Diamonds Are Forever - Hardcover

Fleming, Ian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0718153871 ISBN 13: 9780718153878

Publisher: PENGUIN 007, 2008

Synopsis

Diamonds are Forever is the fourth of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and sees the secret agent tracking deadly jewels across America ...

Meet Tiffany Case, a cold, gorgeous, devil-may-care blonde; the kind of girl you could get into a lot of trouble with – if you wanted. She stands between James Bond and the leaders of a diamond-smuggling ring that stretches from Africa to the States via London. Bond uses her to infiltrate this gang, but once in America the hunter becomes the hunted. Bond is in real danger until help comes from an unlikely quarter, the ice-maiden herself ...

About this title

Review:

Diamonds Are Forever, Ian Fleming's fourth Bond novel, has all the hallmarks of a classic 007 adventure and whilst it lacks some of the strength and depth of other books in the series it nevertheless has much to recommend it. The plot concerns a ruthless syndicate known as the Spangled Mob who are running a diamond smuggling pipeline out of Africa into the USA. This is costing England millions of pounds and James Bond is sent to investigate. A promising set up, but it soon becomes apparent that the syndicate's only aim is to get rich and as Bond novels go it is slightly disappointing that this is the sum total of the villains' project.

On a more positive note, Tiffany Case is an excellent Bond girl who plays an integral part in the book. The relationship that develops between her and Bond is highly convincing and well-observed and the book is rich in dialogue between the two. On the topic of marriage:

Bond: "Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other."

Tiffany: "But it depends what you want it to add up to. Something human or something inhuman. You can't be complete by yourself."

As suggested by the syndicate's comparatively (in Bond terms) modest ambitions, Diamonds Are Forever lacks a really good principle villain, but it does have well-portrayed minor contenders in the form of the duo Wint and Kidd, two violent and ruthless killers. There are some tense moments in the novel and although there is no real action until well over half way through it, once it starts, it is almost non-stop until the end.

One of the outstanding features of this adventure remains the way Fleming wrote the character of Tiffany. Her relationship with Bond adds humanity and life to Diamonds Are Forever. --Jamie Campbell

Review:

Probably the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England (Raymond Chandler )

About this edition

• Publisher: PENGUIN 007
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0718153871
• ISBN 13: 9780718153878
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304