Bond, James Bond is among the most popular heroes on the planet, first thanks to Ian Fleming's novels, and then because of one of the most successful film series ever. But if you think everything about Agent 007 has already been written and seen, you are certainly mistaken. With "Forever and a Day" Anthony Horowitz serves up a genuine spy masterpiece, an official sequel to Bond's story, written with the idea and approval of Fleming's heirs. One of the best contemporary masters of crime plots makes a new beginning to the adventures of the legendary spy – with style, with tension, and with a maturity that only Horowitz can lend him.
The novel takes us back to where everything begins – to the very start of James Bond's career. An agent has met his death while carrying out his assigned task. British intelligence needs a replacement for him. Then he appears – self-assured, determined, quick-witted and ruthless. James is thrilled by his first meeting with M himself, impatient to receive his licence to kill and to plunge into his first mission. Yet he is only just learning his way in the world of international espionage, with a mixture of naivety and cool composure, and is far from prepared for what lies ahead.
Bond lands in the South of France and comes face to face with Jean Paul Scipio – a monstrous Corsican gangster, leader of the local underworld. Scipio is the quintessential villain of the Agent 007 world, with a frightening appearance, who profits from drug distribution and is ready to resort to every form of violence to protect his business. Around him hovers the deadly Sixtine, a mysterious and inventive former agent who is both a mirror image and a counterpoint to the young Bond. She is connected to Hugo Wolfe, a wealthy American industrialist involved in sinister international games.
From the grim streets of Marseille to the luxurious casinos of the Riviera, from the murderous networks of the underworld to a dangerous new form of organised crime – this is a world in which only Bond can venture and survive. He is not only a skilful spy but also a man who is still learning – he makes mistakes, underestimates his enemies, takes all kinds of risks, but never gives up and ultimately prevails – with class, wit and cold determination. This first official mission of his will turn him into the well-known icon and includes car chases, storming heavily guarded locations, sophisticated drinks and an atmosphere steeped in French charm and international intrigue.
Anthony Horowitz does not merely resurrect James Bond – he breathes new life into him. With his characteristic precision, the writer weaves into the narrative unpublished drafts by Ian Fleming himself, which gives the novel an authenticity rarely found. Every twist is like a well-judged blow. Every scene is like a frame from a great spy film. But what makes "Forever and a Day" so special is Horowitz's ability to remain faithful to the spirit of the classic Bond while presenting him from a contemporary perspective and adding depth to his character. He takes us back to a time when espionage was carried out in quite elementary ways compared with today's technological possibilities, yet he combines elegance, class, tension and literary brilliance in a novel that will leave you breathless.
