Licence to Kill (novel)

Licence to Kill (novel) is a 1989 spy novel written by John Gardner, featuring the iconic British secret agent James Bond. It is a novelization of the 1989 Eon Productions film of the same name, which starred Timothy Dalton as James Bond. The novel expands upon the cinematic plot, providing deeper character motivations and additional narrative detail while following Bond's rogue mission of vengeance against a powerful drug lord.

Publication history

The novel was first published in 1989 by Hodder & Stoughton in the United Kingdom and by Putnam in the United States. Its release was strategically timed to coincide with the premiere of the film adaptation, a common practice for tie-in novels. The book was part of Gardner's long-running tenure as the continuation author for the James Bond literary series, following his previous works like *Icebreaker* and No Deals, Mr. Bond. Subsequent editions were released in various formats, including mass-market paperback by Berkley Books, ensuring wide availability to fans of the franchise.

Plot summary

The story begins with James Bond and his CIA ally Felix Leiter apprehending the notorious drug lord Franz Sanchez during Leiter's wedding in Key West. After Sanchez bribes his way out of custody, he exacts a brutal revenge on Leiter and his new wife, leaving Leiter maimed and his wife dead. Bond's request for official sanction to pursue Sanchez is denied by M, leading to Bond's resignation from the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). Operating without a licence to kill, Bond infiltrates Sanchez's organization in the fictional Republic of Isthmus, partnering with a daring pilot named Pam Bouvier. His investigation leads him to Bimini and Key West, uncovering Sanchez's operation to liquefy cocaine for distribution. The climax involves Bond sabotaging Sanchez's drug tankers and a final, fiery confrontation at the villain's complex.

Characters

* **James Bond**: The protagonist, a British secret agent who goes rogue to avenge his friend. * **Franz Sanchez**: The primary antagonist, a ruthless and wealthy drug lord based in Latin America. * **Felix Leiter**: Bond's longtime American friend from the CIA, who is severely injured by Sanchez. * **Pam Bouvier**: A former U.S. Army pilot and freelance agent who becomes Bond's ally and love interest. * **M**: The head of MI6, who revokes Bond's licence to kill. * **Miss Moneypenny**: M's loyal secretary. * **Q**: The quartermaster of MI6, who unofficially provides Bond with equipment. * **Milton Krest**: A corrupt businessman and front man for Sanchez's operations. * **Della Churchill**: The wife of Felix Leiter, who is murdered by Sanchez's henchman. * **Killifer**: A corrupt DEA agent on Sanchez's payroll.

Critical reception

Critical reception to the novel was generally mixed, with reviewers often comparing it to the source film. Some praised Gardner's ability to flesh out the motivations of characters like Franz Sanchez and provide a more detailed backstory than the screenplay allowed. However, other critics felt the novel suffered from the constraints of being a direct tie-in, lacking the originality and depth of Gardner's non-adaptation James Bond novels like License Renewed. Commentary in publications like The New York Times and Kirkus Reviews noted it was a competent but unexceptional entry in the extended literary series, primarily of interest to dedicated fans of the franchise.

Adaptations

The novel is itself an adaptation of the 1989 Eon Productions film *Licence to Kill*, directed by John Glen and starring Timothy Dalton as James Bond. The film was the sixteenth in the official film series and was notable for its darker, more vengeful tone. While the novel follows the film's plot closely, it incorporates scenes and exposition not present in the final cinematic cut. The movie's soundtrack featured the theme song "Licence to Kill" performed by Gladys Knight, and the film's stunts, including the climactic tanker truck chase, were highly praised. No other major adaptations, such as for radio or comics, have been produced for this specific Gardner novel.

Category:1989 British novels Category:James Bond novels by John Gardner Category:Novelizations of British films Category:Spy novels