Die Another Day [Abridged] [Audio Cassette]

Raymond Benson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

Based on the screenplay by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade

When danger becomes a temptation . . . when every move brings you closer to the edge . . . when you live every day as if it's your last . . . there's a surprise around every curve.

After months of torture in a North Korean prison, secret agent James Bond is released, only to find that M has deactivated him. On his own, Agent 007 follows the trail of a megalomaniac menace through the seedy streets of Shanghai and hideaways of Havana. Finally, in a magnificent crystalline ice palace, Bond encounters two fiery femmes fatales and a master plot to destroy the planet with a demonic weapon of mass destruction.

Die Another Day © 2002 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Who better than Robert Whitfield to breathe new life into 007? Whitfield exhibits an exacting British accent; an ability to fluently shift between a myriad of characters, all within a breath; and a gift for painting pictures with words. Whitfield's talent adds another dimension to the consummate secret agent -- Bond, James Bond.'' --AudioFile

About the Author

RAYMOND BENSON has now written several James Bond novels. He is also the author of The James Bond Bedside Companion, which was shortlisted for an Edgar Allan Poe Award for best biographical/critical work and is considered by 007 fans to be the definitive book on the world of James Bond. He is a director of the Ian Fleming Foundation and served as vice-president of the American James Bond 007 Fan Club for several years. Mr Benson is married, has one son and lives in the Chicago area.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks; Unabridged edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786123710
• ISBN-13: 978-0786123711
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,725,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As of January 2011, Raymond Benson is the author of twenty-four published books. These include six original JAMES BOND novels (now collected in the recent anthologies THE UNION TRILOGY and CHOICE OF WEAPONS), three 007 film novelizations, and the first two TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL novels (for the latter he used the pseudonym of "David Michaels"). With John Milius he penned HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM. He also wrote the novelizations of the popular videogames--METAL GEAR SOLID and METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY. Raymond writes his own original suspense books as well--stand alone thrillers such as TORMENT, ARTIFACT OF EVIL, SWEETIE'S DIAMONDS, FACE BLIND, and EVIL HOURS, or his two "Spike Berenger Rock 'n' Roll Hits" featuring a music industry detective--A HARD DAY'S DEATH and DARK SIDE OF THE MORGUE. Coming soon--Raymond's entry in the "Gabriel Hunt" adventures, HUNT THROUGH NAPOLEON'S WEB, and an original thriller, THE BLACK STILETTO. There's a lot more, so if you want the full story visit the author at his website... www.raymondbenson.com!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is Moonraker, not original stuff., July 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Die Another Day (Paperback)

Yes, I know they already made a film of "Moonraker" which had basically nothing to do with the book, so they're free to use plot elements. But it's almost shameless to use this many plot elements. A space weapon (only it's called "Icarus" instead of "Moonraker"), a "zero-to-hero" public persona for the villain (as well as his being honored by the Queen and not at all what he seems), the villain's blonde secretary who's a double (British S.S. and his secretary), a showdown at a club...I could go on and on. Why waste $$$ on this novelization when you could pick up Ian Fleming's original "Moonraker" at a library or used book store? It's much better, plus you get to see a "Bond Girl" who thinks he's stupid (at least at first, but then SHE dumps HIM). How rare is that!?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Extremely disappointing., August 17, 2006

By 

AReader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Die Another Day (Paperback)

After a long string of highly successful Bond novels, this is Benson's last one. Having just read it, I can see why.

In addition to Benson's masterful Bond novels, I have always enjoyed his novelizations of the movies, as they have given the character extra depth, and turned sometimes lightweight movie scenes into deeply absorbing writing. His Bond feels far more real than the movies, while retaining the excitement, action and fun.

Admittedly, he had a pretty dumb screenplay to work with here (invisible cars, anyone?), but he hasn't even tried to write a book. This feels more like a notebook of scene directions than a story, and simply tells you everything Bond does without adding anything, i.e. "Bond ran across the corridor. He kicked open the door. He ran down the stairs. He shot his gun"... there are paragraphs of this stuff. No attempt to make it into a novel.

I think he just put the movie on TV, scribbled down everything he saw onscreen, handed in this literal description, took his paycheck and ran.

A sad ending to a great career writing Bond novels. Don't bother with this one.

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No Fleming Here, December 19, 2002

By 

kametamorphic "ametamorphic" (East Haven) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Die Another Day (Paperback)

Garbage! This is not Ian Fleming! If you think this is Ian Fleming you are mistaken. Read Fleming's books if you want to read about James Bond, what makes him tick, what makes him alive. This is garbage, in the first degree. Go back to Ian Fleming, not this! This book is based on the worst James Bond film ever made. Merry Christmas!