Anthony Horowitz's James Bond novel - Trigger Mortis

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  • Bounine wrote: »
    Mrcoggins wrote: »

    That strikes me as quite expensive for what it is caveat emptor .

    A beautiful looking book.

    PussyNoMore has the complete set of Flemings in the Easton leather bound edition but won't be investing in this.
    He already has both the Waterston and Goldsboro special editions - both signed and there is a limit to how much TM a man needs.
    If he didn't have the aforementioned, he'd probably go for it.


  • Posts: 9,731
    Finally finished Trigger mortis

    overall it wasn't horrible and it wasn't amazing. I can see why fans enjoyed it largely due to it being far better then Solo (at least bond does something in this book) but in terms of overall feel I don't feel it's as good as Fleming or Benson (who is still my personal favorite sorry) and I rank it either equal or just below Amis

    I will pick up the next book likely as a hardcover and read it along with everyone else but I don't think Horowitz is amazing he isn't bad and I still dislike the period piece stuff (plus so what now like the films the novels are going to just plow through all the unused fleming stuff for new novels really we can't try something original and new)


    Sin is an ok villain his end felt weak though (to action move clichéd in my opinion along with a Schwarzeneggar esque one liner) Jeopardy is slightly bland (Uhm why does she sleep with bond again?)

    and I could of gone without the Fan service and home drama of Bond Pussy and the Race Car driver... but over all the novel was good and at least it didn't bore me as much as Solo did.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 7,948
    Well the Bond - Pussy drama is probably based on the Bond - Tiffany feud in FRWL. But there it serves a purpose, whereas in this book it doesn't, and doesn't make much sense either.
  • Posts: 4,325
    The whole Pussy Galore aspect was pointless and was only there to show us that Bond can't live with someone - could have been done in a better and less wieldy manner.
  • Posts: 676
    Finally going to dig into Trigger Mortis this week. I've been avoiding this thread so I don't run into spoilers... When I'm done the book, I'll make sure to post a review.
  • Posts: 5,767
    Enjoy the book, @Milovy, we´re curious about your thoughts afterwards.
  • edited March 2017 Posts: 676
    Trigger Mortis Review

    I haven’t read much of the continuation novels. After reading COLD and half of The Man with the Red Tattoo, I decided I didn’t need to read any more of Gardner or Benson. (A look through the MI6Community thread called “Things that you feel didn’t belong in the James Bond Novels” suggests this was the right decision.)

    Fleming’s books have always been half the equation in my fandom. So I was intrigued by reviews that called Trigger Mortis closer to Fleming than any of the other continuations (due in part, no doubt, to the use of Fleming material). At last, spurred on by the fact that Horowitz will be writing another Bond, I decided to check out his first Bond book.

    I’m happy to report that I enjoyed it. Horowitz (no relation to Sol) provides a good amount of detail – likely culled from things he saw or researched – which is an important part of Fleming’s style. It grounds the whole thing in the real world. This is true especially in the early chapters set in the world of racing and in the descriptions of Bond’s hand-to-hand combat.

    Bond competing on the racetrack is a great premise. It’s a natural extension of the character’s love of vehicles and the race really felt dangerous and strenuous. I would have enjoyed another chapter set at Nürburgring – perhaps a whole chapter for setting up the race, or maybe split the race itself into two chapters. I particularly liked Bond requesting his gas tank be only a quarter full. Very clever.

    On the whole, the writing is good. Horowitz also clearly knows his Fleming. This is to his advantage in recalling all of Bond’s habits, but the constant references to previous Bond adventures kept pulling me out of the story. There are maybe four references to Dr. No alone. The worst was when I was mentally comparing the Blue Diamond compound to Enterprises Auric (or Auric Enterprises, from the movie version of Goldfinger), and then Bond made the same comparison. A handful of tasteful references in the first half of the book would have been fun, but this was just overboard.

    I enjoyed the extension of Pussy Galore’s story. We get to see how keeping a woman around can interfere with Bond’s job, and Pussy and Bond’s fling is taken to its natural conclusion: it was nice to take a roll in the hay with a man, but her affections will always lie with women (a development that seems to laugh in the face of the idea that Bond “converted” her from lesbianism, and rightly so).

    Bond, of course, is drawn to the strong Pussy Galore, the woman-in-a-man’s-world Logan Fairfax, and the woman with a boy’s haircut and rear end, Jeopardy Lane. The vague homoeroticism of these attractions amused me. But just for the sake of variety, I would have liked Jeopardy to be more feminine. Regardless, Horowitz nailed the push-and-pull between Bond’s attraction to women and the necessity of focusing on his work.

    Bond’s up against a complicated plot here. Luckily, he’s a pretty clever guy – he’s good at pulling information out of conversations like the one with Captain Lawrence or the first meeting with Jason Sin. Speaking of Sin – I initially had a good impression of him. We haven’t had a Korean main villain before, and I love how he’s been given a corny Westernised version of his name. His decrepit living/working space in the castle, along with the burned-out eyes of the portraits, is really creepy, and the Hanafuda card game is horrifying.

