/ Literary 007 / 1989 - Win, Lose Or Die /

John Gardner’s eighth James Bond thriller was first published in 1989 and found Bond returning to active duty in the Royal Navy.

A WIN for Gardner: Win, Lose Or Die
A review by Chris Bennett

Britain’s greatest spy returns, but not even James bond has envisioned such a diabolical plan!

In a curious change of assignment, James Bond, Commander RN, is transferred from the Foreign Office to the active sea duty aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. M’s explanation is twofold: Without blowing his cover, which must appear absolutely real to all involved, Bond must “mind” the British, Russian, and American admirals and their staffs on board the ship as observers during the annual four-week exercise in the North Sea.

This is not a casual baby-sitting assignment. Regardless of the existing cooperation between the three superpowers, it is a situation laden with deadly possibilities. And the deadliest one of all explodes into reality when terrorists hijack Invincible and hold the ship hostage for a price higher than any country is willing to pay.

Surrounded by enemies in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, Bond joins forces with the beautiful Russian naval attaché to confront and destroy the terrorists who, with control of the ship, have control of the world.

Fraught with the intrigue, explosive action, and technological wizardry that Bond fans have come to expect, Win, Loose or Die is a tour de force in the rousing Ian Fleming tradition.

-Putnam dust jacket

Britain’s greatest spy returns, but not even James bond has envisioned such a diabolical plan!

In a curious change of assignment, James Bond, Commander RN, is transferred from the Foreign Office to the active sea duty aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. M’s explanation is twofold: Without blowing his cover, which must appear absolutely real to all involved, Bond must “mind” the British, Russian, and American admirals and their staffs on board the ship as observers during the annual four-week exercise in the North Sea.

This is not a casual baby-sitting assignment. Regardless of the existing cooperation between the three superpowers, it is a situation laden with deadly possibilities. And the deadliest one of all explodes into reality when terrorists hijack Invincible and hold the ship hostage for a price higher than any country is willing to pay.

Surrounded by enemies in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, Bond joins forces with the beautiful Russian naval attaché to confront and destroy the terrorists who, with control of the ship, have control of the world.

Fraught with the intrigue, explosive action, and technological wizardry that Bond fans have come to expect, Win, Loose or Die is a tour de force in the rousing Ian Fleming tradition.

- Chapter 3, Win, Lose Or Die

  1. WIN in the Gulf
  2. Voices From the Air
  3. Reflections in a Harrier
  4. A Sunday in the Country
  5. The Christmas Horse
  6. See Naples…
  7. Hellkin
  8. All the Other Demons
  9. Northanger
  10. Monarchs of the Sea
  11. Death’s Heads
  12. Will You Join the Dance?
  13. Desperate Dan
  14. Stewards’ Meeting
  15. The Rain in Spain
  16. Batsblood
  17. Operation Sleeping Beauty
  18. In at the Kill
  19. Tunnel of Love?
  20. Some Die

The events of
Win, Lose Or Die
occur:

February 1988 to Summer 1989

Dates calculated by Walter von Tagen III

Walter’s Chronological Remarks

CBN’s John Gardner Forums

Win, Lose Or Die
Publication History
(Bondian.com)

Gardner Books:
Reviewed and Elements
(klast.net)

John-Gardner.com

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