Customer Reviews

Brokenclaw (Curley Large Print Books)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Brokenclaw is an excellent Bond novel, up there with Gardner's best (Icebreaker). "Brokenclaw" Lee is one of the better villians Gardner has created, and the ending is unbelieveably unique in pushing Bond to the limit. It really annoys me when people who don't understand the literary Bond pick up a book like this and cast it off as horrible because it doesn't correspond with the movies . . . . this is a great read if your really into Bond, it's Gardner at his best!

I don't know, but I think that somewhere along the way the wheels came off of this particular Bond vehicle. Brokenclaw is a fast read, kinda fun, but in the end it is rather disappointing, and the ending itself is, in my opinion, pretty ridiculous. The villain--Brokenclaw Lee, a half Chinese,half Blackfoot Indian gangster who controls most of Chinatown in San Franciso--is intriguing, but by the end of the novel, after the ludicrous showdown between him and Bond, it seems a shame that we didn't get more about him or his plans. It feels like Gardner was going fine and then sort of jettisoned a number of elements and fine setups and instead rushed to end it nicely in the (usual) 300-page format. And when all is said and done, a lot of things are just pretty damn unbelievable, even for a Bond story. For instance, and perhaps most strikingly, is the relationship between Bond and "Chi-Chi" (a code name), his Chinese female partner on the case. Hardly knowing each other they seem to fall in love like that, and the finale involves Bond entering into a completely ridiculous one-on-one matchup with Brokenclaw all because he has to save Chi-Chi because he would do ANYTHING for her because "love stays." Um, is this the James Bond we know? Certainly Bond would save a damsel in distress, but here it seems rather cheesy, because the love and attachment is unconvinving at best. I mean, Bond beds down with gals on every case, so what made Chi-Chi so special? I don't know, and neither does Gardner seem to. It's frustrating. There really isn't a lot of action, but the book is never really boring either, and that's a good thing. Gardner sacrificed some more involving elements for the sake of a quick, smooth read. 'Tis a shame, because the story and the villain especially have potential. As a matter of fact, I am pretty disappointed with Brokenclaw, especially since the beginning and parts of the middle and even some nice details are wasted. We never get to learn too much about Brokenclaw's plans, they are mentioned and taken for granted. There is Ed Rushia, a good supporting character, and M has a bigger part than usual in it. I can't totally knock the book because I enjoyed many parts, but as a whole, Brokenclaw seems lazily slapped together toward the end, the romance just plain cheesy and trite. Maybe Gardner got bored or something, but he can do much better than this.

I stopped at chapter 10, then skimmed/skipped around the book.

'Brokenclaw' has a confusing plot: James Bond is initially followed by a man, who is killed for no reason other than being in the back of a club, and Bond is blamed for the murder; he is then shipped off to a navel carrier where he is given his assignment to infiltrate Brokenclaw's courier system....which also involves a device called a LORDS and LORDS DAY....

The pacing is choppy and slow; characters are going from one place to another, and it's not entirely clear why they are doing so. (This mainly refers to Bond himself, as well as his companion 'Chi-chi'..

There is technobabble that even Tom Clancy would say 'What?' to...[that technobabble adds to the even confusing plot]. As the reader is already trying to keep up with the plot, he or she then has to keep up with unfamiliar terms...

With certain character(s) that show up, then disappear for the rest of the story (or at least until the very end)...i.e. an Chinese-American agent named Wanda who is sleeping with the main villain to pay her father's debt; she relates the story to M, Bond, and an American agent. She actually turns up later on in the story, but it is not stated why the government just stood by why she did her duty, which wasn't for the country, but for herself and her father.

On page. 161, the character 'Chi-chi' is a young Chinese-American agent uses the term 'splendid' in a conversation. Now, the story is set in the 1990s, and as aforementioned she is American, yet she speaks like an older white Englishwoman from the early 20th century...[I think Gardner does this with other young characters as well]. She is also not written as a very strong character; she makes a point to be treated like the males, and later on in the novel she is screaming and asking not be left alone when in danger, etc. Bond has to eventually save her from the main villian.

Furthermore, there is a big deal made about the Chinese intelligence and Brokenclaw's people using Caucasians to infiltrate Europe and the US. Now, as there are many agents who are of non-white background at this time in the US and Europe, the question is why are they--Chinese and Brokenclaw's people--focusing on and using only whites when not using Chinese? What is the significance? (Interestingly, there is a black man--who shows up very briefly--named Andrew who works for Brokenclaw as an equipment man).

This book didn't seem to have much quality control in terms of plot and characterization.

Bond vs halfbreed crim in torture test.

A villain has a bit of a plan going to cause some economic chaos on the stock market, and a naval officer daughter of a man who owes him money sees an opportunity for infiltration.

Bond and a Chinese partner follow up, to find a fancy house, torture, kidnapping and a showdown. This is too barebones for what is in it, really, and could probably do with being 50 pages longer.

This one is good. VERY good! One of the best villians in a long time. Plot is a little twisted, but you don't notice two much. Final challenge is the best part of the book. Stunning!

maybe the best bond on print to date. wished they would make a movie of it. it keeps you clued to the page wondering whats going to happen next.. a must read... get if you can.

STRONG WORK BY GARDNER WITH HIS BEST VILLAIN AND A GRITTY CONCLUSION REMINISCENT OF SOME OF FLEMING'S MOST SADISTIC SCENES. A VERY GOOD BEACH READ.

A very exciting book with a very painful climax. This book had a good cast of characters and a good plot. The villain (Brokenclaw) was so smug and sure of himself that you had to hate him. This book kept you guessing, never sure of what was going to happen next. If you like James Bond novels then I highly recommend this one.

This is such a great book and i love it i baught it have reading it when i rented the book at the libary. Now i have read it 3 times and i am reading a 4 time write now. I never get sick of it! Broken Claw should be a movie! You have to read this book it is the BEST!

The absolutely, mind-numbingly ridiculous ending to this latest Bond adventure could alone sink this book. It has some good elements but unfortunately they are completely wasted as a totally unconvincing and LAME love story and the stupid ending. Brokenclaw, the villain, has vague plans at best but Gardner does not seem to care about them or about giving us a slightly believable story in any capacity. M has a good role here, but again, everythng good in this novel is in the service of an overall lame effect and picture. Skip it and read one of the Gardner's better efforts, such as....anything other than this!