Customer Reviews

Zero Minus Ten (James Bond 007)

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Raymond Benson breathes a small bit of life back into a James Bond character that John Gardner had nearly tortured to death in his last few unreadable bits of tripe. Nevertheless, Benson is no Ian Fleming (or Kingsly Amis for that matter). Despite his attempts to return Bond to his hard-edged roots, Benson's book reads more like a Cubby Broccoli movie script than it does a Fleming novel. It's better than no Bond at all, but it's still a shame that Gardner's Bond was so bad that we look upon Benson's mediocrity as some sort of character renaissance.

As a long time 007 fan, I have just re-read all of Raymond Benson's Bond novels in the proper order and have some reflections on his entire series through "Never Dream of Dying." First of all, Benson is not Ian Fleming and readers should get past that expectation before beginning. He's not John Gardner, either (thank goodness!). That said, I believe Benson has come the closest to Ian Fleming of all the post-Fleming writers in that he has truly captured the essence of Bond's character and the universe in which 007 operates. It is a fantasy spy world, not based in reality, just as Fleming's was, but like Bond's creator, Benson keeps the main character very human. Benson's Bond makes mistakes, shows fear, feels pain, and is melancholy much of the time. At the same time, Benson has brought in many elements of the Bond film series (I have read an interview with him that states that he and the Ian Fleming Estate agreed that this would be the approach to take). Therefore, Benson's Bond is a mixture of the cinematic and literary Bonds, and for me, this works splendidly. I have seen some fans object to this or that but it seems to me that these fans are not getting past personal expectations. Bond is many things to many people. Benson, a long time Bond scholar and author of the excellent "James Bond Bedside Companion" knows his stuff. He has nailed the Bond character. Some have complained about his writing style. Benson is no Fleming, as stated earlier, but his style is succinct and easy to read. His books flow quickly and are highly entertaining. "ZERO MINUS TEN": Benson's first book has one of his best plots, but it suffers slightly from being a "first novel." His writing is at its weakest here, but that said, ZMT is a wonderful Bond story. It is very Fleming-esque with its Hong Kong location, characters like Guy Thackeray and T. Y. Woo and Li Xu Nan, and its descriptions of food, mahjong, and Triads. When reading ZMT, one is immediately aware that this is a harder-edged and darker Bond than perhaps what we are used to. For a first effort, it is very, very good. "THE FACTS OF DEATH": Benson's second book is more film-like, it feels like an EON Productions movie story. The plot is more "fantastic" in that it deals with a secret criminal organization called the Decada that is run by a crazy mastermind. The writing is improved, though, and in many ways this is a more entertaining book than ZMT. What is especially interesting is Benson's development of the "M" character and her relationship with Bond. "HIGH TIME TO KILL": My personal favorite of the bunch. This is a classic Bond novel in every sense of the word. The first half is fairly predictable cinematic-Bond stuff, except for a very Fleming-esque opening and 2nd chapter golf match. The second half, however, shows Benson hitting his stride and finding his own voice with a truly original departure from what is expected. As Bond and companions climb one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas, the action becomes more like an "Into Thin Air"-type story. It's authentic spy-stuff amidst an environment that is cruel and harsh. This is a thrilling, un-put-downable book. "DOUBLESHOT": Another departure from the norm, as Benson appears to be experimenting with the structure of a Bond novel with this one. The first chapter is the ending of the book told from the different perspectives of several characters. The rest of the story begins in the past and catches up to the ending, and by then we are hooked. In this story, Bond is not well, he is injured, he is not working at full capacity, and this is what is interesting. "Doubleshot" is the middle book of a loose trilogy (beginning with "High Time to Kill") and it is darker and more introspective than the others. Some fans apparently didn't get it, but in many ways, this is Benson's most courageous book. "NEVER DREAM OF DYING": Another great one, right up there with "High Time to Kill," in terms of glueing a reader to the page. It's an excellent plot, tying up the trilogy that Benson began in HTTK. In this book, one can see the blending of the cinematic and literary Bonds more than in any other entry-- a lot of the action is very movie-like, while the storyline and characterizations are more like the Fleming novels. The moods and settings are the best that Benson has done, and the love interest is perhaps his strongest. The real stroke of brilliance in the book is what the author has done with the character of Bond's father in law. A very engaging book. My five-star review is based on Benson's series as a whole. Each book may not be a 5-star book on its own, but I don't think any of them are less than 4. Benson has put his mark on the Bond literary series. Fans who don't like him tend to focus on one or two aspects of what he does-- his writing style, his dependence on the cinematic elements, whatever... I feel that they're not seeing the forest for the trees. In my humble opinion, Raymond Benson has brought new life to the series and I hope he continues the books a long, long time.

Three stars, but just barely. ZERO MINUS TEN has some intriguing moments, and the plot, in general, is actually pretty solid. It's a step up from John Gardner's inane entries in the series, but this is still a far cry from Ian Fleming's Bond. 007 still has some rough edges, but what ostensibly passes for Bond having "gained wisdom from his experiences" reeks of political correctness. Beyond that, though, the writing often slips into long-winded details that don't naturally flow into the narrative; Fleming had mastered the art of merging minutiae with storytelling like few other writers; Benson isn't there yet. And worst of all, in the action-oriented scenes, Benson's prose becomes sloppy, chock-full of passive phrasing and superficial description. There's no passion or sense of urgency, especially when Bond's life is on the line; you're not -inside- the character... you're simply witnessing events from outside. Sadly, when Benson delves into Bond's psyche, the result is endless lines of internalized questioning--to the point of becoming ludicrous. Hardly the self-confident, arrogant, coldhearted professional who yet somehow remained human that Fleming delivered. The villain has adequate motivation to be believable but is otherwise colorless. The best character here is the Chinese Triad chief, Li Xu Nan, who comes across as a more Fleming-inspired personality, a la Marc Ange Draco. Give it a go if you're a Bond completist...

