Rating: 
Summary: not Benson's best, but worth reading
Review: This book is clearly a major slip for Raymond Benson, whose earlier Bond books skillfully combined the flavor of the Fleming books with enough creativity to keep the presentation fresh. This time, though, the story takes forever to get going. Several readers have applauded Bond's being in sub-par shape throughout the story - I did not like this. I enjoy seeing Bond in top shape taking on the villains - I think humanity can be added through the emotions (like fear and doubt) that Bond feels, rather than disabling him. The last third of the book was quite enjoyable, however, and I do look forward to Bond's showdown with the Union. This book also has one of the better 007 double entendres in recent years. Bond, describing to the Taunt twins his duties as an import-export specialist, says "It's my job to make sure things go in and out smoothly." I was stirred, not...
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Darn Good....
Review: Ok, Mr Reymond Benson first sequel was not as good as High Time To Kill. (Well nothing really can beat HTTK to me.) But Doubleshot was a good run. It keep me turning the page, Hour after hour till I was done. Mr. Benson did in fact have some new effects with Bond cannon. Like the Bull Fighting. But it seemed alittle like repeat with the Union. A closer look to old Ian Fleming novels, the Union is just a mirror image to SMERSH. All in all I did enjoy Double Shot. It was truly a good book. Better then any 007 story Gardner could write. The only problem I found with the book it read to quickly. Not enough development. Kind of like the old Fleming Short Stories. Yet there is a good plot under it all that makes Doubleshot a good book to read for the summer.
Rating: 
Summary: Benson gives 007 a headache...and me, too.
Review: After a book like his abysmal "High Time to Kill," I normally wouldn't have given Raymond Benson a second chance...but hey, it *is* James Bond, after all--Fleming's creation has survived much worse. "Doubleshot" is a decent improvement on Benson's last Bond novel and shows a creative and innovative psychologically-driven plot, but the action is again dull and predictable and Bond is rendered virtually impotent of his action capabilities. What Benson tries to do here is more interesting and promising than his former work: a psychological mystery in which Bond, suffering from trauma headaches and frequent blackouts, is unsure of his actions: did he actually kill the beautiful doctor with whom he'd just made love? Is he being followed or just paranoid? An original idea, perhaps, but unfortunately this plot weakens rather than humanizes Bond. He spends the entire novel reacting to events rather than initiating the action, and Benson ends so many chapters with 007 falling into a black unconsciousness that it verges on sadism. In the end it's revealed [SPOILER ALERT] that the criminal mastermind has tampered with 007's nerve medication, making him paranoid and panicky--a development that recalls Bond's brainwashing in "The Man with the Golden Gun" (one of Fleming's weaker entries, I feel). Benson's writing still seems too sloppy and American to me (mint tea is described as "way too sweet for his tastes"), and he has a tendency to pepper his action sequences with exclamation points ("He had caught the terrorist!" "[I]t was the Union's building that had been bombed!"). There are moments when Bond's dialogue doesn't even *sound* like Bond: world-hardened 007 is not a man who would stumble or hesitate over a euphemism for a man's death like "He's, uhm, no longer with us." Finally, Benson has never impressed me with his pacing or tension: the final action climax, the scene of which is set in the prologue, takes all of a page and a half (and six real-time seconds) to unfold. On the positive side, Benson has a strong command of the "Fleming Sweep"--the casual but vital examinations of the brand-names and fine qualities of Bond's clothing, weaponry, drinks, and haunts (he frequently opens a chapter with a well-turned descriptive paragraph of an exotic location that reads like a good travel book). I only wish he could reproduce and build upon the thrills, characterization, and action of the better Fleming books as well. Now don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that Benson must write in precisely the Fleming style, or that Bond can't evolve for the twenty-first century...that stagnation would make him a much less interesting character. But Benson's Bond seems often sketchy and constructed from a few quirks and character traits with his background and motivation reliant upon us, the readers and Bond fans, to fill in what we know about Bond from previous novels. That's just plain sloppy. Will I read another Benson Bond next year? Probably...I like Bond too much to give up on him. But I'm sincerely hoping the "franchise" is in someone else's hands next year. Raymond Benson gave James Bond a headache throughout this whole novel. He gave me one too.
Rating:
Summary: This Bond Book was a blast
Review: I really like this book. Bond was awsome. He hunted down a dangerous terrorist group called The Union. I hope the next book is good as well.
Rating:
Summary: Double 007 makes for a great read
Review: Raymond Benson brings James Bond 007 into the new Millenium with a bang. He picks up where his previous novel HIGH TIME TO KILL left off. Bond is on Medical Leave this time around, due to a head injury sustained from his last mission. Little does he know that the crime syndicate The Union is still after him. They have a devious plot in which to get their revenge for Bond's ruining of their last crime.They have made an exact double of 007. The double is supposed to ruin Bond's reputation, and his mental well-being. To aide in this evil plan we have several twisted characters. Some of which include Domingo Espada, an insane Spanish politician who wants control of Gibraltar to go back to spain. As well as Marguarita Piel Espada's female helper, Nadir Yasassin The Union's Moroccan contact, and of course, 007's double. These vividly described characters are no match for 007,as they soon learn. 007 has help from various sources, even though he disobeyed M's orders. Hedy and Heidi Taunt are two CIA agents, who are identical twins. Their objective was to apprehend 007 and bring him back to London. The reason being was because of the acts of his double. Bond convinces the two to help him. They are to help him, because he is on house arrest,at M's insistence. This novel is a great addition to any library, and certainly to the 007 mantle. Keep up the great work Mr. Benson.
