James Bond Novel Retrospective #5
Released: 1957
James Bond’s third confrontation with SMERSH, and where things really get personal.
The first time I read Diamonds Are Forever, I was underwhelmed with it, but it grew on me upon my second reading. This book, meanwhile, brought out sort of the opposite reaction. I thought it was excellent the first time around, but I didn’t like it as much this time. It was still good; it just didn’t have the same “Wow!” factor as before.
The first two books established the threat of the villainous organization, SMERSH, although it was interesting that they vanished for #3 & 4. But now they’re back, and they’re hungry for revenge! James Bond, having meddled in SMERSH’s affairs twice now, has been declared an enemy of the state. And so, SMERSH concocts an elaborate plan to have 007 taken down.
From Russia, with Love has a unique start for a Bond story. I can at least give the book credit for having a creative and memorable opening. For the first ten chapters, James himself doesn’t actually appear. The first section of the book serves as an introduction to the villains and goes into detail about their planning and preparation. It’s good for deepening the plot and giving the villains better characterization, and it’s neat to get extended focus on the villains’ POV in general…
…and yet, this part of the book dragged a bit for me on my second reading. Perhaps because I could still remember the general story from last time, and so this time, I was just anxious to get to the truly good stuff later on in the book. I quite enjoyed the first ten chapters back when I originally read the novel, but not as much this time around.
Thankfully though, once the book gets to the “truly good stuff,” then it really starts to shine. Most everything else is great. The best part of the book comes when Bond and Tania board the Orient Express. The train journey is cozy, suspenseful, and thrilling all at the same time. I only wish that portion of the book had lasted longer. The confrontation with Red Grant is suitably exciting too.
Despite this being one of Fleming’s longest books, the ending felt rushed. After the fight with Red Grant, after Tania has been drugged and Bond escorts her off the train, we don’t see her again after that, as the book barrels toward Bond’s final confrontation with Rosa Klebb. On the plus side, we do get another exciting fight out of it, capping off with an effectively shocking ending. Still though, the events felt a bit underdeveloped. And sadly, it isn’t even revealed what happened to Tania in the next book either, she just abruptly vanishes from the story.
Although I don’t think it was ultimately a crippling flaw. The last portion of the book just needed another chapter or two to better flesh things out. The abrupt ending and Tania disappearing might simply be a symptom of the fact that Ian Fleming had originally thought of having this be the last Bond book, with James himself dying at the end. I am happy that Fleming instead decided to keep going and give us more Bond adventures.
I give the book a 7.5/10.
