Review: BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2013
Phenomenal. I am a huge James Bond fan and a student of World War 2. Some reviews have pointed out anachronisms but I didn't find any. I think these reviewers don't really know the subject. One reviewer said this was a `rip off' of early James Bond movies. Which Bond movie is set in World War Two and centers on the negotiation of France's navy?? There isn't anything ripped off here. I found this book to be beautifully written and utterly original. Author Stevenson's one-liners sound like something Bond might say but they are all original jokes (I laughed out loud at several, especially the scene at the `Ministry of Supply' chapter which was a wicked parody of the `Q' scenes) and every line is fresh and clever. I think some reviewers didn't really get it - this is a sly, tongue in cheek parody of Bond while also being a historical novel that holds up on its own. I loved the Nazi characterizations. It's so easy to fall into cartoon or stereotype but General Bock and Captain Speer read like fully dimensional individuals. The descriptions of the scenery and characters are outstanding. The prose is eminently readable - smart and evocative, without the use of flower language or obvious metaphors. Here's a typical example from the memorable chapter one sortie seeking the French fleet's hiding place:"Cotton was in his element, hotdogging around the towering funnels of the epic Strasbourg, careful to avoid the swivel guns of her deck and water line as he bobbed and weaved, windmilling and snapping outrageous half turns before rotating 360 degrees and ascending skyward with a barnstorming flourish. Gunners scrambled to man the skyscraper's 3.5 inch howitzers and its four barrel heavy machine-guns. But Cotton was too fast and gnat-like and by the time the brigadiers and bombardiers were assembled he was gone."Simple, effective, moves the story forward.I wish more books were written like this. There is a lot of detail here, which is great if you like historical novels that showcase time and place. I think this is the whole point of a historical novel and so I loved every word. Needless to say, this writer is an expert at crafting action. The ski chase, the bomb attack on London and the boat chase are as good as if not better than anything by Ian Fleming. It's clear this author cut his chops in Hollywood.I can't wait for the next book by this incredibly talented writer.