Rating: 
Summary: The NERVE!!!
Review: OK, maybe that was a bit strong. But I'm a novelist too, and I personally would hate my characters being mucked about with after I was dead. Mathis and Marc-Ange Draco weren't his characters to begin with, and now he's made it so that if anyone else ever writes Bond novels, they cannot be used (unless Mathis became a pity figure, which would be horrible and not at all useful to the writer or fun to the reader). Benson's crime group and its leader are poor retreads of Blofeld and SPECTRE, too. All I see in this book is a writer cobbling together Fleming's old ideas to make money.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good book, but very, well interesting, Read On!
Review: Personally, it was a very good book, one of Benson's best. There was a lot of action, and even when nothing appears to be happening, the book still keeps your attention. However, my only beef with the book is when James Bond has to kill someone that he considered "family" at the end. What was up with that? It was almost painful to read about the death of one of the most lovable characters in Bond history. Oh well, other that that it was a great read.
Rating:
Summary: The Stag Routs the Devil's Dream Wolf in Darkness!
Review: Raymond Benson has a great respect for, knowledge of, and facility with the original Ian Fleming books about James Bond. As a result, he is able to recreate the well-known formula in ways similar to Mr. Fleming while reflecting and refracting powerful connections to the earlier stories. A thoughtful tip of the hat comes to every one of Mr. Fleming's books at one point or another in the story. As such, the book at some level of a Fleming tribute as much as an action novel. Unfortunately, Mr. Benson lacks the hard edge fascination with the bizarre, the deviant, and evil-doers that gave readers an eye-opening experience in Mr. Fleming's books. All James Bond fans will love the story, but it's a kinder, gentler version.Bond is on the trail of a recent nemesis (of the last few books), Le Gerant (manager or managing director in French) who is head of the evil organization, the Union. They are for hire to the highest bidder and specialize in providing arms for terrorist purposes. The story opens before a raid on a rotting film production facility in southern France. The French authorities have intelligence that arms are being hidden inside. They plan to attack while shooting is going on in one of the adjacent sound stages. Commander Bond disagrees, but it's a French operation, and the attack takes place under Commandant Malherbe (creative name for someone whose leading a doomed operation -- Mr. Benson is good with names that way). It's a Union trap for the French, and soon the French attackers are being cut down. In the desperate struggle that follows, Bond's counterattack causes a fire that burns down the occupied sound stage, killing 19 and injuring many more. The fall-out from the attack leads to Bond's friend, Rene Mathis (From Russia with Love) being put on leave for two months. Disgusted, M. Mathis resigns to track Le Gerant on his own. Bond wants to continue the chase as well, and wins reprieves from M as he makes progress. The book's overriding theme is about seeing and blindness. The theme is explored in terms of visual acuity, identity, foretelling the future, and communication. In this element, Mr. Benson exceeds the master. Although Mr. Fleming also explored complex themes in many dimensions, Mr. Benson is better at it here than Mr. Fleming was at the height of his talents. One of the book's most interesting parts is the way that characters you haven't read about in decades are woven back into this tale. This connection gives the book a powerful way to continue your impressions from those wonderful stories. You will have one major surprise along the way when someone supposedly dead reappears. As in all Bond stories, this novel has much more action than character development. Yet, you will find a few new dimensions to 007 that will probably interest you. There is a graphic description of "safe sex" in one encounter here that feels very much like Fleming at his best. The action all occurs right on schedule, from the obligatory opening scene to the post-battle wind-up with the leading lady. Many of the scenes make good use of the local scenary, and I thought that the Corsican descriptions were especially fine. After you read the book, I suggest that you also think about how risk and reward should be evaluated in your life. When is it a good idea to plunge ahead, and when is temporary caution more appropriate. Dream of better days . . . and take action to secure them!
Rating: 
Summary: The Old James Bond is Back, with a New Flare!
