Steve Cole's first two Young Bond novels were serviceable adventures with some good ideas. But Strike Lightning is a HUGE step up. In my opinion, this is far and away Steve's best Young Bond novel, and one that even challenges Charlie Higson's books. I'd even place it in my top ten best James Bond continuation novels.
What I like best about this adventure is it has a strong narrative flow and a great sense of the period (which was almost completely absent from Heads You Die). Also, this time Steve doesn't overpopulate the book with Bond's friends along for the ride. Here we only have a Bond ally (Perry Mandeville) and a Bond girl (Kitty Drift). Classic. In fact, this one truly nails all the aspects of a classic James Bond adventure, and continues the story of Young Bond very effectively. This feels like the book we've been waiting for.
Congrats to Steve Cole. His third strike is a HIT!
No sign yet of a U.S. eBook, but know that the UK editions are available via third party sellers on the U.S. Amazon.com.
What I like best about this adventure is it has a strong narrative flow and a great sense of the period (which was almost completely absent from Heads You Die). Also, this time Steve doesn't overpopulate the book with Bond's friends along for the ride. Here we only have a Bond ally (Perry Mandeville) and a Bond girl (Kitty Drift). Classic. In fact, this one truly nails all the aspects of a classic James Bond adventure, and continues the story of Young Bond very effectively. This feels like the book we've been waiting for.
Congrats to Steve Cole. His third strike is a HIT!
No sign yet of a U.S. eBook, but know that the UK editions are available via third party sellers on the U.S. Amazon.com.
Well, now I'm curious... What are your top ten continuation novels?
ReplyDeleteMine, chronologically are:
Colonel Sun
James Bond, the Spy who Loved Me
License Renewed
For Special Services
Ice Breaker
Carte Blanche
Trigger Mortis
And Higson's
Blood Fever
Double or Die
And
Hurricane Gold
Hm, that's a fun game. Not that anyone asked, but using that chronological order method, I think mine would be:
ReplyDeleteColonel Sun
James Bond, The Spy Who LOved Me
Nobody Lives Forever
Win, Lose or Die
Doubleshot
Blood Fever
Double or Die
The Moneypenny Diaries
The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant
Trigger Mortis
I ordered it from The Book Depository, since they took good care with my previous Young Bond order...
ReplyDeleteI change all the time, but would say my Top 10 in chronological order would be:
ReplyDeleteJames Bond The Authorized Biography of 007
License Renewed
Icebreaker
Nobody Lives Forever
Brokenclaw
High Time To Kill
Never Dream of Dying
Blood Fever
Solo
Trigger Mortis
So if I decide I want to add Strike Lightning, I'll need to rethink this, but it is good enough to bump one of these.
And before someone says it, no, I don't think Colonel Sun is all that. I loved it until I recently re-read it. Something changed for me.
Solo was nearly on my list, but ultimately I couldn't find a place for it. But that and Pearson hover near my Top 10!
ReplyDeleteI had the opposite experience with Colonel Sun. I re-read it last year, and found myself enjoying it far MORE than I remembered!