This is the eleventh book in the classic James Bond series, and the central book of the unofficial Blofeld trilogy. After a bizarre and disturbing departure in “The Spy Who Loved Me”, Fleming returns to his usual format in a book that recalls the best of the early Bond material. In fact, there’s an early callback to “Casino Royale” that suggests Fleming had that direction in mind.
This book is also remarkable for presenting a woman that Bond could marry. The vast majority of the novel shows Bond over his head, dealing with a bioterrorism scheme that would fit into today’s world all too neatly. Far from the indestructible master spy of the films, Bond is often injured, barely surviving several threats to his life. This humanizes Bond, especially when he happily chooses to work with an organized crime family to achieve his counter-terrorism ends.
That said, Bond’s choice in love interest is unusual. Fleming does little to explain why Bond would be so deeply attracted to Tracy. She begins the book in a suicidal state, and Bond refuses to have anything more to do with her until she gets serious psychological help. Similarly, Tracy somehow determines, after one night with Bond, that there’s something worth living for. It happens all too quickly in both cases, ultimately undermining what should be a stunning moment at the end of the book.
Also interesting is the general tone of the book. Bond is ready to leave the service, frustrated and prepared to resign, and his career appears to be on the wane. Like “Thunderball”, this is the beginning of the end of the character arc as ultimately created by Fleming, and one begins to wonder if Fleming was allowing his own diminishing health to reflect in the Bond tales.
Rating: 6/10
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