Movie novelisation. So reads like the movie.
Nicely done. ( )

Do not be deceived into thinking this novel by Christopher Wood is just the novelization of the 1977 007 movie that Wood helped write, this novel is far more and is universally recognized by legions of James Bond fans the world over as one of the best, if not the best, Bond novels since his original creator Ian Fleming passed away.

There have been many continuation novelists over the years writing the literary 007 from Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, Raymond Benson to Sebastian Faulks, and Jeffery Deaver, but none of these authors was able to capture the essence of Flemings Bond as effectively as Wood does in this novel. More than just a paint-by numbers narrative of his screenplay this book has real heart. Wood's Bond is an intelligent and thoughtful agent, more rough-around-the-edges than the suave and debonair Roger Moore who was the reigning cinematic 007 of the time. The other characters are also realistically fleshed out, from Anya to Jaws and Stromberg.

It's a shame that the Ian Fleming estate, when they searched for a writer to take on the task of reviving the literary 007 in 1980 had not turned to Wood to accomplish the task. Wood's two James Bond books (he also delivered an excellent adaptation of "Moonraker" in 1979 free of all the goofiness of the movie), stand as a testament to what could have been - what should have been.

Simply put this is the best of all the James Bond continuation novels.Without question the very best of the James Bond continuation novels. Wood perfectly manages to channel Fleming and add complexity and character to the novelization of his screenplay. A real triumph this book is compulsive reading. ( )