William boyds james bond book is, if anything, superior to some of ian flemings originals, writes euan ferguson. The book is the scarce varient, with the red text block. Solo, a new james bond novel, by william boyd the new. An as new, unread, first edition copy in dust wrapper, signed and dated by the author to the title page. Boyd used bond creator ian fleming as a character in his novel any human heart. I especially enjoyed the action in africa and london and found the book to be suitably detailed and entertaining. A seasoned veteran of the service, 007 is sent to singlehandedly stop a civil war in the small west african nation of zanzarim. I loved bond going solo one of the striking things in the book for me was the character of m being male. For the spys latest revival, james bonds new controller blends his african expertise into the classic mix. I read the first chapter of william boyds take on bond in the grill at the dorchester immediately after the press conference for solo jonathan cape.
He has successfully written many novels that are quite popular all over the world. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Solo, a new james bond novel by william boyd, is a shaky story that. William boyd is the author of eleven novels including a good man in africa, winner of the whitbread award and the somerset maugham award. Boyd was born on march 7, 1952 in accra, ghana in a scottish descent. William boyd is also the author of a good man in africa, winner of the whitbread award and the somerset maugham award. Sebastian faulkes did it with devil may care which was a flemingesque adventure for bond. A bond book is a tough gig, but boyds authentically written attempt entertains more than it exasperates, says richard williams. A james bond novel william boyd download free ebook. Its a curious phenomenon, the rise of the semicanonical sequel. While working on moonraker, the third of his 14 bond books. William boyd wisely uses his own experiences and crafts them into a worthy bond novel with a plot that differs a bit from flemings ideas.
Acclaimed british author william boyd was tapped last year to write the latest james bond novel. It is 1969 and james bond is about to go solo, recklessly motivated by reveng. So i dont know how this version of william boyd s bond is in just with the original double agent. He grew up there, and then went to university in nice, glasgow and oxford. Solo, a new james bond novel by william boyd, is a shaky story that leaves spy writer jon stock curiously unstirred. Solo boyd novel solo is a james bond continuation novel written by william boyd. Solo by william boyd author autographed hardcover book first edition, first printing, mint, newunread in a flawless dust jacket in archival acetate cover, signed by the author. Sweet caress by william boyd nook book ebook barnes. Solo, a new james bond novel, by william boyd the new york.
William boyds solo, a james bond novel the new york times. He has won many awards including the whitbread first novel, the john llewellyn rhys prize, the james tait black memorial prize and the sunday express book of the year award. Solo is a james bond continuation novel written by william boyd. A james bond novel james bond novels paperback 97800622235.
The british writer has taken on the fictional spy in solo, a new 007 novel that balances fidelity to ian flemings iconic character with subtle changes. William boyd books list of books by author william boyd. British writer william boyd, who has written a new official james bond novel authorised by creator ian flemings family, says daylewis would be perfect to play the 007 he has created in solo. Brazzaville beach, winner of the james tait black memorial prize. Author william boyd poses for photographers with one of the first copies of his new james bond book solo, in front of a jensen car outside the. Boyd takes his time introducing the main plot, first giving us a glimpse via a dream and some resurfacing memories of a fascinating chapter from james bonds past, then unfolds a fun flirtation with an engaging woman who captures bonds attention. Such was the anticipation of the release of solo bbc radio 4 chose it as their books at bedtime book for between 111 october. William boyds solo is boldest departure of new james bond series. William boyd is the author of eleven novels, including a good man in africa, winner of the whitbread award and the somerset maugham award. See all books authored by william boyd, including any human heart, and restless, and more on. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. Solo by william boyd harks back to the fleming i especially like the idea of different authors doing a bond story, it gives the reader a slightly different take on the 007 franchise. Fleming recruits the books protagonist, logan mountstuart, to british naval intelligence during world war two. In true bond style the plot remains under wraps until publication on 26 september 20.
