{"id":761,"date":"2012-12-07T15:45:42","date_gmt":"2012-12-07T22:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mattfife.com\/?p=761"},"modified":"2012-12-07T15:47:36","modified_gmt":"2012-12-07T22:47:36","slug":"on-her-majestys-secret-service-ian-fleming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mattfife.com\/?p=761","title":{"rendered":"On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – Ian Fleming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Completed another of Fleming’s James Bond novels: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The story:<\/strong>
\nThis has to be one of the more interesting of Fleming’s Bond novels.\u00a0 Bond is fed up.\u00a0 He’s been chasing down the escaped SPECTRE leader Blofeld for over a year with nothing to show for it, nor any proof Blofeld is even still alive.\u00a0 In the midst of a hiatus gambling at the same casino as found in Casino Royale, he encounters Tracy.\u00a0 At the end of her rope, he rescues her from her own self-destructive behavior and finds he’s just rescued the daughter of a noted organized crime boss.\u00a0 Her father makes him a proposition of marrying his daughter to end her downward spiral.\u00a0 Bond is somewhat captivated by this girl and agrees to see her again after she gets psychological help.<\/p>\n

Bond then gets a lead on Blofeld via an unlikely source – the bureau of heraldry and lineage.\u00a0 Seems Blofeld is attempting to prove his lineage and unwittingly gives up his position.\u00a0 He’s apparently running a private ski resort high in the Alps with a ‘treatment center’.\u00a0 Bond pretends to be from the heraldry society and there he discovers the treatment center is really a brainwashing center for his nefarious plans. Bond attempts to shut down Blofeld’s operation in typical gunfire and explosion fashion; and is re-united with Tracy.\u00a0 A final battle ensues and we get a wrenching ending.<\/p>\n

My take:<\/strong>
\nOne of Fleming’s more interesting novels.\u00a0 Not particularly for the nefariousness of the villian (though they are pretty good and the ski chase scene over the top), but for Bond’s personal relationship with Tracy.\u00a0 Rarely do we see this much of Bond’s inner workings.
\n<spoiler bits >
\nJames Bond ‘in love’?\u00a0 Going to get married?\u00a0 The nonchalance that Bond considers the union is pretty interesting.\u00a0 Is that how marriage was decided back in the day?\u00a0 Despite some glaring differences, he chugs right on along.\u00a0 It seems he only gives a solid page’s thought to the matter and decides, “Aw heck – why not?’.<\/span>
\n<\/spoilers><\/p>\n

At any rate, if you’d like some decent (but not spectacular) adventure with one of the few times we see Bond in a relationship – then this is a great book.\u00a0 Rating: B<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Completed another of Fleming’s James Bond novels: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service The story: This has to be one of the more interesting of Fleming’s Bond novels.\u00a0 Bond is fed up.\u00a0 He’s been chasing down the escaped SPECTRE leader Blofeld for over a year with nothing to show for it, nor any proof Blofeld is even still alive.\u00a0 In the midst of a hiatus gambling at the same casino as found in Casino Royale, he encounters Tracy.\u00a0 At the end…<\/p>\n

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