Bond By Numbers

Our survey of John Gardner's continuation novels carries on with a chat over his third effort. If, like many, you buy into the belief that a Bond's third outing is his best ("Goldfinger", "The Spy Who Loved Me", "Skyfall".... Fleming, too, wrote "Moonraker" third) then Gardner should be stretching comfortably by now. "Icebreaker" sees 007 join an inter-agency operation in Finland to thwart a fascist terrorist group. So, come join us in a world of snowmobiles, double agents and smoked salmon fireside chats. We're off to infiltrate an Ice Palace! It's time to look down the literary gun barrel once again!