Review: Raymond Benson has defined himself as the legitimate heir to Flemming. The James Bond of NDD has the old steel and ethics of Her Majesty's agent and a ruthless killer. Benson is true to the hero of the seventies and gives him a new slant. The action is relentless and unpredictable. There's no way this book can be read slowly.
The characters and action made for a great time. I was not particularly excited about the metaphysics in the storyline but the heroine was great. Also, the "family" death seemed somewhat out of place. An excellent addition to the Bond tradition, let's hope Benson's next entry will be soon!
Rating:
Summary: Bond goes Hollywood for a good read
Review: Raymond Benson has done something that no other Bond author has done. He has taken the literary James Bond into the film business. This was a bold move for Benson, seeing as some of the hardcore Bond fans might not like the idea. However, this bold move deserves the highest praise. It not only provides for a new realm that Bond has never been to. It also makes NEVER DREAM OF DYING a great read. After a botched raid on a French film studio, James Bond is under pressure and having to deal with lots of red tape. However, an unusual breakthrough in the Union case puts Bond back to work. The mission will send him to France and Monaco where he will meet up with an assorted cast of characters. Some these characters are the lovely Tylnn Mingnonne, his long-time colleague Rene Mathis, and even his father-in-law Marc-Ange Draco. To add Draco in the storyline to close up gaps that Fleming left was another brave move on Benson's part. Yet, it worked out and was a pleasant and unpleasant part of the story. There are many elements to NEVER DREAM OF DYING which make it great. Buy the book to find out. Raymond Benson took a chance with this fine book. It was well worth it though in my opinion. Benson has remained true to the original Bond of days of old. Most people seem to dislike this. This is merely because they are so used to the action-filled films, that they cannot appreciate Bond for the way he was created. To see Benson keep true with the Bond of Fleming's day earns him praise not only for this great book, but for being a great, bold and innovative author. NEVER DREAM OF DYING is a great book for many reasons. Bond's first outting into the film world makes NEVER DREAM OF DYING a book that you should buy.
Rating:
Summary: Earning his Walther PPK
Review: Raymond Benson is becoming surer and surer of his writing abilities, and "Never Dream of Dying" is his best Bond novel yet. Sure, there are some lapses into cliche and deadwood here and there, but mostly this is a solid, powerhouse read for Fleming fans. While John Gardner, acclaimed author though he was, merely cashed his annual check from Fleming's estate, churning out uninspired, routine stories, Benson obviously cares about having inherited the mantle from our dear boy Ian. There are some nice twists -- Bond using a dead rat as a weapon, laser surgery being used as a weapon -- and a couple of surprise guests from Bond's past. One can quite clearly hear the old voice of Bond in this, and it is due to Benson's increasingly tough and entertaining writing.
Rating:
Summary: Raymond Benson should never write again
Review: Raymond Benson is ruining the James Bond series. Each novel has gotten consistently worse. In this novel, Benson ruins the relationship between Bond and Draco, in a twist that should only be in movies. Which brings me to the point that Benson writes his novels like a movie. Although highly imaginative, not traditional Bond fare. He also constantly refers back to old Bond novels, as if he can't think of his own words for particular pieces of a novel. If anyone is planning to buy this, I urge you not to and instead buy a novel by Fleming from a used bookstore.
Rating:
Summary: NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
Review: Raymond Benson loves James Bond. That has been true in every one of the books he has done to date. NEVER DREAM OF DYING is no exception and the characters, both old and new, are pure Ian Fleming. Let's hope Mr.Benson's license to thrill is renewed again and again.
Rating:
Summary: NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
Review: Raymond Benson loves James Bond. That has been true in every one of the books he has done to date. NEVER DREAM OF DYING is no exception and the characters, both old and new, are pure Ian Fleming. Let's hope Mr.Benson's license to thrill is renewed again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Raymond Benson's best yet and the best James Bond novel since "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." If you read any of the other non-Fleming Bond novels and did not care for them, read this one-Benson has captured the Fleming spirit. Enjoyed it from beginning to end.
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