Boyd is a brilliant storyteller and the interwoven plots and surprises of solo are often superior to flemings own narrative stunts. In william boyds james bond novel, solo, set in 1969, 007 is dispatched by m to. The story was abridged by libby spurrier and was read by paterson joseph. In william boyds james bond novel, solo, set in 1969, 007 is dispatched by m to stop a war in the fictional state of zanzarim in west africa. Fans of the original fleming novels will find much to enjoy.
In william boyds continuation of ian flemings spy series, 007 is dispatched to. An icecream war, winner of the john llewellyn rhys prize and shortlisted for the booker prize. William boyd is a ghanaianborn british author of novels and screenplays. Combining all the glamour and excitement of ian flemings original novels with the masterful storytelling of william boyd, solo is a stylish, period novel featuring 007 as a veteran agent at 45. Which doesnt mean that solo, by william boyd, isnt a perfectly wellcarpentered and, at times, suspenseful novel. If you alter the location to miami or jamaica or perhaps royale leseaux in northern france this could almost be a description from a james bond novel. Its a return to the nursery, a kind of fanfiction, and a reluctance to accept that the final page of the book is the end of the story. William boyd, authorized by the ian fleming estate to write a new james bond book, has set his novel in africa. William boyd dons the mantle of the late great ian fleming, with his latest outing solo, and despite being a fan of both boyd and bond, i had rather a mixed response overall boyd takes us back to the swinging sixties with our ubiquitous hero celebrating his birthday and in pensive mood, but then quickly being commissioned to thwart a civil war in a small african nation. Anyone wishing this autumn to enjoy the cold war with the assurance of a happy ending should seek out william boyds new james bond novel, solo, in which 007 is dispatched to west africa and the fictitious country of zanzarim, where he finds himself in the midst of a civil war. Solo never fails to keep the reader on the edge of his chair. It was published in the uk by jonathan cape on 26 september 20 in hardback, e book and audio editions, and in the us by harpercollins on 8 october 20. Boyd takes his time introducing the main plot, first giving us a glimpse via a dream and some resurfacing memories of a fascinating chapter from james bonds past, then unfolds a fun flirtation with an engaging woman who captures bond.
Bond is back, in william boyds new novel solo the hindu. Boyds prose is crisp and clean, and the story fairly ricochets through its twists and turns as bond zips from london to africa and on to the us. On todays show, were talking about the latest james bond continuation novel solo by william boyd. The new book, called solo, takes 007 on his first trip to africa. He was tapped by the ian fleming estate to write the latest. Perhaps the reason can be gleaned from william boyds solo, the latest official bond novel. Though jago holds promise for this book, i have to mention my quick negatives. Bond ignores ms advice to take a holiday and recuperate and instead embarks upon a solo mission, from whence the books title comes, to extract revenge from.
Solo is an undistinguished title, though it appears to perfectly reflect, according to the author, the main vibe of the bond book. London ap william boyd has left james bond stirred, if not shaken. It is 1969 and james bond is about to go solo, recklessly motivated by revenge. A seasoned veteran of the service, 007 is sent to singlehandedly stop. After flemings death in 1964, imitation bond novels and films popped up, one after the other. Though boyds iteration of the character owes something to graham greenes moral melancholy, flemings bond remains recognizable. A james bond novel by william boyd signed first edition uk book see all titles by william boyd. Any human heart, winner of the prix jean monnet and adapted into a channel 4.
It was published in the uk by jonathan cape on 26 september 20 in hardback, ebook and. Though i cant say it set the world on fire for me, william boyds solo was nevertheless an enjoyable read. Perhaps the most serious author to take up the bond baton william boyd. Now, though, courtesy of debonair literary novelist william boydthe writer ian fleming publications most recently chosen to carry the bond flagwe have solo harper, an exhilarating tightrope of a tale thats also just retro enough to conjure the original books. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. It was published in the uk by jonathan cape on 26 september 20 in hardback, e book and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read solo. An icecream war, winner of the john llewellyn rhys war prize and shortlisted for the booker prize. Spies and novelists both accomplished liars, says new. Solo by william boyd one of the great strengths of the new james bond novel is that his creator could never have written it. To some degree, though, a bond book is a bond book. It also allows boyd, who has been adamant that he is writing his own book.
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