As a veteran fan of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, I was enthralled to hear that Sebastian Faulks would be attempting to bring not only the literary Bond, but Fleming’s Bond back to life in Devil May Care, which was written and released to mark the centennial anniversary of Fleming’s birth. Fans had been promised the return of several memorable characters, including the SIS staff, René Mathis, and this site’s favorite, Felix Leiter. We’d also been promised a classic villain in the Fleming style, a luscious leading lady as only Fleming could conceive, and a lush travelogue full of suspense and excitement. The story would be taking place shortly after Fleming’s The Man with the Golden Gun in 1967. All was as it should be.

So, how was it?

While it is a good book overall, I’m afraid it isn’t the messianic continuation novel that many fans had built it up in their minds to be. Faulks (who has been given many well-deserved accolades for his work thus far) managed to reproduce Fleming’s writing style and tone quite well; however, the story feels like little more than a pastiche of former Fleming adventures. The plot centers on Dr. Julius (No?) Gorner and his plans to wreak havoc on Britain’s citizens by addicting as many as possible to heroin, thus discrediting England in the world community and plunging their culture into ruin. I liked the idea of the villain taking revenge on Britain for wronging him; I liked it better, though, when Hugo Drax did it in Moonraker. I also liked the tension-wracked tennis match in which Bond took on a cheating Gorner; I liked it better when it was the bridge match with Drax or the golf game with Goldfinger. Also, the ally in Tehran, Darius, was a rather obvious homage to Darko Kerim in almost every single way.

And the girl-she was an interesting character, with a name that played on the flower from which opium is derived (the Poppy); Again, a choice made with a good intention of giving tribute, but which came off as a lack of originality. What was original, though, was the full revelation of her role in the story. Well done.

One flaw that many Fleming fans have noted is that Faulks seemed to feel the need to hit all items on the “Fleming checklist”; that is, he had Bond in nearly every familiar situation previously introduced in the earlier novels (like placing hairs across doorways and taking hot/ice cold showers, or recalling situations in specific former adventures) as if to scream “It’s the same Bond! Honest!” Frankly, I believe he needed not been so heavy handed in his approach. Fleming fans will detect even more situations, characters, and places that obviously echo the original counterparts in the Fleming adventures.

Now, the question all Felix Leiter fans have been wondering…How was Felix handled?

While the characterization was done respectfully and brought back warm memories of Fleming’s lanky Texan, the details regarding Leiter’s maiming in Live and Let Die were completely wrong (I assume Faulks felt the need to recall these details for the benefit of readers who had never read Fleming). First, he said it was a hammerhead that maimed him. Fleming never alluded to the possibility of it having been a hammerhead, and even suggested that it might be a much more deadly species (EON Productions’ Licence To Kill conjectures a Great White shark). Second, Faulks says that it was the right arm and leg. With all due respect to Mr. Faulks, this is simply bad research. Fleming clearly stated in Diamonds Are Forever that it was the right arm and left leg. Third, Faulks gives the location as having been Miami. This isn’t even close. It had been in St. Petersburg, which is nowhere near Miami by any estimation. I was shocked to see such obvious discrepancies here, especially because this was intended to be the definitive continuation novel, set specifically in Fleming’s universe and told through his own voice.

While I was disappointed with this misstep, I was satisfied overall with Felix’s role in the story and his relationship with Bond. Much like the end of The Man with the Golden Gun, the reader gets the sense that these men are like brothers. I am thankful that Faulks chose to include him in the story.

All in all, Devil May Care left me feeling mostly satisfied. While I do wish he had chosen not to pay as much homage to Fleming’s characters and plots, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found it to be the most satisfying continuation Bond novel I’ve read yet. Most readers will not have as many gripes about the lack of original details as the hardcore Fleming readers, and even the veteran literary fans will get swept up in the action whether they have reservations about the details or not. I would recommend to all fans to go ahead and purchase this one. And my advice to you readers out there-like Fleming’s stories, Devil May Care is best to read while either traveling or in the comfort of one’s own bed.

00Twelve’s Rating: ***1/2

Righty007’s Rating: ****