Year - 1962

Tease - Vivienne Michel, a beautiful woman who fell in love with James Bond, tells this extraordinary tale of DANGER, BRUTALITY, DEATH!

Vivienne Michel is on the run from an empty social life when she accepts the job of closing up Mr. Sanguinetti's isolated resort motel.  On the last night of her short stay, just as a ferocious storm breaks over the mountains, two men force their way into the motel at gun-point.  They inform the frightened Vivienne that Mr. Sanquinetti sent them to 'oversee' the closing up.  One of the men is a death-head sadist, skilled in beating up women without leaving a mark.  The other is a fat, hairless lecher who enjoys taking over when his friend tires.  Both intend to make the most of this particular job.

They set about their tormenting game with pleasure.  And all the while Vivienne Michel doesn't know why they have made her their target.  She only knows she is going to suffer a horrible, brutal death.  There is no reason, no hope, no escape . . . Then suddenly, out of the dark, out of nowhere, comes a stranger who introduces himself as James Bond.  One look at his taut, dark face and Vivienne Michel recognizes him for what he is.  A killer.  But only a killer can save her now.

Villains - Horror, is a tall, thin lizard of a man.  Almost skeletal, his skin has this gray, drowned look as if he lived indoors. He has black eyes and his lips are thin and purplish, like an unstitched wound.  Sluggsy, is a short, moon-faced youth with very pale blue eyes and fat wet lips.  His skin is very white and he has had that hideous disease of no hair, no eyebrows and no eyelashes.  The top of his head is as polished as a billiard ball.

Bond-Girl - Vivienne Michel, is French-Canadian, twenty-three and has blue eyes.  There is a 'tumble' of ordinary dark brown hair which curves to the right and left in waves and has an ambition one day to give her hair a 'lion's streak' so that it will make her look older and more dashing.  High cheekbones and a mouth that is 'so big that it often looks sexy when she doesn't want it to.'  A very independent woman with past love affairs that have hurt her badly.

Minor Characters - Mr. Sanguinetti,  Derek Mallaby,  Kurt Rainer

Plot - Mr. Sanguinetti intends to burn down his motel and collect the insurance.  Having Vivienne there to die in the flames would only strengthen the insurance claim.

Highlights - Vivienne's cinema seduction, Bond's entrance in the last third of the story, night battle against Horror and Sluggsy.

Opening Sentence - I was running away.

Trivia - The book was criticized for it's 'pornographic' scenes of Vivienne's past and as a result was banned in most countries including England for a few years.  The magazine Stag published the novel a few years later and re-titled it 'Motel Nymph'.

Personal Comment About This Novel - The novel is written from Vivienne's point of view.  Ian Fleming's experimental novel may be a bust to some, but I found it quite interesting and felt Fleming had captured many interesting feelings that women experience from the opposite sex.  It is also the shortest of all the Fleming novels.  Fleming did not like the way it turned out and asked if only the title be used for the film.  Although, I feel the name Horror is a great nickname for a villain and should be considered in any future Bond film.

Jonathan Cape hardcover edition

Dr. Shatterhand's Scale from 1 - 10

"7"

Continue to the next novel