TOMORROW NEVER DIES - Tapa blanda

The love-hate relationship between politics and the media is a fitting 90's theme for a James Bond plot, and Raymond Benson's novelisation of Roger Spottiswoode's film Tomorrow Never Dies embraces it fully with wit, irony and excitement.

As in the film, the plot is excellent. Immensely powerful media mogul Elliot Carver takes his obsession with World domination beyond "delivering tomorrow's news today" to more sinister places--not least playing off the Chinese and British in a series of military exchanges. James Bond crosses paths with an opposite and equally impressive agent of the Peoples Republic of China, Wai Lin, in Hamburg on Carver's trail, before the plot moves onto Saigon and the South China Sea. The interesting and exotic locations will be relished by Bond aficionados. Unlike the film, the novel relies on the strength of the characters of Wai Lin and Carver, rather than the slightly over-exuberant and brash action-packed scenes and froth, and it provides us with the opportunity to delve into the background of these impressive and well-rounded figures.

Even if you arrive at Tomorrow Never Dies after seeing the film, you are likely to get much more out of the printed adventure. --JulianBroster

Welcome back, Mr Bond. We've been waiting for you . . . Benson has gone back to Bondian basics in a fast-moving world of bedrooms, firm breasts, betting and bruises. (Independent on Sunday)

Spectacular chases, gory killings and a spot of sado-masochism . . addicts of the genre will love it. (The Times)

Will have Bond fans cheering. (Publishers Weekly (Doubleshot))

Bond is back in hugely entertaining style (Manchester Evening News on Zero Minus Ten)

Bond is back...and there are enough guns, girls, boats and bombs to keep any 007 fan happy (Daily Mail on Zero Minus Ten)