Modern Classics On Her Majestys Secret Service (Paperback)

The beginning of the book has Bond rescuing a suicidal woman from a beach. Bond at this point of his spy career is bad. He wants a discharge from the service in order to possibly start a family. In the meantime he meets the same woman at a French casino where he saves her at the table. Her name is Tracy, a spoiled and hard-nosed girl who is exactly a contessa and daughter of a crime boss. Later on the story takes a sudden turn. Tracy's father, Marc-Ange offers Bond a proposition. He would give Bond vital information about the whereabouts of the evil Blofeld if Bond would marry his daughter. Bond is hesitant. He actually likes her but refuses the deal. Bond thinks it over. Bond doesn't want to miss the chance of apprending Blofeld, so he agrees to court Tracy, but not to marry her. Bond receives Blofeld's wherabouts in the mountaintops of Switzerland. He assumes the alias of Sir Hillary Gray, a genealogist, in order to infultraite Blofeld's "medical clinic" who specializes at curing people's allergies. Surprisingly, when Bond gets there, the place is guarded like a fort and the attendants are all woman. Bond uses his charm to woo the ladies in order to learn Blofeld's evil plan. Bond's investigation soon goes out of control and becomes a target of Blofeld and his goons. He escapes the dangerous mountaintops of the Swiss Alps and reunites with Tracy. The story then turns into a chase and Bond & Tracy must survive, along with their passisonate love for each other. I won't reveal the rest of the plot along with the surprising ending because I want you readers to read this fantastic novel. Ian Fleming is an amazing author. Oh by the way the movie is just as good as the book. Bye.

Written in 1963, the thought of someone like Ernst Starvo Blofeld ever existing was quite frankly far fetched. But now in the early part of the 21st Century, such a man does exist and his name is Osama bin Laden. In the story, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the name Osama bin Laden could easily be exchanged with that of Ernst Starvo Blofeld. I wonder what Ian Fleming would think if he were alive today.

If you saw the excellent movie then you know what happens.

Ian Fleming did a fantastic job with the sublte foreshadowing. Bond meets Tracy in the same town where he met Vesper Lynde in Casino Royale. We learn that he's been visiting Vesper's grave once a year for years. It reminds the reader that Bond does have a heart and it can be moved. Later, Bond, to his chagrin realizes that he wants to wrap this Blofeld business up mainly so he can get back to Tracy.

In addition to this, the usual Bond trademarks are here. You have a horrifying villain, revolting flunkies, glorious scenary, a desperate chase that almost gets Bond killed and an unforgetable ending.