License Renewed

By John Gardner

Written in the Ian Flemming style, Gardner seems to match Flemming pretty well. He is not quite as descriptive about the food and so far has not mentioned the clothes Bond wears like Flemming did, but pretty close.

As for the plot.  James is to go undercover as a mercenary for the Laird of Mulcany who it is feared has a plot involving nuclear plant meltdowns? Q branch has a women technician nicknamed Q'ute. She is girl 1 in the book so far.  If you know what I mean.

The Laird will cause nuclear plant meltdowns so that the world will implement his new, safe nuclear plant design. After knowing Bond for a few days he tells him most of the plot. Then takes him to a secret ops room.  Really?!  Oh yeah Gardner seems to be more of a movie style Bond story. Back to the plot.  Terrorist groups around the world have been arranged by Franco (a henchman). Bond is hired to kill Franco. The Laird will have the terrorist groups ransom the nuclear plants at threat of meltdown (china syndrome) for $50 billion in diamonds. The world will have 24 hours.

The Laird also is really a fraud and will have to have the real heir to his title offed.  There is a scene near the end of the book in the rear of a C-141 that is very much like The Living Daylights.

Needless to say Bond saves the day and beds the real heir, Dilly.

Overall this was an entertaining story. I enjoyed it. It was a fast read. More like the movies than the Ian Flemming books. Though it's been a while since I've read those. I'm looking forward to the rest.