Rating:
Summary: Bond Movie Compendium Rip-Off
Review: I don't know where to begin, there were so many instances in this book where I saw (like one of my reviewing counterparts on this page) blatant thefts from previous Bond stories/movies. It would appear that Mr. Benson's previous life as a Bond Fan Club mogul has affected him to the point he is reliving, without realizing, past experiences...only those experiences are not persoanl life events, they are watching Bond films. The only reason I gave this book two stars was for the diversionary pleasure any Bond book, no matter how shallow, provides. It is worth a read for that reason...but keep your expectations low....
Rating:
Summary: The man not the superman
Review: This is a wonderfully refreshing Bond book that harkens back strongly to the Fleming novels, before the cinematic James Bond became an invulnerable superman, overwhelmed by special effects. This is a character driven novel of skill, humour, and irony. The thematic imagery is handled creatively. In this story Bond is once again a human being with foibles and strengths, just like the rest of us . . . except that he's the world's best secret agent with years of skill. Those two things combine to bring us the most richly human 007 story since Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the novel in which James Bond fell in love, married, and lost his wife. You'll recognize James Bond, the man, on every page of this fascinating work.
Rating:
Summary: Best Benson read since HTTK!
Review: I know we've all heard the expressions 'page-turner' and 'couldn't-put-it-down', but in Doubleshot, that's extremely the case! I remember coming home from class, and seeing the good ole amazon.com package with my new book in it, and once the book came out, the reading started (6 hours straight, might I add). The plot is somewhat hard to follow at the beginning, but after a couple chapters or two, it became less confusing. Being a Bond fan of the movies, as well as the literature, I found this to be like a Fleming novel: good suspense, a well laid-out plot, a sinister villian, and plenty of plot twists to keep you reading! I would throughly advise this book to any Bond fan, with a couple exceptions: for any casual reader, you'll put the book down after every chapter saying to yourself 'What? ', and for the beginning Bond fans, read some of the Fleming novels, or even an earlier Benson novel, to get the hang of the writing style. My 2 Cents
Rating:
Summary: Benson slips up with this entry
Review: Benson fails to live up to what seemed a promising streak of successes with his first 3 novels. His fourth, Doubleshot, is certainly not bad. It is fast-paced and entertaining. He comes up with a rather unique central plot but then surrounds it with an obvious rip-off of Fleming's From Russia With Love. As many Bond plots are similar in their formula, this wouldn't be so distracting if there weren't so many instances. These are the most notable similarities. 1. SMERSH (FRWL) & UNION (DS) Both novels feature a criminal organization wanting to disgrace and embarrass MI6 and their top agent James Bond for destroying previous operations. 2. GEN G (FRWL) & LE GERANT (DS) The mysterious leader of the criminal organization is relegated to the back seat while a secondary villain is more prominent. (This was also used in Thunderball.) 3. ROSA KLEBB (FRWL) & DOMINGO ESPADA (DS) The secondary villain, who's in the employ of the above leader, is the primary baddie. 4. RED GRANT (FRWL) & PEREDUR GLYN (DS) A ruthless killer who is sent to watch over 007 and guide him into the trap. 5. KRONSTEEN (FRWL) & NADIR YASSASIN (DS) The chief strategist who devises the "ingenious" plan to trap and destroy 007 in an embarrasing fashion. 6. DARKO KERIM (FRWL) & RATIF LEGGAB (DS) The friendly and colorful section head of a branch intelligence office who befriends Bond and aids him on his mission. Beside the above problems none of the characters were very well drawn, especially the twin Bond girls Hedy & Heidi Taunt. These two are supposed to be CIA agents? The CIA must have lowered their standards. While Hedy, at least, seems mildly intelligent, Heidi is a complete bimbo. She says the most insipid lines and comes on to just about every attractive male she meets. The villainess Margareta Piel is too reminiscent of Fiona Volpe and Xenia Onatopp from the 007 films. There is nothing distinctive or interesting about her. Domingo Espada might have been a good villain had he been a little more fleshed out. The most positive things I found in the book were Bond's psyche and his near-helpless state for most of the book. This was definitely original and involving. We have never seen 007 this "out of it" and fragile. The settings of Morocco and Spain were very good and well described. Also the look-a-like was a nice twist. The book is short enough and has enough action to be a fast-paced, diverting read. But the near continuous rip-offs and crudely formed characters left a bad taste in my mouth. This is ONLY a book for die-hard fans or anyone interested in comparing it with the far superior From Russia With Love.
Rating: 
Summary: Benson should be charged with treason.
Review: The latest attempt to resurrect Ian Fleming's James Bond franchise is so bad that Benson should be charged with treason, convicted, put in solitary confinement and forced to watch "Barney" 24 hours a day for the rest of his natural-born life. Bond has been on medical leave for three months and is chomping at the bit to get back to work and hunt down the leaders of the criminal group that calls itself the Union. Never mind that Bond is having migraines and blackouts. The pain gets so bad that he finds out where his doctor is dining, follows her home and begs for medication to get rid of the headaches. They have sex, of course, and he eventually wakes up and finds her dead. Not knowing whether he killed her, he dresses and rushes out of the apartment. He doesn't wipe off his fingerprints from the things he has touched, doesn't hunt for the missing buttons off his shirt. Come on, James Bond would not be this stupid. I could go on and give you the basic outline of this preposterous story, but I will not insult your intelligence.
| 
