About:
The Man from Barbarossa by John Gardner is the 1999 entry in the James Gardner James Bond series. This book is more of a return to traditional spy craft than a fantastic supervillain story.
- 303 pages
- Publisher: G P Putnam’s Sons, NY
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 0399136258
My rating for The Man from Barbarossa– 5
Buy The Man from Barbarossa from Amazon.com*
More books by John Gardner*
John Gardner’s Bond series (16 book series) *
Thoughts:
So far, this is the best book I have read in the John Gardner James Bond series. It’s an excellent political thriller which weaves real events into a cohesive fictional story.
The Man from Barbarossa by John Gardner captures the era, 1908s-90s, to a tee. It was a gritty world, filled with uncertainties and tensions between those who want to keep the status quo, and those who insist we must move forward.
This is a legitimate, enjoyable spy novel dealing with historical and personal traumas, peppered with realpolitik. James Bond must realize that his old world is gone, past enemies are now allies in a high-stakes game where everyone has something to lose.
Agent 007 must navigate a world which is changing and is changing fast at that. He doesn’t like the new technology M16 introduces, or anything modern for that matter. Mr. Gardner has softened up Ma bit. He can still “out crank” Bond any day of the week, but at least he’s not trying to actively get him called.
Take the small victories, I guess.
The villain of the book, while not as colorful as others, is still dangerous and somehow, we go along with his dastardly scheme. It is, however, a throwback to the 1960s which doesn’t really fit in the context of Bond, being “a sexist, misogynist dinosaur. A relic of the Cold War” living in a fast-changing world, politics, and alliances.
Even though some of the tropes are familiar (a mysterious organization, Bond working with Israelis and Soviets, and more), in this book they work quite well. While the beginning for the Gulf War and glasnost is in the background, Bond does not get involved with them directly.
Synopsis:
A mysterious terrorist group called Scales of Justice kidnaps an elderly man from his home in New Jersey, claiming he is Josif Voronstov, a Nazi war criminal responsible for the Babi Yar massacre. A KGB agent, Boris Stepakov, informs M that he needs two British agents to infiltrate the group who has a hand in every terrorist event worldwide.
James Bond joined by Mossad’s Pete Natkowitz get assigned the mission, believing that the captured man, Joel Penderek, is not the war criminal. They are joined by two French secret agents and head to Russia.
Buy The Man from Barbarossa from Amazon.com*
More books by John Gardner*
John Gardner’s Bond series (16 book series) *
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I bought this book.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account, the money is usually spent on books
