No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987) – John Gardner

James Bond is back in this week’s book shelf, as I continue my adventures with 007, and John Gardner’s sixth novel chronicling the missions of the British secret agent. This time, Bond’s adventure takes him from England into Ireland and then to the Far East with a tension-filled ending set in China. M assigns 007…

Star Trek: Sarek (1994) – A.C. Crispin

A.C. Crispin, who delivered the wonderful Yesterday’s Son saga early in the Pocket Books series cranked out a giant Trek novel for 1994 that gave us insight into Spock’s father, Sarek. While also continuing the story of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701A. This adventure takes place shortly after the events of The Undiscovered Country, so despite…

The Murder on the Links (1923) – Agatha Christie

My third foray into Agatha Christie territory brings me another tale featuring Hercule Poirot, and this time as it unspooled, I found myself paying more attention to the things that were said, the clues that were laid out, and much like his friend, Captain Hastings, who tells the tale, I had a portion of it…

Nobody Lives For Ever (1986) – John Gardner

Ian Fleming’s 007 James Bond is back in action in this 1986 thriller penned by John Gardner who carried on the series for the Fleming estate and updated the secret agent by retconning his early adventures into the late 60s and 70s allowing his Bond, slightly older, to prowl and protect the world of the…

Star Trek: The Patrian Transgression (1994) – Simon Hawke

Space, the final frontier… It’s time to continue my travels with the stalwart crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise as I join them on their original five year missions to seek out new life, and new civilisations. This time, author Simon Hawke delivers a story that fits well into the style of The Original Series with…

The Secret Adversary (1922) – Agatha Christie

This week’s Agatha Christie novel, her second, introduced me to characters I’d never met before. I was aware of Poirot (in fact he was the only character of hers I did read when I was originally introduced to her books as a child), Miss Marple, of course, but I had never heard of Tommy and…

Role of Honour (1984) – John Gardner

James Bond is back in action in Gardner’s next 007 title, taking Ian Fleming’s character further into the 80s with a story that sees the secret agent encountering computers, war game simulations, and a familiar enemy. There are some familiar elements in this film that showed up in 1985’s A View To A Kill, computers…

Star Trek: Firestorm (1994) – L.A. Graf

Space, the final frontier… More voyages this week with the Enterprise, call numbers NCC-1701, in Firestorm, that sees the supporting characters, especially Uhura a chance to shine. Set after the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but after the new burgundy uniform jackets came into circulation. The Enterprise has come to the planet Rakatan,…