As a Bond fan that grew up on the Fleming novels, I was delighted with the treatment that newcomer Raymond Benson gives to James Bond. I was never able to warm to the Gardner novels, always feeling that he was trying to write for screenplay, and his Bond was too cliché. I am also a little jealous, learning that Benson is a long time Bond fan himself. I am a frustrated novelist, who has always dreamed of carrying the Bond torch. I feel it is in good hands now, and look forward to the next Benson read.

I am a sixth grader. I have recently read Raymond Benson's ingenious James
Bond novel, Zero Minus Ten. The book chiefly focuses on immensely sophisticated
Agent James Bond 007, who is dispatched to the exotic streets of Hong Kong in order to get to the bottom of a series of explosions and lethal attacks on numerous prominent associates of Hong Kong's elite business organizations, namely the incredibly wealthy, influential Western trading company EurAsia Enterprises. Born into a long history of dominating eastern trade, Mr. Guy Thackeray, the powerful businessman and owner of EurAsia is determined to expand his organization globally, making the enterprise the most internationally renowned, most esteemed trading establishment in the world. His sophisticated, elegant exterior proves to be quite deceiving! While in Hong Kong, Bond confronts merciless Triad group leaders, beautiful women and faithful allies who aid him in his ultimate quest for global peace. From the towering skyscrapers of Beijing and Hong Kong to the elegant casinos of Macau and the sandy dunes of Australia, James Bond attempts to prevent Hong Kong from experiencing a most perilous, devastating fate. As a die-hard James Bond fan, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Zero Minus Ten. The story was jammed with pulse-pounding action, including a desperate struggle to escape Tianamen Square, an intense fight scene in a Hong Kong nightclub and a fantastic chase on junks in Victoria Harbor. I also enjoyed the fascinating details of ancient Chinese rituals and history provided by Benson. Benson's James Bond is as daring and suave as ever and contains remnants of Ian Fleming's cold war spy! Zero Minus Ten, as well as other Benson novels, including Double Shot, The Facts of Death and The Man With the Red Tattoo prove to be excellent adventures that any Bond fan will admire!

In "Zero Minus Ten" we finally have a post-Fleming Bond novel that almost makes you feel you are reading the real thing. Reading John Gardner's James Bond novels, I got the impression that I was reading a caricature of Ian Fleming's master spy -- almost a Bond in name only. But now we have a new Bond author -- Raymond Benson, a James Bond expert (a director of the Ian Fleming Foundation and author of "The James Bond Bedside Companion"); and in this new Bond thriller one can almost imagine Ian Fleming's hand guiding Benson in telling this timely story revolving around Britain's returning of Hong Kong to the Chinese, and a villain's attempt to keep it from happening. Benson makes Bond come alive again (finally!) -- those passages in Fleming's novels providing interesting historical information and giving Bond the opportunity to reveal his vast knowledge are back in Benson's tale, and they are as refreshing as the ample action scenes. Make no mistake: this is a modern-day 007, but he retains so many of the old James Bond's characteristics that I got the feeling Bond has "grown" rather than "changed." By the way -- the story itself is a good one, but what I enjoyed most about this novel is that I could really imagine Ian Fleming having written it. For that alone, thank you, Mr. Benson, and I hope you will continue to add to the 007 experience

Raymond Benson is a welcome replacement for John Gardner's perfunctory and uninspired interpretation of Ian Fleming's James Bond. Raymond Benson returns to Bond's literary creator for the heart inside the flesh and simultaneously updates the setting that Bond now operates in. Benson does not re-invent Bond but postures him into a un-kinder and harsher world inhabited with unrestrained malevolence. This multi-dimensional approach with all due respect to John Gardner's efforts has been long awaited. This novel is both timely and well written. This is a very good new beginning for Bond.

This James Bond novel by Raymond Benson is very good. He definitely has his own style and I like it. This is much better than any the John Gardner Bond novels and closer to Ian Fleming's vision of Bond's world as far as I am concerned. Benson has understandably updated things yet he remains faithful to Fleming's intent. It is interesting that an American author has greater feel and visualization for one of Great Britain's greatest literary heroes than his British predecessor, John Gardner. Well done Mister Benson and I look forward to many more James Bond novels from your pen.

James Bond goes to Hong Kong to investigate a series of terrorist attacks.He encounters many seductive and impressive villians,and theres a great Bond girl.Lots of cool and interesting fight scenes.Benson does a great job with his first novel.It kept me hooked till the end,which,im sorry to say,was a bit dissapointing.A few of the villian deaths were expected and uninteresting and lacked creativity.Other than this,its a great read.A must have!

Benson is a brilliant succeseser to Fleming.The plot is really on the edge-of-your-seat.The best parts were the Australian dessert;the albinos;the lap dance and the show down on a taipan in Hong Kong. This book is worth reading.If you want to learn how to play mahjiong read this book.