Bond tale just like the real thing
ForeverandaDay ByAnthonyHorowitz, Penguin, $37
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Forever and aDay is the second James Bondnovel that Anthony Horowitzwas commissioned to write for the Ian Fleming family. It’s a prequel to the first 007story that Fleming wrote, Casino Royale. Once again Horowitz has pulled off what is a miracle really, because it can’t be easy to create a crediblenewbook that feels true to the incredible legacy that Ian Fleming delivered from Casino Royale forward, until his death in1964. Through the movie franchise that grew into an industry all onits own, James Bondis a character that still endures.
After the brutal death of one of the 00licensed to kill operatives, the rookie Bondnot only accepts the challenge of taking over the investigation that brought about his colleague’s demise, he also decides to takeon the position of 007his predecessorwasoperating under.
His Chief of Staff sees James Bondas being light on experience but high in confidence.
Bondarrives in the French Riviera ready to prove his worthiness for the assumption of the007role. We get to share someof the attributes that will becomepart of the JamesBondlegend. Can his lack of experience allow him to closedowna high level drugs operation, or will he join the previous 007’s dastardly end?
Horowitz has done an excellent job, immersinghimself, partly thanks to material that Ian Fleming’s family provided. I foundit easy to believe that thiswas a “real” JamesBond 007story, worthy of being added to the 12 novels and two sets of short stories that Fleming had delivered between 1953 and 1964. Horowitz deserves an A-plus for Forever and a Day, which is high praise indeed.
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