The Man with the Golden Gun

First I have to say, beware of the review by Kevin Johnson below. For whatever reason, his review describes the ridiculous plot of the movie version, not that of the book."The Man with the Golden Gun" was the final adventure of James Bond authored by Ian Fleming, and for that reason alone is a classic in the series. While a complete story in itself, it also can be regarded as the completion of an enjoyable trilogy that began with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and is followed by "You Only Live Twice." That has always been my favorite way to read this book, which I have done every few years.There are very few books which I am tempted to read again and again as I have with those three. It is fitting that Fleming's last Bond book has Bond returning to the island of Jamaica, which was the setting for two other Bond novels, and was a place that Ian Fleming knew very well, having owned a home there. Like in many of these novels, the setting's ambience becomes as every bit as critical to the story as the characters themselves.The story is refreshing because of its simplicity. No worlds on the brink of disaster plot here, as in the cartoonish films and Bond novels by other authors. Bond's mission is to assassinate an assassin in an attempt to recover his standing in the Secret Service. And the story unfolds from there.Those who expect the lack of subtlety of the films will probably deplore this book. But those who have enjoyed the Bond series by Fleming will relish the opportunity to share this last adventure with an old friend. Subsequent authors have never been able to recapture the Fleming magic.

This is an incredible novel.Heart pounding from the begging to the suspensful ending.I defenitly reccomend reading this book!

"The Man with the Golden Gun," the final Bond novel written by Ian Fleming, is an intense and thoroughly satisfying read. Bond, believed dead for a year following the events of "You Only Live Twice," returns to England. Brainwashed by the KGB, Bond attempts to assassinate M! Bond's mind is "scrubbed," and he is given a chance to redeem himself: he must take out Francisco Scaramanga, the Man with the Golden Gun, because he has been deemed too dangerous to live. Scaramanga's plan is not be as impressive as Goldfinger's or Hugo Drax's, but he is certainly in their class as a villain. With his single-action, gold-plated Colt .45 and his deadeye accuracy, Scaramanga is a villain to remeber. The novel has an almost claustrophobic feel, as Bond is confined to an unfinished hotel with his enemy. Forget about that disappointing movie, all the action is right here.

This book gets away from the complex plots and world threatening villains usually associated with many of the other books to concentrate on Bond in the limited surroundings of a half finished hotel in Jamaica with the man he is to assassinate. This book seems to centralise more on James Bond the man and his inner thoughts, the lack of action is easily made up for with the mind games between Bond and Scaramanga leading upto the final gun fight !

The last completed Bond novel by Fleming is immensely readable, compact, tension filled and poignant. Not to be missed.