Bond

Bond is back. Well, actually he's never really gone away, but there have been a couple of pieces of good news over the last month or so. Firstly we can look forward to a new Bond novel this May, and secondly, the next Bond film is back on track after some uncertainty regarding MGM's precarious finances, and it should be released towards the end of next year.

Since Casino Royale first appeared in 1952, Bond hasn't been out of print. His popularity, and the willingness of Fleming's estate to work with others, has meant that the stories available for fans now go way beyond the original 14 books written by Ian Fleming before his early death in 1964. Other authors who have penned Bond books have included:

• Kingsley Amis, who wrote Colonel Sun under the name Robert Markham;
• John Gardner, who kept the franchise going in the 80s and 90s and kept Bond up to date;
• Charlie Higson (Swiss Tony himself!), who has brought a new generation to Bond through the Young Bond adventures; and
• Sebastian Faulks, who penned Devil May Care in Fleming's centenary year.

This year we will be able to add another name to this list, that of Jeffrey Deaver, who's thrilled us with the Lincoln Rhyme series in recent years. The new novel will be called Carte Blanche, will be at least partly set in Dubai, and will be a current day story.

Faulks took a different view when writing Devil May Care, which I bought as soon as it came out, and which I have only just got around to reading. The story picks up in the 60s where Fleming left off, and the author does a great job of capturing Fleming's style. He's also made sure that we have a fine collection of Bond trademarks in the book. Bond's first face to face encounter with the villain of the piece is when challenging him to a sporting contest. Not golf at Royal St George's this time, but tennis at a club in Paris. The villain is also a cheat, and has his henchman help him in trying to deceive Bond to gain an unfair advantage. The henchman even has a funny hat - just not a killer bowler this time!

Bond is sent to investigate the villain (Gorner) and his suspicious activities, gets captured (along with the girl, obviously) and is taken to the villain's remote hideaway / headquarters. There he is able to discover what's going on, is set to completing tasks and challenges that nearly kill him, makes good his escape and saves the day. Once the world has been saved, the disgruntled villain comes after Bond, giving Bond an ideal opportunity to finish him off. Mathis, Leiter, M and Moneypenny all get parts to play in proceedings as well. Oh, and guess what - Bond gets the girl! Vintage stuff!