To coincide with the 100th anniversary of his birth, Ian Fleming’s estate commissioned author Sebastian Faulks to write Devil May Care, which came out in hardcover in May 2008 and in paperback the following May. He is credited on the cover “writing as Ian Fleming,” but it’s not clear what the designation is supposed to mean. Does that make the story official Bond canon, is Faulks separating the book from his other works, or is it just marketing? Some combination of all three may be the answer. because while the book has some good elements for those who enjoy the spy genre, its flaws ultimately cause it to fall flat.
Set during 1967, more than a year and a half after his last assignment, chronicled in Fleming’s final novel, The Man with the Golden Gun, the reader finds James Bond on sabbatical with his future as a double-O agent in doubt. However, M recalls him home two weeks early so the Service can learn more about the exploits of Dr. Julius Gorner, a man involved in the wide-scale manufacturing and trafficking of illegal narcotics. Gorner is easy to recognize because he has an unusual deformity that makes one of his hands resemble a monkey’s paw, which he covers with a glove. Once Bond learns this, he realizes he has already crossed paths with the man.
Bond gains another reason to investigate Gorner: Poppy, the twin sister of Scarlett Papava, is Gorner’s prisoner, and Scarlett implores Bond to help rescue her. She sets up a casual meeting between the two men, and then continues to show up and offer Bond assistance throughout the mission. More familiar faces appear to also provide help, like René Mathis of France’s Deuxième Bureau and Pinkerton Detective Felix Leiter, formerly of the CIA.
While learning of Gorner’s plans, Bond is captured. As most villains are wont to do, he makes clear his intentions to the imprisoned Bond, which if successful will lead to World War III. Of course, with Bond on the case the outcome is no surprise.
Devil May Care is as a serviceable adventure of international intrigue as Bond travels to France, where he plays a game of high stakes tennis against Gorner; Persia, where Gorner’s base of operations is hidden in the desert; and the Soviet Union, as he attempts to make his way home. Gorner’s two-pronged attack on Britain through the import of narcotics and a false flag operation is admittedly interesting and plausible, although his motivation is either unclear or rather sleight.
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Article comments
1 - doug
Since this 'as fleming', will it be a movie?
2 - El Bicho
Apparently, the Bond producers weighed in and said no, but never say never in Hollywood
3 - Strangeface
That checklist point is absolutely correct. Every single reference to other Bond stories seems forced. Because it's so long, it becomes boring, and I never found myself caring about the outcome, the villains or Bond. A dull flop.