Review: Mix clasic Bond with World War II and you have a mega conflict with a larger than life hero!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2013
The Ian Fleming Files: Operation Armada is a story about a British Naval Intelligence Officer who must sneak behind enemy lines during the first days of WWII, when France crumbles, to negotiate a deal for the highly prized French Armada. If Fleming's mission is successful, the British will secure the French Armada, but if Fleming fails, then Hitler will instantly obtain the one weapon that he is lacking...a world class naval Armada.Just imagine how different WWII would have been if Hitler had such an Armada in those early days. Immediatley, the reader gets the sense that this mission is a world wide game changer, it's a must have for Britain and for Fleming, it's a do or die mission. Of course, just as the mission starts, things go wrong and the clock winds down as the German blitzkrieg sweeps thru France. Fleming is left with no choice but to be more cunning, more cleaver, and more charming. At the same time, he must be more deadly and take on more challenges against both German and Vichy French.So, how does Fleming differ from our old friend Bond? Well, Bond typically faced a single evil mastermind(almost an altar ego) who had a secret lair, some secret weapons, and a personal army of evil mercenaries. Fleming, on the other hand, faces all of WW II with it's armies, armada's and a worldwide theater where the might of Kings and Dictators spar for dominance. With Stevenson's writing, the reader will quickly see the difference in that Bond's world is always secretive and therefore smaller. But against the theater of WW II, Fleming's world is full of surprises, and challenges from everyone, everything, and everywhere.I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spy thrillers, period era WW II, and lots-n-lots of action. With a combination like that, you can't go wrong. I recommend with 5 stars!