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 enlarge | Author: Sebastian Faulks
Publisher: Penguin
Category: Book
List Price: £18.99
Buy New: £5.00
You Save: £13.99 (74%)
New (35) Used (22) Collectible (20) from £3.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  79 reviews
Sales Rank: 137
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0718153766
EAN: 9780718153762
ASIN: 0718153766
Publication Date: May 28, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: unwanted gift
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| Customer Reviews:
 More parody than pastiche, Mr Bond September 15, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
As someone who has recently read all of the Fleming Bond novels I feel I have a fairly good grasp of their style and tone. It seems Faulks does too but unfortunately although he may technically be a better writer than Fleming (something which is apparent in the early sections of the book particularly) that doesn't mean he's entirely comfortable with this genre or the type of stories Fleming wrote for Bond. This is all too obvious throughout much of 'Devil May Care'. Fleming's Bond stories were often preposterous and towards the end the author started to copy his older material even to the point of parody. Here Faulks does much the same thing, often painfully aping older Fleming characters or story elements, or intentionally imitating Fleming's decidedly un-PC stance to women and homosexuals. But often what Faulks seems to regard as playful homage feels more like clumsy parody.
The plot is patchy but again that's nothing new for a Bond novel, but this does feel like one of Fleming's later (or less successful) plots. All the classic characters are there and feel about right but it's almost like Faulks is ticking them off a checklist rather than doing them justice.
At least one of the plot twists (about two thirds of the way through) is completely pointless and feels like padding (it covers a couple of chapters). It's inconsistent, makes little sense and serves little purpose to the story. Surely someone as smart as Faulks realised this so is he being purposefully ironic or has he been reduced to writing the equivalent of a Hollywood blockbuster - adding pointless set pieces to the plot just because that's what is required.
And the final key twist that is 'revealed' right near the end of the book is extremely predictable. Faulks hammers it home nearly every time a particular character appears so I'm fairly sure it would be obvious to anyone over the age of twelve. This particular twist is also odd given M's knowledge of Bond's character and private life. Overall, a pointless attempt to do something different in a novel that is otherwise rather too safe.
I'll admit that at times I was very impressed and overall I did enjoy reading 'Devil May Care'. It was easy to read, it has some fine moments, and genuinely makes for a welcome addition to the list of Bond novels, but it's inferior to many of the Fleming originals (which it tries and often clumsily fails to be so loyal to) and hardly feels like the landmark event in publishing that it's been heralded as.
I'm currently reading the late John Gardner's 'Licence Renewed' from 1981, the first major attempt to relaunch the Bond book franchise and although it's not standard Fleming fare I have to admit that I'm enjoying it more than 'Devil May Care' which sadly runs close at times to being more parody than pastiche.
 Fleming returns through Faulkes September 14, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The depth of the original Bond books was the appeal in my eyes, and the new novel 'Devil May Care' lives up to the detailed and exquisite Bond lifestyle that any reader of Fleming's books will appreciate, with a depth of characters and ever changing scenery, the story flows well, with a mellifluous mixture of action, dialogue and descriptive prose. A great read, and a great resurrection of the style of writing.
Superb.
James Bond by numbers September 12, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Anyone who likes James Bond will like this book, though probably for different reasons. This is James Bond by numbers: sexy bond girl; technology; fast cars; a little chauvinism; and an intelligent villain with a physical deformity.
Those people, like me, who enjoy the simple entertainment value of James Bond, secretly wishing that they were James Bond, will enjoy this book. It's a proper boy's own adventure stuff.
Those James Bond aficionados loyal to the memory Fleming, who feel disgusted by the idea that someone else could write a James Bond novel, will also enjoy this book. Judging by some of the reviews they will enjoy the pedantry of finding fault with this book. e.g that James Bond isn't like this or that he would/wouldn't do that in that situation.
I say live and let live!
 True to the original... September 12, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Don't expect the Bond of the films, you will be disappointed. This book follows the path of Fleming's original 1960s spy thriller formula, replicating it to perfection.
The evil Dr Julius Gorner is the classic Fleming villain, complete with grotesque deformity and ugly hatred of humanity. I loved the refined gastronomic descriptions, the tasteful sartorial elegance, as Bond and love interest eat and sleep their way across continents.
'Devil May Care' is an explosive mix of gourmet food, tailored clothes, beautiful women and 1960s espionage as Bond confronts evil, escapes its clutches, saves the world and gets his girl.
 Dreary and over-hyped September 9, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Faulks has done a fine job mimicking Ian Fleming's style of writing - but other than the fact Devil May Care celebrates the centenary of Fleming's birth - why on earth bother? Without the link to Bond or the Fleming heritage, this thriller wouldn't have made it to anything other than the remainder bin - it's pedestrian, dated and poor in terms of plotting and style.
Things start well enough, but the plot deteriorates the moment the action moves to the dreary setting that is the Middle East. Faulks seems to have tipped his hat to most of the Bond titles, but seems less sure-footed describing food, drink and things in general that made Fleming stand out in his day. It's also a bit flakey when it comes to describing technology - Fleming gave the impression he knew his stuff - Faulks doesn't.
Most interesting of all perhaps - Faulks does capture accurately the boredom that crept into Fleming's writing. About half way through most of his books, Fleming grew bored with proceedings and tended to rattle off highly unconvincing endings. So it is with Devil May Care - with a rush to ludicrously outlandish action sequences that wouldn't have been out of place in the films. The Bond franchise continues to draw us in as an audience - but for all the hype and gloss surrounding the publication of this new novel - it's mediocre at best -a triumph of style over content, which was pretty much the Fleming way.
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