    But Sin ended up disappointing me. He seems too lucid of his own villainy (saying more than once that he “feels nothing”) and he gives away so much during the dinner conversation that Bond’s victory stems mainly from Sin’s stupidity. Although the “fallacy of the talking killer” is a common Bond trope, it is one that every Bond writer must be aware of and fight against. If you simply surrender to the trope, as Horowitz seems to have done, the villain just looks like a fool.

    I did, however, appreciate Sin’s history lesson on the Korean War, and Bond trying to “cheat” death by cheating the card game – along with Sin throwing a tantrum over not being able to control the outcome – is fantastic. This, along with Bond being buried alive, is probably the highlight of the book. Fantastic stuff.

    The plot is solid, too. SMERSH’s activities, meddling in racecars and rockets alike, are driven by hubris. And Bond definitely gets put through the wringer. The action at the motel is really good, and I enjoyed following Bond’s thought processes about the bomb, its planned use, his own use of the C4, etc.

    I am not so sure Horowitz sticks the landing. The final scene between Bond and Sin feels like something from a bad action movie, and the Vanguard rocket’s failure is oddly placed, coming after the failure of Sin’s plan (which made the Vanguard’s failure mean nothing more than the failure of any other rocket).

    Anyway, it was a good read. The Fleming material was great (would love to see it adapted in the film series) and Horowitz has an inventive mind. I look forward to Horowitz’ next Bond book. I am glad to see that, like Trigger Mortis, it will not be set after TMWTGG (the point at which I imagine Bond to be nearing retirement).
    Bounine wrote: »
    I didn't like the "saving the world" remarks that Pussy made to Bond.
    I also didn’t care for the appearance of the phrase “world domination.”
  • stagstag In the thick of it!
    Posts: 1,053
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    stag wrote: »
    I have had TM sitting on my bookshelf since it first came out. I promised myself I would read it when I had finished my book. Unfortunately my ambition was dashed for when that was published I immediately set to work on the second!

    I will read it one day!

    I know the feeling!

    I still haven't got round to reading it!

  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    edited March 2017 Posts: 7,948
    @Milovy thank you for that extended review. Maybe I should go read it again, as much of it seems to have slipped my mind.
  • Posts: 9,731
    Like I said post Solo I can understand why people enjoy the book as Bond does something but for me... I prefer Carte Blanche in terms of the past decade of bond novels as again I love bond in the modern times (hence why the comic book series is cool to me) but the novels are now stuck in the 50's so be it.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    stag wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    stag wrote: »
    I have had TM sitting on my bookshelf since it first came out. I promised myself I would read it when I had finished my book. Unfortunately my ambition was dashed for when that was published I immediately set to work on the second!

    I will read it one day!

    I know the feeling!

    I still haven't got round to reading it!

    Me either, @stag. I'm really terrible in fact!
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    Nice review, @Milovy. (Both COLD and Red Tattoo were recent reads of mine, coincidentally, and I didn't go a bundle on either.)

    I found the 'buried alive!' scene absolutely terrifying, and I liked the little detail of Bond drawing on his experience in a submarine to deal with it. I read in Andrew Lycett's biography that Ian Fleming had a similar brief go in a sub, and I think it was excellent craftsmanship on Horowitz's part to work that in.
  • Posts: 676
    @Milovy thank you for that extended review. Maybe I should go read it again, as much of it seems to have slipped my mind.
    Cheers.
    Agent_99 wrote: »
    Nice review, @Milovy. (Both COLD and Red Tattoo were recent reads of mine, coincidentally, and I didn't go a bundle on either.)

    I found the 'buried alive!' scene absolutely terrifying, and I liked the little detail of Bond drawing on his experience in a submarine to deal with it. I read in Andrew Lycett's biography that Ian Fleming had a similar brief go in a sub, and I think it was excellent craftsmanship on Horowitz's part to work that in.
    It was an excellent chapter. I noticed Horowitz mentioned Lycett's book in the acknowledgements, so I figured he drew on Fleming's life for inspiration. It's a great way to approach the task of writing a Bond story, considering Fleming often drew on his own life experiences for Bond.
  • Posts: 352
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Like I said post Solo I can understand why people enjoy the book as Bond does something but for me... I prefer Carte Blanche in terms of the past decade of bond novels as again I love bond in the modern times (hence why the comic book series is cool to me) but the novels are now stuck in the 50's so be it.

