/ Literary 007 / 1981 - Licence Renewed /
Licence Renewed: A Summary
Written by Ross Sidor on 03 Oct, 2002
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1981 was an important year for fans of the literary Bond. For the first time in over a decade, Bond was back in print with the first 007 novel in the John Gardner era with an updated Bond for the eighties.
Looking Back: Licence Renewed
The Silver Beast
Bond is back and he’s better than ever. Miss Moneypenny thinks so. And it’s only a matter of time before Lavender Peacock, the beautiful ward of the Laird of Murcaldy, will heartily agree. Bond is drinking noticeably less these days; he’s perhaps more diligent about exercise and has a special low-tar tobacco blended for his cigarettes at Morelands of Grosvenor Street. But the 1980s have reached the department as well. Political restrains are squeezing in on the service. The elite Double-O status, for example, is being abolished. But M takes little notice of these restrictions when it comes to Bond. In M’s words, “There are moments when this country need a troubleshooter- a blunt instrument- and by heaven it’s going to have one.” One of these moments has indisputably arrived. There is something very ominous about the meeting between the international terrorist known as Franco and the renowned nuclear physicist, the Lair of Murcaldy. Someone must infiltrate the Laird’s castle, and only Bond could so deftly extract an invitation on Gold Cup Day at Ascot. Then with Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum in its secret compartment and an impressive selection Q’s latest gadgetry ingeniously dispersed throughout his luggage, Bond points the Saab 900 Turbo toward the northwest Highlands and the fun begins. John Gardner has brilliantly portrayed the most famous spy in the world as Bond pits his nerve and cunning against a dangerously deranged opponent- one prepared to sacrifice most of the Western world to prove that only he can make it safe from accidental nuclear holocaust. -Richard Marek dust jacket
There were enough people around, and Bond was well screened. Allowing himself to be jostled slightly, he now pushed his shoulders forward for added protection and bumped full into Lavender Peacock’s back. The next complicated moves took only a fraction of a second, just as he had practiced and planned them during the past few days. Keeping the left hand, which was clutching the open race card, low down by his side, Bond’s right hand moved upward to the nape of the girl’s neck. The inside of his first and second fingertips grasped the box clasp which held the pearls, lifting them away, so that no strain would be felt by their owner. At the same time, his thumb passed through the safety chain, breaking it off with a deft twist. Now the box clasp fell into position, held tightly by the thumb and forefinger. He pressed hard, tilting, and felt the clasp give way. The box clasp is constructed, as its name implies, as two metal boxes-in this case decorated by tiny pearls-which fit one inside the other. When released by pressure they fall apart, but there is an added safety feature. The inner box contains a small hook which slips around a bar in the outer box. Using the thumb and first two fingers, Bond controlled both boxes, slipping the hook from its bar. He then withdrew his hand, glancing down and dropping his race card. Silently the pearls fell to the turf. His aim and timing were perfect. The race card followed the pearls, falling flat and open on top of them. Lavender Peacock did not feel a thing, though Bond cause a minor clogging of the exit as he bent to retrieve his card, lifting the pearls with it, so that they were securely held inside the card. - Chapter 6, Licence Renewed |
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