The Spy Who Loved Me
Ian Fleming

The only exposure I've had to Ian Fleming's writing was a condensed version of "From Russia, with Love." The short story was part of a collection of suspense and espionage tales including the infamous "Cicero" and "The Spy Who Came In from the Cold."

The Spy Who Loved Me is a rare treat because it features excellent storytelling and surprisingly sentimental writing. The story is told from the viewpoint of a sexy and independent "foreigner" named Vivienne Michel, a woman who has grown cynical from three failed relationships. As Fleming minutely tells the story of her life, readers impatiently wait for James Bond's appearance (while male readers are strangely stimulated and repudiated by her pseudo-promiscuity). Viv's romantic entanglements and her subsequent success as a writer runs for more than 2/3 of the book. Though it is not a familiar genre for most fans of espionage, everyone would likely concede the drama that is Viv's life was well-written and insightful (though I am sure dozens of female writers have written the same heartbraking tale of courtship, sex and loss in a thousand ways and earned much acclaim for it).

The lengthy background, however, serves the purpose of making the strong-willed but vulnerable Viv even more sympathetic when violence enters her life. The appearance of gangsters Horror and Sluggsy come fast and furious and the assault on Viv is brutal. Fleming points out the crux of the story clearly and painlessly upon their arrival -- Viv's heartbreaks are nothing compared to the mind-numbing fear and pain of human cruelty and malice. Once James Bond gets into the picture, the tale shifts into gear: the story both slows and speeds up. James Bond's arrival is both action and calm. James is a gentleman and his best traits as a cool cat shine through as he calmly and kindly eases Viv's fear. There is the extra bonus of 007 retelling a recently concluded mission.

 

 

The Spy Who Loved Me, despite Bond's "supporting" role shows there is much to be known about the man several actors had protrayed on screen. The iconic Bond is actually cautious, self-deprecating and candid even during the most tense moments in his shootout with Horror and Sluggsy. He is not infallible and clearly human as he makes consecutive errors and even gets injured by a hastily thrown television set. Like the great Sherlock Holmes, Bond showed a dependency on drugs and freely admits he needs it to stay awake for the night's vigil.

The Spy Who Loved Me is a disappointing revelation to most fans of the suave film Bond pictured with tuxedo and drink. He is shirtless during the action sequences and wears a raincoat in his integral first appearance. In fact, only his penchant for introducing himself using his last name before first (Bond, James Bond) is the only recognizable trait of the icon. Moreover, The Spy Who Loved Me is less of an espionage/action thriller and more of a Jackie Collins-esque paperback. But readers should not make the mistake of undervaluing this novel. It is still a James Bond/Ian Fleming book. There are plenty of scraps about the Cold War explained in a no-nonsense way by Bond himself. Moreover, Fleming includes details about the strained and/or peculiar relationships between the local and state enforcement agencies and gives a brief overview of how they actually work.

In general, The Spy Who Loved Me is definitely worth a read just to get a taste of the anachronism and unique style of Ian Fleming. It is also most definitely a Vivienne Michel book -- with a great and exciting cameo by the gentleman that is James Bond.

Rating:

  
 
August Issue