brittish inteeligence hes known as the most notorious arms dealer around the world. Bond,Flicka, and the Double-0 section of the SAS must find out what really happened to Tarn and do something about him.

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Summary: One of Gardner's weaker novels, but still a good read.
Review: The story was a little weak because it had Bond fighting a Nazi plot which is something every suspense novelist has their hero do at one time or another. This novel is worth reading however because of Bond's marrige proposal to Fredricka Von Gruse and it's emotional ending. It's a good showing of Bond's human side.

Rating:
Summary: One of Gardner's weaker novels, but still a good read.
Review: The story was a little weak because it had Bond fighting a Nazi plot which is something every suspense novelist has their hero do at one time or another. This novel is worth reading however because of Bond's marrige proposal to Fredricka Von Gruse and it's emotional ending. It's a good showing of Bond's human side.

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Summary: Truly a work of art in the action-espionage genre
Review: This book picks you up and doesn't want to put you down. From the very beginnning my palms were sweating and my forehead was hot. I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what was going to happen next. Mister Bond you still have not lost your touch. Great new plot with lots of new ideas and circumstances revolving around everyones favorite spy