29/11/17: Kingsley Amis – Colonel Sun (1968)

Originally published under the pseudonym “Robert Markham", Colonel Sun was the very first "James Bond continuation novel". Ian Fleming died in 1964, but his character was popular enough that 007 would outlast him. Amis offers a more human Bond, prone to anger and weakness, with some suspiciously Amis-like opinions. For example, he notices: “the new, hateful London of steel-and-glass matchbox architecture, flyovers and underpasses, and the endless hysterical clamour of pneumatic drills". Occasionally, Amis offers a curious insight, such as when he observes “that indifference to food and drink which so often accompanies interest in power”.

By today's standards this book could be considered sexist, racist and homophobic. The Chinese strategy is described by one character as “the Chink plan of attack”. Then there are statements such as: “Bond watched her lovely profile, very Greek yet totally unlike the overrated, beaky, 'classical' look one associates with old coins”. You could argue that the prejudices are Bond's, not Amis's, except that all of the characters seem to share similar opinions.

It’s a consciously low-tech Bond, avoiding gadgets and gimmicks: “In similar adventures in the past Bond had had a luxurious armoury of devices to choose from. This time, he realized without dismay, it had been and was going to go on being a matter of improvisation, guts and what physical skills he could command." Elsewhere, Amis writes: "the tools he basically had to depend on were invisible, intangible, within himself”. This aspect of the novel works well, with the drama emerging from plot and dialogue rather than technological add-ons. In fact, its knifings and torture scenes are fairly brutal – a lot more intimate and believable than the “clean”, almost cartoonish violence of the screen versions of Ian Fleming’s books.

While this is no masterpiece, the plot rattles along energetically and the sadistic villain (a “yellow” Chinaman) is suitably cruel and terrifying. The book gets more exciting as it gathers pace. It’s an ideal read for a long train journey or a wet Sunday afternoon.