    I enjoyed Carte Blanche as well, and had hoped that Jeffrey Deaver would make at least one more return. Not so sure why the book was panned as much as it was. I didn't mind the modern setting at all. Certainly a way to spice up the literary part.
  • Posts: 4,622
    @bounine

    Cole's Young Bond I'd say is a maturing, quite formidable 15 as opposed to the younger 13-14 we saw in the Higson books.
    I've finished Cole #3 Strike Lightning. Young Bond has friends along for the ride, but they kind of parallel I think, adult Bond's allies, and of course the lead Bond Girl and other femmes drawn to the Bond persona.
    As for Pearson, the authors post Gardner and Benson (both adult Bond and YB) have clearly dropped Pearson's post-Fleming continuity.
    It's a post Fleming reboot. New approach. I'm OK with it, even if I do really like what Pearson did, but the new breed clearly want a clean slate.
  • Posts: 520
    Milovy wrote: »
    Trigger Mortis Review



    Anyway, it was a good read. The Fleming material was great (would love to see it adapted in the film series) and Horowitz has an inventive mind. I look forward to Horowitz’ next Bond book. I am glad to see that, like Trigger Mortis, it will not be set after TMWTGG (the point at which I imagine Bond to be nearing retirement).

    A good summation and PussyNoMore agrees that he should cut back on references to previous missions. A couple to indicate his time line would suffice.
    Great that Horowitz is continuing and if you liked TM you will love Colonel Sun. The only two continuation novels that come close to the master.
  • edited April 2017 Posts: 2,594
    Milovy wrote: »
    Trigger Mortis Review



    Anyway, it was a good read. The Fleming material was great (would love to see it adapted in the film series) and Horowitz has an inventive mind. I look forward to Horowitz’ next Bond book. I am glad to see that, like Trigger Mortis, it will not be set after TMWTGG (the point at which I imagine Bond to be nearing retirement).

    A good summation and PussyNoMore agrees that he should cut back on references to previous missions. A couple to indicate his time line would suffice.
    Great that Horowitz is continuing and if you liked TM you will love Colonel Sun. The only two continuation novels that come close to the master.

    I like Trigger Mortis but I'm not a big fan of Colonel Sun. :)

    @timmer I stopped reading Strike Lightning half way through. I'm going to continue reading it closer to the time the new one comes out which is supposed to be Cole's last Young Bond. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

    That person who wrote the review on Amazon can't have even read the book when he spoke about Bond being without his friends on the train. I don't know why Cole has to have Bond working in a team all the time.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Agent_99 wrote: »

    Wow, pretty cool news.
  • Doubtless in 2018, PussyNoMore will be the first with his hand in his pocket but he has to say the three year hiatus between novels won’t be helping the franchise.
    Although not particularly a fan of the movies, PussyNoMore detects that stepping off the two year launch rhythm is also diminishing interest in the movies.
    A lot can happen in three years and IFP should have moved quicker to secure Horowitz after TM.
    PussyNoMore thinks they should have given him a three book deal for delivery in ‘17, ‘19, ‘21
  • Posts: 11,119
    I loved the novel. This is one of the continuation novel that could be perfectly adapted to the big screen. It has so many things that we haven't seen in a Bond film before. Basically, this novel inspired me to write a story treatment that is set in today's time, for Daniel Craig:
    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/17687/james-bond-007-in-murder-on-wheels-a-story-treatment-update-aston-martin-now-a-formula-1-team#latest

    Just imagine if John Frankenheimer was still alive and would be asked to direct this film.
  • DoctorNoDoctorNo USA-Maryland
    Posts: 754
    If you read his twitter post, he answered a few fan questions... he's on the second draft; if it goes on schedule it's out next year; it may have parts in France; he's not allowed to confirm where in Bonds timeline it will take place (I thought I read somewhere it's pre-CR, but that may be rumor); the title is agreed on and should hopefully be announced soon...
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I thought it was going to be a direct prequel to Casino Royale. Or indirect.
  • edited October 2017 Posts: 17,241
    Really liked the timeline TM was set in. Would like the next one to continue somewhere around where TM ended.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    Really liked the timeline TM was set in. Would like the next one to continue somewhere around where TM ended.

    Agreed @Torgeirtrap, however the idea of a prequel to CR is exciting too!
  • Posts: 17,241
    Really liked the timeline TM was set in. Would like the next one to continue somewhere around where TM ended.

    Agreed @Torgeirtrap, however the idea of a prequel to CR is exciting too!

    Indeed. I just hope it doesn't become something like a "young Bond meets adult Bond" thing, and stays as close to the timeline of CR as possible.
  • DoctorNoDoctorNo USA-Maryland
    Posts: 754
    Yeah I thought it was a tie into CR too, but I don't remember where I saw it. Assume the publisher is telling him to hold off that discussion for later publicity.
  • DoctorNoDoctorNo USA-Maryland
    Posts: 754
    He tweeted Bond due in Autumn next year
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    I wouldn’t mind a story about his time in the navy, I wouldn’t want it to be anything like young Bond either though
  • In an unguarded moment, he did confirm to a fan that it would be a prequel to CR.
    Hopefully this will prove to be the case. It will give him the literary freedom to flesh out the character and how he came to be with the 00 section.
    We will see - PussyNoMore is excited.
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